Wyoming boat rental laws
3 rules for boat and jet ski rental businesses in Wyoming, from one official source.
General boating law onlyWyoming has no boat livery statute. The only rental-specific rule found lets the owner keep the certificate of number on shore for rentals under one day; the general operator-age rule (16, or accompanied by an adult) applies to renters, and no state boater-education requirement was found in the statute.
Age limits
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No one under 16 may operate a numbered motorboat unless accompanied by an adult, and no one may knowingly permit an unaccompanied person under 16 to operate one.
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W.S. 41-13-219 — Age of operator of motorboat“No person shall knowingly permit the operation of a numbered motorboat on the waters of this state by a person under sixteen (16) years of age who is not accompanied by an adult.”
Registering rental boats
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Every motorboat requiring a number carries its certificate of number aboard, but if a motorboat is rented for less than one day, the owner or a designee may keep the certificate on shore, readily available for inspection.
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W.S. 41-13-104 — Application for certificate; issuance of certificate and assignment of number“If any motorboat is rented for less than one (1) day, the owner or his designee may retain the certificate of number on shore if the certificate is readily available for inspection.”
Other rules
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No motorboat may tow a water skier or similar from one hour after sunset to one hour before sunrise (authorised tournaments excepted).
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W.S. 41-13-212 — Motorboat pulling skier to be occupied by at least 2 persons“No motorboat shall have in tow or shall otherwise be assisting a person on water skis, aquaplane or similar contrivance from the period of one (1) hour after sunset to one (1) hour prior to sunrise.”
Not confirmed yet
What we looked for and could not confirm from an official source. Ask the agency before you assume anything here.
No state statute or regulation specific to boat or PWC rentals found beyond W.S. 41-13-104(a) (W.S. Title 41 chapter 13 searched for livery/rent/lease/hire): no livery licence, record, briefing, renter-age or insurance rule.
Wyoming Game and Fish Commission watercraft regulations (life jackets, PWC rules) were not reviewed.
Federal rules still apply
On top of Wyoming law, the federal rules apply to every boat you rent out:
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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.
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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.”
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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.
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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”
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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.
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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.”
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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.
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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 .”
Official agencies
Who makes and enforces these rules in Wyoming.
Questions rental operators ask
How old must a renter be in Wyoming?
No one under 16 may operate a numbered motorboat unless accompanied by an adult, and no one may knowingly permit an unaccompanied person under 16 to operate one. Source: wyoleg.gov, checked October 18, 2026.
For your renters
Free boating-law page for Wyoming on VesselSOS — link it from your booking confirmation.
Wyoming boating laws for boatersFree tools for rental operators
Print a safety briefing card, a rental agreement and waiver template or a dock poster. Free, in your browser.
Safety briefing cardRental agreement & waiver templateDock poster All free toolsRun the rental day on one screen.
VesselSOS Fleet checks renters out in 30 seconds and shows every boat and jet ski live until it is back — your customers’ phones are the trackers.
Fleet is a pilot: we are building it with a small group of rental operators for next season. No prices yet.