Are You Reqired To Register Your John Boat In Sc

Historic period REQUIREMENTS FOR SOUTH CAROLINA BOATERS

Boat operators who are less than 16 years of age are required to obtain a South Carolina Boater Education Card in order to legally operate a boat powered past a motor of fifteen hp or more, unless they are directly supervised by an developed on board who is at least 18 years of historic period.

kids jumping into water from boat

Aerial shot of lone sailboat on choppy water.

NASBLA & Declension Baby-sit Approved

The BOATsmart! S Carolina Boating Safety Class is officially recognized past the United States Coast Guard every bit coming together the standards of the National Recreational Boating Safety Program. BOATsmart!'south online South Carolina Boating Prophylactic Grade is approved by the National Association of State Boating Law Administrators (NASBLA) equally it meets and exceeds U.S. Boating Education Standards. NASBLA develops education standards for canoeing safety and represents boating law administrators in all 50 states and U.Southward. territories.

Watch, Listen & Acquire

From anywhere, on any device at whatsoever fourth dimension.

Our animated and narrated Boating Safety Course is perfect for all ages. Study from your Smartphone, Tablet or Desktop and switch between devices at any time. BOATsmart! automatically tracks your progress so you lot can study at your own pace.

WHAT IS A Due south CAROLINA BOATER Education CARD

A South Carolina Boater Instruction Carte du jour proves that you've obtained the knowledge needed to safely operate a motorized boat on Due south Carolina waterways. All gunkhole operators who are less than xvi years of age are required to get certified to operate a boat or PWC powered by a motor of 15 hp or more than, unless they are directly supervised by an adult who is eighteen years of age or older.

WHERE CAN I GET MY Due south CAROLINA BOATER Education CARD?

Y'all can become your South Carolina Boater Education Menu by completing the Official BOATsmart! Grade online. In one case you successfully complete the online study guide and final test, y'all can print a temporary card immediately. BOATsmart! volition post your permanent card within iv weeks.

HOW OLD Exercise I HAVE TO BE TO GET A BOATER Menu IN S CAROLINA?

There is no minimum age to consummate the South Carolina Boater Education Course and obtain your Boater Education Card.

AGE AND HORSEPOWER RESTRICTIONS

Gunkhole operators in S Carolina who are less than 16 years of historic period are not permitted to operate a boat or PWC powered by a motor of 15 hp or more than unless they are directly supervised by an developed who is at to the lowest degree 18 years of age, or they have completed an canonical boater teaching course.

HOW LONG DOES IT TAKE TO Go MY SOUTH CAROLINA Boating LICENSE?

It takes a minimum of 3 hours to go your Southward Carolina Boater Education Card online. Once you've completed the online course and official test, yous can impress a temporary card and go boating right away. Your permanent card will be mailed to you by BOATsmart! within 4 weeks.

Tin I GET REFRESHER LESSONS Afterwards TAKING THE SOUTH CAROLINA Canoeing Course?

Yep. Boat operators in the land of South Carolina tin can keep upward-to-engagement on the latest boating regulations with the free BOATsmart! Knowledge Base. Learn about boating equipment requirements, navigation and right-of-way regulations and restrictions that may apply on South Carolina waterways to be sure that y'all're rubber and confident on the water.

Practice I NEED A LICENSE TO RENT A Boat IN South CAROLINA?

Boat operators in South Carolina are non required to obtain a Boater Education Card to rent a boat within the country. Operators who are sixteen years of age or older may operate any recreational boat or PWC without restrictions or supervision.

Due south CAROLINA BOATING AND Alcohol LAWS

It is illegal to operate any motorized boat while under the influence of booze, a controlled substance or a combination thereof. Research has proven that 1-third of the corporeality of booze that information technology takes to brand a person legally intoxicated on land can make a boater equally intoxicated on the h2o.

In S Carolina, a person is considered to exist under the influence if:

They are under the influence of alcohol to the extent that the person'south faculties to operate are materially and appreciably dumb.
They are nether the influence of any other drug or a combination of other drugs or substances which cause harm to the extent that the person'due south faculties to operate are materially and appreciably impaired.
They are under the combined influence of alcohol and whatever other drug or drugs, or substances which cause harm to the extent that the person's faculties to operate are materially and appreciably impaired.

FINES AND PENALTIES

In South Carolina, a person convicted of operating a gunkhole while nether the influence will be subject area to the post-obit penalties:

For a 1st offence: A fine of $200 and 48 hours to a maximum of 30 days of imprisonment. In lieu of the 48 60 minutes minimum imprisonment, the court may require the offender to provide 48 hours of public service piece of work.

