No person under 12 years of age may operate a motorboat, unless accompanied on-board and directly supervised by a competent person 18 years of age or older. Personal watercraft (PWC) users must still be at least 16 years of age in order to operate, with no exceptions.
Safety Education Certification
As of April 1st, 2026, a valid boater safety certificate will be required for the operation of motorboats and PWCs in Massachusetts. Anyone born after January 1, 1989, has until April 1, 2026, to obtain their certificate, provided that no operator shall be assessed a penalty until September 1, 2026. Anyone born on or before January 1, 1989, must obtain their certificate before April 1, 2028. Operators of motorboats and PWCs will be required to show proof of completion of an approved boater education course when underway on the waters of the Commonwealth.
Until March 31st, 2026, youth who are between 12 and 15 years of age must complete an approved basic boating course in order to operate a motorboat without adult supervision. Upon successful completion of such a course, students are issued a state "boating safety certificate" which must be in the possession of the certified operator when underway. Personal watercraft users who are 16 or 17 years of age must also complete such a boating course. Youth less than 16 years of age are not allowed to operate personal watercraft. Youth less than 12 years of age may not operate a motorboat unless supervised by an adult.
Required Equipment