How To Register Your Boat In Ohio

Ohio Boating
Laws & Regulations

Who needs the Ohio Boater Education Card?

All boaters born later December 31, 1981 must have an Ohio Boater Education Certificate to operate any motorized watercraft over 10 HP. BOATERexam.com^® is a delegated provider for the Ohio Department of Natural Resource, Division of Watercraft.

Ohio Boater Education Card

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Ohio Boating License

Ohio Boating Rubber Requirements

Personal Flotation Devices (PFDs aka Life Jackets)

Ohio boaters are required to bear at least one U.S. Coast Guard approved Type IV PFD (ring buoy OR seat cushion) on all vessels that are 16 anxiety in length or greater, plus a wearable PFD for each person on lath.
No person shall ride or endeavour to ride upon water skis, surfboards, inflatable devices or similar devices being towed past a vessel without wearing a U.Southward. Declension Guard approved Type I, II, or Three PFD or a Type Five PFD specifically designed for h2o-skiing, in good and serviceable condition, and of appropriate size. No operator of a vessel shall tow any person who fails to comply with this police force.
All PWC operators and occupants must exist wearing a Type I, II, III or V personal flotation device.
All vessels less than 16 feet in length as well every bit canoes or kayaks of whatever length are required to take one Type I, II or Iii clothing PFD per person.
Inflatable PFDs are non intended for children under the historic period of 16 years.

PFD Constabulary for Children

All boaters or passengers younger than 10 years of historic period onboard a vessel less than 18 feet in length must exist wearing a U.S. Coast Guard approved PFD.

Booze & Boating Nether the Influence (BUI)

A gunkhole operator with a blood booze content (BAC) of .08% or more is considered to exist intoxicated and operating under the influence (OUI). Ohio police establishes the following penalties for boating while intoxicated:

Punishment for Operating Under the Influence of Alcohol or Drugs
Offense	Minimum	Maximum
Get-go	three days jail; $150 fine	6 months in jail; $one,000 fine
Second	10 days jail; $150 fine	half-dozen months in jail; $ane,000 fine
3rd	30 days jail; $150 fine	Up to 1 year in jail; $ane,000 fine

By operating a vessel on Ohio waters, you have consented to an booze test if asked by a law enforcement officer. Refusal to undergo testing is an criminal offense in itself and may lead to a loss of operating privileges for up to one year as well as fines.

"Zilch Tolerance" prohibits persons younger than 21 years of age from consuming alcohol and operating a vessel with whatsoever measurable alcohol level at or to a higher place 0.02%.

Ohio Boat Registration

The Ohio Department of Natural Resources, Division of Watercraft regulates the country boating laws in Ohio.

Numbering and registering a watercraft are two carve up functions. Boaters cannot operate any watercraft without a valid registration. Evidence of registration is shown by displaying 2 square tags or one rectangular tag (Culling Registration for watercraft propelled past human muscular effort), and carrying the valid registration certificate on lath the watercraft.

All watercraft principally operated on Ohio waters must be registered and issued an Ohio Registration Certificate by the Ohio Sectionalisation of Parks & Watercraft.

The following vessels do non require registration:

Vessels which are not required to be numbered, excluding documented watercraft;
Watercraft which are properly registered in another state and operating the waters of Ohio for less than 60 days consecutively;
Commercial vessels; and
"Bellyboats"/"float tubes", kiteboards, paddleboards and sailboards.

New owners of a used watercraft must transfer the registration before operating the watercraft. To transfer the registration, only inquire the previous possessor to complete the 'transfer' section and bring the registration certificate (fifty-fifty if not expired) to whatsoever watercraft registration agent. If a watercraft requiring a title is transferred to a new owner, the watercraft may be operated for upwards to 45 days earlier beingness titled in the new owner's proper noun provided the new owner carries either of the following onboard:

A temporary watercraft registration from an authorized registration agent; or
A bill of auction from a watercraft dealer containing the required information.

