Georgia boat rental laws

Boater education card for renters

• Since 1 July 2014, anyone born on or after 1 January 1998 who operates any motorized vessel must first complete a DNR-approved boater education course.

  Official guidance The renter Source: Mandatory Boater Education · gadnrle.org ↗ Checked October 18, 2026

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  Georgia DNR Law Enforcement Division — Mandatory Boater Education“As of July 1, 2014, all persons born on or after January 1, 1998 that operate any motorized vessel on the waters of the state must have completed a boat education course approved by the department prior to such operation.”

• Exempt: Coast Guard-licensed masters, operators on a private lake or pond, and non-residents carrying proof of a NASBLA-approved course from another state.

  Official guidance The renter Source: Mandatory Boater Education · gadnrle.org ↗ Checked October 18, 2026

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  Georgia DNR Law Enforcement Division — Mandatory Boater Education“A person is exempt if he or she is: a person licensed by the U.S. Coast Guard as a master of a vessel; a person operating on a private lake or pond; a non-resident who has in his or her possession proof”

Not confirmed yet

What we looked for and could not confirm from an official source. Ask the agency before you assume anything here.

• No statute or regulation specific to boat or PWC rentals was confirmed from an official source. Searched: O.C.G.A. Title 52 Chapter 7 — reported rules that a boat livery may rent vessels of 10 hp or more only to persons 16 or older who completed a department-approved rental education course are not confirmed.

• Minimum ages to operate or rent a PWC in Georgia were not confirmed.

• The page was read from the Internet Archive's copy of the official DNR page (24 April 2026); later changes are not reflected.

Federal rules still apply

On top of Georgia law, the federal rules apply to every boat you rent out:

• Under federal law a boat leased, rented or chartered to someone else for their pleasure is a “recreational vessel” — so the federal recreational boating rules apply to your rentals.

  Law Business and renter Source: § 2101(34) · govinfo.gov ↗ Checked October 18, 2026

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  46 U.S.C. § 2101 — General definitions“"recreational vessel" means a vessel— (A) being manufactured or operated primarily for pleasure; or (B) leased, rented, or chartered to another for the latter's pleasure.”

• Every recreational vessel needs at least one wearable Coast Guard-approved life jacket on board for each person, used as its approval label says; boats 16 ft or longer also need one throwable device.

  Law Business and renter Source: § 175.15(a)–(b) · ecfr.gov ↗ Checked October 18, 2026

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  33 CFR § 175.15 — Personal flotation devices required“At least one wearable PFD is on board for each person; … No person may use a recreational vessel 16 feet or more in length unless one throwable PFD is onboard”

• A child under 13 aboard a recreational vessel under way must wear a Coast Guard-approved life jacket unless below decks or in an enclosed cabin. Where a state has its own child life jacket law, the state age applies on its waters instead.

  Law The renter Source: § 175.15(c) · ecfr.gov ↗ Checked October 18, 2026

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  33 CFR § 175.15(c) and § 175.25“No person may operate a recreational vessel under way with any child under 13 years old aboard unless each such child is either— ( 1 ) Wearing an appropriate PFD approved by the Coast Guard; or ( 2 ) Below decks or in an enclosed cabin.”

• If the state has a statute requiring children of a certain age to wear a life jacket, that state requirement applies on the state's waters instead of the federal under-13 rule.

  Law The renter Source: § 175.25(b) · ecfr.gov ↗ Checked October 18, 2026

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  33 CFR § 175.25 — Enforcement of State requirements for children to wear personal flotation devices“If the applicable State statute establishes any requirement for children of a certain age to wear an appropriate PFD approved by the Coast Guard, then that requirement applies on the waters subject to the State's jurisdiction instead of the requirement provided in § 175.15(c) of this part .”

All federal rules and every state →

Official agencies

Who makes and enforces these rules in Georgia.

• Georgia Department of Natural Resources — Law Enforcement DivisionBoating law, boater education, enforcementgadnrle.org ↗