Missouri Boating Laws to Keep You Safe This Summer
It's always a good idea to be prepared when you're going out on the water. There are a few precautionary steps you should take to stay safe, and some important law information you need to know while boating in Missouri. Firstmate Controls was created to make the boating experience safer, easier, and a BLAST! Today, to help our boaters even more, we're highlighting some of the important boating laws in our home state of Missouri. Keep reading on to learn the basic rules for registering, operating, and keeping your boat safe out on the water.
Registration Requirements
In the state of Missouri, you need to be issued a Missouri Certificate of Number and validation decals to operate your boat on Missouri waters. The only exceptions are non-motorized vessels, sailboats 12 feet or less in length, or vessels registered in other states using Missouri water for 60 consecutive days or less. Your Certificate of Number must be always on your boat so that you can provide it to law enforcement if necessary. The validation decals have specific display rules to make sure they are easily identifiable from a distance. The number must be on both sides of the boat, read from left to right, and meet other specific color and size requirements. If your boat has an outboard motor, you will need a separate certificate of title and registration decal for the motor as well. You can apply for title and registration at any authorized boat registration agent, marine dealer, marina, bait shop, or DOR office.
Operator Rules
There are several rules about who is allowed to operate a boat on Missouri waters.
An operator must be at least 14 years old to operate a boat or personal watercraft (PWC). However, there is an exception if they are directly supervised by a parent, guardian, or other person 16 years old or older. Boat operators who are born after January 1, 1984, must obtain a boating safety identification card issued by the Missouri State Highway Patrol. Or they can use a Missouri driver's license (or non-driver's license) that has a boating safety endorsement. (This also applies to non-residents!) You can earn this card through the Missouri Boat-Ed Course.
Life Jackets
Every vessel operated on Missouri waters must have enough personal flotation devices (or PFDs) for people on board. The PFDs need to be USCG-approved (U.S. Coast Guard), the right size for your passengers, and easily accessible in case of emergency. "Easily accessible" means that they can't be stored in locked or closed compartments, and they shouldn't have other items covering them up. Any child under seven years old must wear a USCG-approved Type I, II, II, or V personal floatation device always while on board any vessel.
Other Safety Requirements
- Vessels over 16 feet in length must have one USCG-approved throwable device on board, readily accessible.
- All vessels are required to have a Type B, USCG-approved fire extinguisher on board if there are closed storage compartments with flammable or combustible materials, if there are closed living spaces, if there are permanently installed fuel tanks, or if there are flammable or toxic fluids on board.
- Navigation lights are required on all vessels when away from the dock between sunset and sunrise or during periods of restricted visibility such as fog or heavy rain. Vessels are not allowed to use any lights that might be mistaken for required navigation lights, and blue or red lights are only to be used by law enforcement vessels.
- Visual distress signals (VDSs) can be day or night signals. All vessels must carry night signals, and most must also carry day signals. These signals should only be displayed when assistance is required.
- Flags: There are important flags used for signaling that must be used when boats are engaged in certain activities like diving, skiing, wakeboarding, etc. Make sure your boat has the proper flags to signal to others if there is someone in the water.
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