*Registration Certificates and tags are valid for upward to 3 years and expire on March 1st of the year indicated.

Certificate of Championship

Boat owners must first obtain their gunkhole title before a certificate of registration can be issued. A boat title is obtained from any county title office. The following watercraft require a championship in the land of Ohio:

All watercraft 14 feet or more in length; and
All watercraft less than fourteen feet in length, which are permanently fitted with a motor of 10 horsepower or more.

Note: Outboard motors that are x horsepower or more are also required to be titled.

Some watercraft listed above and on the previous page may not have needed a championship when it was originally purchased. Prior to selling the watercraft, however, the owner must apply to a title office and obtain a championship.

These include:

Watercraft or outboards purchased on or before October 9, 1963; and
Watercraft less than fourteen anxiety in length with a permanently affixed mechanical means of propulsion of 10 horsepower or greater and purchased on or before January 1, 2000.

The following watercraft do non require a Certificate of Championship:

U.Due south. Declension Baby-sit documented watercraft
Watercraft owned by federal, state or a political subdivision of a state
Canoes and kayaks
Motors which are less than x horsepower
Watercraft from another country
Watercraft less than 14 feet in length without a permanently affixed mechanical means of propulsion;
Watercraft less than xiv feet in length with a permanently affixed mechanical means of propulsion of less than x horsepower; and
A ship'south life boat

Personal Watercraft Laws & Regulations

Do not underestimate a personal watercraft (PWC) – they are very powerful for their modest size and demand the same respect as whatsoever boat. In fact, PWC operation must adhere to the same rules and regulations equally any other powerboat, including registration with the state and a B-ane class fire extinguisher aboard. There are boosted requirements in Ohio for PWC operation:

Hours of Operation

No person shall operate a personal watercraft betwixt sunset and sunrise.

Lanyard Requirementn

A person operating a personal watercraft that is equipped by the manufacturer with a lanyard-type engine cut-off switch, must adhere the lanyard to the person, the person'due south clothing, or personal flotation device as appropriate for the specific watercraft.

PFD Requirement

No person shall operate or permit the operation of a personal watercraft unless each person on the watercraft is wearing a Type I, II, 3 or V PFD at all times. Remember: Inflatable PFDs are Not intended for utilize with PWC.

"No-wake" speed

PWC must operate at "no-wake" speed when in designated "no-wake" zones or shore zones.

No person who owns or has charge over a personal watercraft shall permit performance in violation of laws.

Boating on Lake Erie

Lake Erie is one of Ohio's near popular recreational boating locations. In that location are certain considerations when canoeing on Lake Erie that boaters must be aware of.

Think to go along at least 100 yards from U.S. Naval vessels, which are occasionally found on the Neat Lakes. Y'all are also required to reduce to "no wake" speed when operating within 500 yards of such vessels. If for any reason y'all need to approach within 100 yards of a Naval vessel, you are required to contact either the vessel or the Usa coast guard before doing then, on channel 16 of your VHF-FM radio. Failure to practice and then is a felony offence.

Lake Erie borders Canada. Every bit such, boaters who cross into Canadian waters must written report for customs inspection. ALL boaters and passengers will require a valid photo ID as well every bit a passport or a birth certificate. For farther information, call Canadian Community at 1-888-226-7277.

All boats entering the United States from Canadian waters that accept passengers who were on Canadian soil must report to U.S. Customs. This legal obligation may be met by phone. Y'all can telephone call on route with a cellular phone or immediately upon arrival to the United States.

Take the following information prepare when calling to avert delays:

Boat registration number and length (and Community decal if over thirty feet; see below),
Captain'due south name and engagement of birth,
Total number of persons on board and value of all purchases in Canada,
The name of the marina where you first arrived on the United states side.U.S.

Customs and Border Protection has offices in Ashtabula (440-964-2510), Cleveland (440-891-3800), and Toledo/Sandusky (419-259-6424).