For a second offence: A fine of $2,000-$five,000 and 48 hours to 12 months of imprisonment. In lieu of the imprisonment judgement, the courtroom may require the offender to provide a minimum of ten days of public service work.

For a tertiary offence: A fine of $iii,500-$6,000 and 60 days to a maximum of three years imprisonment.

Any person convicted of operating a watercraft while under the influence, in addition to any other penalties, will be prohibited from operating whatever watercraft in South Carolina for:

6 months (for the start conviction).
one year (for a second confidence).
two years (for a tertiary conviction).

UNDER xvi YEARS OF AGE

May operate any boat, including a personal watercraft (PWC) without restrictions so long every bit the motor is less than fifteen horsepower.
May operate a boat of 15 horsepower or more than, including a PWC, so long every bit:
- They are supervised past a person who is eighteen years of historic period or older who is not under the influence of alcohol and/or drugs or;
- They take successfully completed a Boating Condom Grade approved by the S Carolina DNR.

16 YEARS OF Age OR OLDER

Boat operators in S Carolina who are sixteen years of age or older may operate a motorized boat without restrictions or supervision requirements.

Operating under the influence

Up to $6000

Failure to carry South Carolina Boater Educational activity Card

Upward to $200

Negligent Gunkhole Operation

Up to $200

Reckless Operation

Upwardly to $200

Life Jacket Violations

Upwards to $500

WHO ENFORCES S CAROLINA'S BOATING LAWS?

South Carolina's boating laws are enforced by:

The South Carolina Department of Natural Resources Law Enforcement Division.
The U.Southward. Coast Guard.
Other authorized law enforcement agencies.

Law enforcement in the country of Southward Carolina accept the authority to terminate and board boats to ensure they are in compliance with state and federal laws.

SOUTH Ballad INA Boat REGISTRATION

In order to legally operate a gunkhole in Southward Carolina, you must obtain a Certificate of Number (registration menu) and validation decals. The Document of Number must be on board and be available for inspection past a police enforcement officer during boat performance.

The Certificate of Number and validation decals are obtained by submitting an application and fee to the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources (DNR). Boat registration is valid for 3 years.

THESE VESSELS DO NOT Crave REGISTRATION IN Southward CAROLINA

Non-motorized boats.
Boats that have been documented past the Coast Guard.
Boats that take been registered in another land or country and are using South Carolina'south waters temporarily.

Gunkhole TITLING REQUIREMENTS

All boats are required to be titled. The only exceptions are boats that take been documented by the Coast Guard, paddleboats, rowboats and sailboards.

Additionally, outboard motors of v hp or more than are required to be titled, with the exception of bombardment powered trolling motors.

Exercise I NEED BOAT INSURANCE IN Due south CAROLINA?

Boats in S Carolina are not required to be insured, even so it is recommended.

Boats in Southward Carolina are required to correctly display their registration number and validations stickers.

Registration numbers and stickers must be displayed every bit follows:

The numbers must exist practical as a decal, painted or permanently affixed to each side of the gunkhole's bow (boat owners are non permitted to display any other numbers in this area).
The number must be in bold block letters that are at least 3 inches loftier and in a color that contrasts with the color of the boat.
The numbers must exist separated from the letters by a hyphen or past an equivalent space.
The numbers must be read from left to correct.
Validation decals must be affixed on both sides of the boat, preceding the prefix letters of the registration number, and 6 inches following the registration number.
These requirements also employ to personal watercraft (PWCs).

SOUTH CAROLINA'Due south LIFE JACKET LAWS

In Southward Carolina, all boats must have at least ane, Coast Baby-sit-approved, Type I, 2, Three or V life jacket or PFD (article of clothing) for each person on lath or being towed. Each PFD must exist in good condition, readily available and the proper size for the intended wearer.

BOATS More than 16 FT IN LENGTH

Boats that are sixteen feet in length or greater must as well comport a Type IV (throwable) flotation device, in addition to a article of clothing device for each person on board.

PERSONAL WATERCRAFT

Any person operating or riding on a PWC is required to wear a Coast Guard-approved, Type I, II or 3 or V life jacket.

little boy silhouette icon

CHILDREN 12 YEARS OF Historic period AND Under

In Due south Carolina, passengers under 12 years of age are required to vesture a Coast Baby-sit-approved, Type I, Two, III, or Five, life jacket while on board whatever gunkhole that is under 16 anxiety in length.

