CT · State boating guide

Connecticut
boating laws

Last verified October 28, 2026

At a glance

Boater card: Required for specified operators; Connecticut residents, owners of Connecticut property, and anyone operating a Connecticut-registered vessel, to operate any motorboat or a sailboat 19.5 feet or longer; a PWC requires the Certificate of Personal Watercraft Operation. Small electric motors (106 lbs thrust or less) on inland waters restricted to 10 hp are exempt from one hour before sunrise to one hour after sunset (the boat must still be registered).
Operating age: Under 12: no motorboat over 10 hp unless they hold a certificate and are accompanied by someone 18 or older who holds a certificate. Under 16: may operate a non-PWC motorboat without a certificate only under direct supervision of someone 18 or older who has held a certificate for at least 2 years; may operate a PWC only with a CPWO and a CPWO holder 18 or older aboard. Towing a water skier: operator must be 16 or older.
Life-jacket age rule: Children under 13 must wear a life jacket while the boat is underway, unless in an enclosed cabin.
BUI / BAC limit: 0.08 BAC (0.02 for operators under 21)
Registration fee: $7.50–$525.00; Published categories; see fees and exceptions below.
Registration term: 1 year

The short answer

Do I need a boating license in Connecticut?

Certificate of Personal Watercraft Operation (CPWO); the older Safe Boating Certificate (SBC) is still valid but no longer issued is required for Connecticut residents, owners of Connecticut property, and anyone operating a Connecticut-registered vessel, to operate any motorboat or a sailboat 19.5 feet or longer; a PWC requires the Certificate of Personal Watercraft Operation. Small electric motors (106 lbs thrust or less) on inland waters restricted to 10 hp are exempt from one hour before sunrise to one hour after sunset (the boat must still be registered).

Confirm with Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP), Boating Division ↗

Connecticut requires a state boating certificate to operate any motorboat or a sailboat 19.5 feet or longer, and a Certificate of Personal Watercraft Operation for jet skis. Motorboats and sailboats 19.5 feet and up are registered with the CT DMV each year, with fees based on length. Children under 13 must wear a life jacket underway, everyone in a canoe or kayak must wear one from October 1 to May 31, and the legal limit is 0.08 BAC (0.02 under 21).

Before you operate

Boater education & operating age

Connecticut boater education requirements
Requirement	Details
Education required	Yes — see who needs a card below
Who needs a card	Connecticut residents, owners of Connecticut property, and anyone operating a Connecticut-registered vessel, to operate any motorboat or a sailboat 19.5 feet or longer; a PWC requires the Certificate of Personal Watercraft Operation. Small electric motors (106 lbs thrust or less) on inland waters restricted to 10 hp are exempt from one hour before sunrise to one hour after sunset (the boat must still be registered).
Card or certificate	Certificate of Personal Watercraft Operation (CPWO); the older Safe Boating Certificate (SBC) is still valid but no longer issued
Minimum operating age	Under 12: no motorboat over 10 hp unless they hold a certificate and are accompanied by someone 18 or older who holds a certificate. Under 16: may operate a non-PWC motorboat without a certificate only under direct supervision of someone 18 or older who has held a certificate for at least 2 years; may operate a PWC only with a CPWO and a CPWO holder 18 or older aboard. Towing a water skier: operator must be 16 or older.
Out-of-state cards	Certificates from Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New York and Rhode Island are accepted (the guide notes these agreements are being revised). New residents have 90 days to get a Connecticut certificate.

Find an officially approved course

Your boat’s paperwork

Boat registration & fees

All motorboats (any motor, including electric) and sailboats 19.5 feet or longer, registered through the CT DMV. Registrations expire April 30 and are renewed yearly; fees are by length, with lower rates for older wooden hulls. A boat title costs $25. Since Public Act 26-60 (May 20, 2026), unregistered vessels and paddlecraft must display owner contact information.

Under 12 feet (fiberglass, metal, etc.)$7.50
16 to 17 feet$30.00
20 to 21 feet$60.00
26 to 27 feet$105.00
40 to 41 feet$270.00
65 feet and over$525.00
Pontoon (not a houseboat)$40.00
Low-power vessel (under 15 feet and under 15 hp)$7.50

Registration fee data and sources

Connecticut registration fees · USD
Boat / fee category	Fee	Term	Source
Under 12 feet (fiberglass, metal, etc.)	$7.50	1 year	Official source: Under 12 feet (fiberglass, metal, etc.) ↗
16 to 17 feet	$30.00	1 year	Official source: 16 to 17 feet ↗
20 to 21 feet	$60.00	1 year	Official source: 20 to 21 feet ↗
26 to 27 feet	$105.00	1 year	Official source: 26 to 27 feet ↗
40 to 41 feet	$270.00	1 year	Official source: 40 to 41 feet ↗
65 feet and over	$525.00	1 year	Official source: 65 feet and over ↗
Pontoon (not a houseboat)	$40.00	1 year	Official source: Pontoon (not a houseboat) ↗
Low-power vessel (under 15 feet and under 15 hp)	$7.50	1 year	Official source: Low-power vessel (under 15 feet and under 15 hp) ↗

Published registration fees in USD. Bar lengths compare the listed amounts; terms and official sources appear in the data table below.

Registration details from the agency

Personal watercraft (Jet Ski) rules

Operator needs a Certificate of Personal Watercraft Operation or a reciprocal-state certificate.
No PWC operation from sunset to sunrise.
Everyone on board must wear a non-inflatable USCG-approved life jacket.
Slow, no-wake speed within 200 feet of shore, docks, swimmers and moored boats.
The engine cut-off lanyard must be attached to the operator.
No jumping the wake of another vessel within 100 feet of it.
A PWC towing a skier must be rated to carry at least three people.

Towing & watersports

The operator must be at least 16, hold a boating certificate and have the Safe Water Skiing Endorsement.
An observer at least 12 years old must be on board.
No water skiing from one-half hour after sunset until sunrise.
Towlines may be no longer than 100 feet.
Inflatable life jackets and ski belts are not allowed for people being towed.

Life jacket rules

Carry a USCG-approved wearable life jacket for each person on board.
Children under 13 must wear a life jacket while the boat is underway, unless in an enclosed cabin.
Everyone on a manually propelled vessel (canoe, kayak, paddleboard, rowboat) must wear a life jacket from October 1 through May 31.
Inflatable life jackets do not count for anyone under 16 or under 90 pounds.
Boats 16 feet or longer must also carry a throwable device.
Everyone on a PWC must wear a non-inflatable life jacket.

Boating under the influence

Published limit: 0.08 BAC (0.02 for operators under 21). Read the linked official guidance for the full rule and any age-specific provisions.

At a glance

Any motorboat, even with a small motor, needs a certificate holder at the helm.
Water skiing requires a separate Safe Water Skiing Endorsement.
Registration runs to April 30 each year and starts at $7.50 for boats under 12 feet.
Canoes and kayaks: life jackets on from October 1 to May 31.
Boating cards from MA, NH, NY and RI are accepted.

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