Please contact the appropriate authority to determine which courses your state approves.

WASHINGTON
State Parks & Recreation Commission
P.O. Box 42654
Olympia WA 98504-2654
360.586.6594
Boat registration:
360.902.3811

This course is not endorsed by any Federal or State Agency.

The Department of Licensing oversees the titling and registration process. While most boats must be titled and registered, there are some exceptions. In general, all motorboats and sailboats 16 feet and over are required to be titled or registered.

You may register at your local county auditor's office or vehicle licensing subagency offices. Bring proof of ownership, such as Manufacturer's Certificate of origin, Carpenter's Certificate or Manufacturer's Invoice; the hull number, if available; and proof for any exemptions claimed. The signature of all owners except lienholder(s) is also required.

Vessels that have a valid number under federal law in the state of principal use, may temporarily use Washington waters without obtaining Washington registration. When Washington becomes the new principal state, the vessel owner has 60 days in which to obtain Washington registration. Registration must be completed before you operate your boat. The state registration year is July 1 through June 30. When you register you may request the continued use of your Coast Guard number.

Boat registration fees are:

• A $5 title fee, one-time only.
  
• A $10.50 annual registration fee.
  
• Plus applicable filing fee.
  
• You may be required to pay an excise tax when you register.

If your boat is homemade or has been acquired by trade, lease or gift or the most recent purchase price is not known, you will be asked to complete a declaration of value. That declared value may be reviewed by the Department of Revenue. All boat owners must notify the Department of Licensing within 15 days of the following:

• The owner's change of address.
  
• The destruction, loss, abandonment, theft, or recovery of the boat.
  
• The loss or destruction of a valid certificate of registration.
  
• When a vessel is sold, you must notify the Department of Licensing of the following within five working days of the date of sale:
  
• The name and address of the owner and of the transferee.
  
• The description of the vessel by using the vessel registration (WN) number and/or the hull identification number (HIN).

Renewal reminder notices are generally mailed in April. If you do not receive a renewal notice, contact your local county auditor or licensing agent. Call the Department of Licensing for questions on registration: (360) 902-3770, option 5.

Children 12 years and younger are required to wear U.S. Coast Guard approved life jackets in Washington State on boats shorter than 19 feet, whenever the vessel is underway, and when on an open deck or open cockpit.

Water skiers and all PWC occupants must wear U.S.C.G. approved life jackets.

When not required to be worn, PFDs must be readily accessible.

Washington - Mufflers:

Mufflers (Noise Levels):
Every motorboat shall have its engine equipped with an effective muffling device. Muffler cutout devices are illegal.

All motor driven boats or vessels shall use an adequate and operating muffling device with a series of baffles and chambers, which shall effectively blend the exhaust and motor noise in such a manner so as to preclude excessive or unusual noise.

It is unlawful to remove, disable, bypass, or use a cutout device on any muffler or muffling device of any vessel, except while engaged in organized racing events in an area designated for that purpose.

Washington - Pollution and Environmental Awareness:

Shellfish
Harvesting shellfish is a fun way to enjoy our beaches and get some good food, too.

But there are a few things you might want to know about shellfish. Shellfish are filter feeders. This means that they take in large volumes of water during feeding, contaminates and all.

When boats anchor near shellfish beds and discharge sewage, the shellfish may take up some of the disease-causing bacteria present in the sewage. Eating contaminated shellfish could cause gastrointestinal disorders, nausea, diarrhea, infectious hepatitis or other diseases.

Boaters -- Try not to anchor where you know there are shellfish beds. Be sure not to discharge any sewage in shellfish areas.
Harvesters -- Pay attention to the posted signs warning of possible shellfish contamination. Do not harvest shellfish near marinas or popular anchorages. If you have any concerns about the suitability of shellfish for consumption, call: Department of Health (360) 753-5992

Paralytic shellfish poisoning (PSP), commonly known as red tide, occurs when clams, oysters, scallops and mussels consume and concentrate a microscopic algae that contains a strong toxin. To be sure that an area is not affected by red tide, call: PSP Hotline (red tide) 1-800-562-5632

Sewage
Many small sources of pollution enter Washington's waterways. Urban stormwater runoff, failing septic tanks, forest and agricultural practices, boats and marina operations are all sources of pollutants.