TOWED SPORTS

Any person being towed by a boat is required to wear a Coast Guard-approved, Blazon I, 2, 3 or Five, life jacket.

NEGLIGENT OR RECKLESS BOAT OPERATION

It is illegal in the state of South Carolina to operate any boat or to dispense any water-skis, aquaplane or similar device in a careless, reckless or negligent fashion so as to endanger the life, limb or property of whatever person.

Examples of reckless performance include:

Weaving a gunkhole or PWC through congested traffic at more than than idle speed.
Jumping the wake of another gunkhole when within 200 feet of the other gunkhole.
Crossing the path or wake of another boat when the visibility around the other boat operator is obstructed
Waiting until the last possible moment to swerve to avoid a standoff.
Creating a chancy wake.
Harassing or agonizing wild animals with your gunkhole.
Riding on, or allowing passengers to ride on the boat's bow, seatback, gunwale or transom.
Allowing boat passengers to swim within l feet of a boat ramp of public landing
Overloading a boat beyond the safe carrying chapters.
Overpowering the boat beyond the recommended horsepower capacity.
Boating in a restricted area without regard for other water users, speed limits or wake restrictions.

BOAT SPEED LIMITS IN RESTRICTED AREAS

In Southward Carolina, it is illegal to operate a boat at greater than idle speed when within 50 feet of:

A wharf, dock or pier.
A person in the water.
A moored or anchored boat.

Ecology Protection

Not-NATIVE AQUATIC SPECIES

American waterways take been nether threat from foreign aquatic plants, fish and invertebrates. Aquatic Nuisance Species (ANS) are transferred from boats and boating equipment that originate from external waterways. In one case introduced to a new waterway, the ANS will detach from the contaminated gunkhole and spread like wildfire. ANS include: Milfoil, Zebra Mussels and Quagga Mussels.

Why are ANS such a serious threat?

They have no natural predators in U.South. waters.
Some ANS tin can actually survive out of water, making transfer easy.
They reproduce apace.
They accept harmful effects on the native wildlife, habitats and ecosystems.

For more information on Aquatic Nuisance Species, visit: world wide web.protectyourwaters.internet/impacts.php .

Assistance PREVENT THE SPREAD OF Non-NATIVE SPECIES

Inspect all surfaces of your boat and remove aquatic plants or animals before leaving any body of water.
Ensure you flush raw-water cooling systems and make clean sea-strainers before moving your gunkhole from one trunk of water to another.
Empty and dry any buckets earlier leaving a body of water.
Remove any establish fragments from allurement wells, angling gear, trailers, dive gear or props.
Dispose of found fragments and bait into a garbage receptacle on country.
Avoid chopping vegetation with your boat'south propeller.
Clean and dry all live-wells prior to transporting your boat.
Drain all water from your motor and bilge and dry out all areas. t.
Thoroughly launder your gunkhole, including the hull, earlier putting it into a new body of water.
Refer to specific drying times .

Infestations of non-native species

Report new infestations of non-native aquatic species to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service at (209) 946-6400.

Due south CAROLINA AIS REPORTING

https://www.invasivespeciesinfo.gov/the states/south-carolina

The Palmetto State, Blue Waters, Proficient Times

SOUTH CAROLINA'South Boating DESTINATIONS

Dwelling house to 12 major lakes, ranging from 7,500 to 110,000 acres in size, South Carolina'southward waterways open the door for boaters to explore all of the state's crawly scenery. Y'all tin see everything from the breathtaking mountains upstate, to the coastal beaches and the areas of low-lying, swampy wilderness. So, whether you lot live in the celebrated urban center of Charleston or the charming boondocks of Beaufort, you're guaranteed to enjoy your fourth dimension on the water in South Carolina.

Best BOATING LAKES

Covering 110,000 acres, Lake Marion is S Carolina's largest lake . With breathtaking views, endless waters to explore, and an abundance of fish, it's no wonder Lake Marion is one of South Carolina's top boating spots.

Lake Murray, the state's third largest lake is another get-to destination for boaters. Featuring picturesque views, this lake also offers deep-lake diving opportunities. Don't miss the chance to check out historical flop island. This tiny land mass in Lake Murray was the site of a WWII preparation location for fighter pilots. Who knows, if y'all're lucky, y'all might grab a glimpse of a sunken B-52 bomber looming during your mean solar day on the h2o.

If that weren't plenty, Oconee County known locally as the "Land Beside the Water" is bordered by the intricate Lake Keowee . Offer boat rentals, lake tours, lodging, camping, hiking and rafting, yous're certain to find something that "floats your boat" when visiting Lake Keowee.