Human sewage from boats is one source of pollution that can pose environmental problems, especially in bays and inlets that flush poorly or are shallow. While boating, it is important that you treat or dispose of your sewage properly. You are not required to have an installed toilet on your boat. However, if there is one, then it must be equipped with a Coast Guard-certified Marine Sanitation Device.

Marine Sanitation Devices
A Marine Sanitation Device (MSD) is designed to prevent the illegal, overboard discharge of untreated sewage.

There are three main types of MSDs. Type I macerates and disinfects sewage with chemicals, then discharges treated sewage overboard. Type II treats sewage to a higher degree through maceration and biological decomposition. If you have treated sewage, it's best to flush it in deep water. Avoid flushing in small bays, marinas or near shellfish beds. Holding tank MSD systems (Type III) temporarily store sewage in a tank on the boat. Deodorizers and formaldehyde are added to the tank in small quantities, but the tank must be emptied at a sewage pumpout station to comply with state regulations.

Owners of boats without installed toilets should consider using a port-a-potty. Many marine parks and marinas have dump stations to empty port-a-potties.

Find out where the pumpouts are located and use them. Call the State Parks' Boating Programs Office (360) 902-8551.

No person under the age of 14 shall operate a personal watercraft.

Under state boating law, counties are permitted to adopt local ordinances. Boaters are encouraged to check with their local Sheriff's office or police department to get a listing of local boating ordinances.

Help Protect Marine Mammals
The following operating guidelines for vessels are suggested not only to protect the animals, but also to benefit and protect the general public since an occurrence such as a vessel/whale collision could be detrimental to both the animal and the people involved:

• Should not approach marine mammals closer than 100 yards.
  
• Should not separate mothers from offspring.
  
• Should approach whales slowly from the side, travel parallel to them and at the same speed as the slowest animals.

Help Protect Marine Mammals: WA: 1-800-562-8832, BC: 1-800-334-8832

Restricted Speed Areas
Many local jurisdictions have ordinances that prohibit the operation of a motorboat at a speed in excess of six (6) miles per hour within 100 feet of shore, or a dock, pier, float or anchored or moored vessel, unless taking off or landing a water skier.

When within 100 feet of an area marked as a restricted swimming area or boat access area, vessels shall be operated at the minimum speed necessary to maintain steerageway.

Speed Regulations
When no limits are posted, operate the boat so it will not endanger others. The boat must be able to stop safely within the clear distance ahead. When passing near marinas, fishing areas, swimming areas, a vessel at anchor, or similar places, reduce speed. Skippers are responsible for damage caused by their vessel's wakes. In Washington, speed may be limited by law for certain conditions and areas. Comply with posted regulatory signs.

Actions such as speeding in confined or restricted areas, "buzzing" or "wetting down" others or skiing at prohibited times or in restricted areas can be construed as negligent or reckless operation.

Negligent Operation
Negligent operation is the failure to exercise the degree of care necessary to prevent the endangering of another person or person's property. It can be the result of operator ignorance, carelessness, inattention or indifference.

Negligent operation is committed when a person operates a vessel at such speed or maneuvers a vessel in such a manner as to result in death, serious physical injury or damage to property.

Hazardous Conditions
Enforcement officers may terminate a voyage and direct the operator to return to the nearest dock if they discover a hazardous condition. The operator must then correct this condition before proceeding.
The conditions listed below are considered hazardous:

• Inadequate number of PFDs or fire extinguishers.
  
• Overloading. (Check capacity plate information.)
  
• Failure to display required navigation lights.
  
• Fuel leakage.
  
• Fuel accumulation (other than fuel tank).
  
• Failure to meet ventilation requirements.
  
• Failure to meet carburetor backfire flame arrestor requirements.
  
• Excessive leakage or accumulation of water in the bilge.

Mooring to Buoys
The only buoys you are permitted to moor to are mooring buoys. Mooring to a navigation buoy or other aid to navigation or regulatory marker is illegal.

Mooring buoys are white with a horizontal blue stripe centered around the circumference of the buoy. A mooring buoy is required to have ownership identification on it. A lighted mooring buoy normally displays a slow flashing white light, but if located in a waterway where it could be an obstruction to vessels navigating at night, a quick-flashing light must be displayed. (Reference: WAC 351-67)

Operating a boat under the influence of intoxicants is against the law. A blood alcohol content level of .08 or more is considered to be under the influence.

Marine patrol officers who have reason to suspect that a boat operator is under the influence may require the operator to undergo sobriety tests.
Anyone who operates a boat on Washington's waterways has given consent to a field sobriety test. Refusal can be used as evidence in a court trial.

By law, a boat operator/owner must report any accident causing damage over $500, requiring medical treatment beyond first aid, loss of life or disappearance of any person engaged in recreational boating. Contact the local law enforcement agency or the Washington State Parks and Recreation Commission for boating accident reports.

Serious injury accidents, fatalities or disappearances are required to be investigated by local law enforcement authorities.

The boating accident report that you complete is confidential and may help save lives in the future. The report will be used by State Parks only to develop boating safety programs. The report cannot, by law, be used in any court or trial resulting from the accident.

When an accident happens the vessel's operator must offer practical assistance to save the people aboard the stricken vessel from danger, when doing so does not seriously endanger the operator's own vessel and passengers. State law has a "Good Samaritan" clause for mariners who offer help in an emergency:

Under no circumstances may the rendering of assistance or other compliance with this section be evidence of the liability of such operator for the collision, accident, or casualty.

Any person who gratuitously and in good faith renders assistance at the scene of a vessel collision, accident, or other casualty, without objection of the person assisted, shall not be held liable for any civil damages as a result of the rendering of assistance or for any act or omission in providing or arranging salvage, towage, medical treatment, or other assistance, where the assisting person acts as any reasonably prudent person would have acted under the same or similar circumstances. (Reference: RCW 79A.60.200).

Boaters should be familiar with the "divers down" flag. Displayed on a boat or on a float, this flag indicates that diving activities are taking place.

Divers should use the flag to mark diving locations and boat operators must be able to identify it. Serious injuries can result if proper caution is not observed.

If a divers downs flag is spotted while boating, be careful and do not approach out of curiosity. Maintain a distance of at least 200 feet between the flag and your vessel.

Also, keep a sharp lookout for air bubbles breaking the surface near the boat. It is possible for divers to stray accidentally from the safe area of the flag. (Reference: WAC 352-60-060(8)(e))

The purpose of this section is to promote safety in water skiing on the waters of Washington state, provide a means of ensuring safe water skiing and promote the enjoyment of water skiing.

No vessel which has in tow a person or persons on water skis or similar device shall be operated on any waters of Washington state unless such craft shall be occupied by at least an operator and an observer. The observer shall continuously observe the person or persons being towed and shall display a flag immediately after the towed person or persons fall into the water, and during the time preparatory to skiing while the person or persons are still in the water. Such flag shall be a bright red or brilliant orange color, measuring at least twelve inches square, mounted on a pole not less than twenty-four inches long and displayed as to be visible from every direction.

No person shall engage or attempt to engage in water skiing, or operate or ride on a personal watercraft, without wearing an adequate and effective United States Coast Guard approved type I, II, III, or V personal flotation device in good and serviceable condition and of appropriate size, or a wet suit which is approved for personal flotation by the United States Coast Guard.

A person operating a personal watercraft equipped by the manufacturer with a lanyard-type engine cutoff switch must attach the lanyard to his or her person, clothing, or personal flotation device as is appropriate for the specific vessel. It is unlawful for any person to remove or disable a cutoff switch which was installed by the manufacturer.

No person shall engage or attempt to engage in water skiing, or operate any vessel to tow a water skier, on the waters of Washington state during the period from one hour after sunset until one hour prior to sunrise.

No person shall operate a personal watercraft on the waters of Washington state during the period from sunset until sunrise.

Operators of personal watercraft in Washington state must be at least fourteen years of age.

It is unlawful for a person to lease, hire, or rent a personal watercraft to any person who is under sixteen years of age.

No person engaged in water skiing, or the operation of a personal watercraft, shall conduct himself or herself in a reckless manner that endangers, or is likely to endanger, any person or property.

If engaged in a tournament, competition, or exhibition permitted by the appropriate agency having jurisdiction and authority to authorize such an event, the flag, personal flotation device, and time of day restrictions do not apply. (Reference: RCW 79A.60.190)