Pennsylvania Fish & Boat Commission

RENTAL BOAT BUSINESS EDUCATION REQUIREMENTS

These guidelines are applicable to any commercial enterprise, person, partnership, corporation or other legal entity that rents or leases boats to other persons for use on the waters of this Commonwealth. Such businesses are sometimes referred to as boat rentals, boat liveries, or outfitters. All boat rental businesses shall present to any person renting or operating a rented boat an orientation and introduction to boating safety including a review of the laws and regulations applicable to the type of boat being rented and the local conditions of the waters on which the boat will be used. In addition, the boat rental business will assure that all operators are familiar with the proper handling characteristics of the rented boat, the use of emergency equipment such as life jackets, fire extinguishers and visual distress signal, provided operational equipment and the requirements contained on the renter posters provided by the Commission.

Act 199 of 2002 and the Fishing and Boating Regulations require all operators of personal watercraft and operators of boats equipped with motors in excess of 25 horsepower who were born after January 1, 1982 to possess a boating safety education certificate. Persons who produce a Boating Safety Education Certificate issued or approved by the Commission under § 91.6 (relating to certificates) are not required to complete the temporary education certificate requirements below. The boat rental business must still provide instruction on the proper operation of the rented boat and a description of known boating hazards in the waters of operation. All persons providing instruction for the boat rental business must have a permanent boating safety education certificate issued by the Commission.

The following procedures are to be followed when renting a boat to any person for operation on Pennsylvania waters. These instructions may take up to thirty minutes to complete. Instruction may be provided in group settings.

Unpowered Boat Rental:

• Display in a prominent location the Commission provided poster summarizing Pennsylvania regulations and boating tips relating to the proper operation of unpowered boats.
• Review each item on the poster with all individuals renting a boat.
• Describe all known boating hazards on the waters where the renter will use the boat. Include such hazards as dams, bridge piers, shallow areas, swim areas, obstructions in the water, slow-no-wake areas, docks, piers, and boating access areas.

Motorboat Rental:

• Display in a prominent location the Commission provided poster summarizing Pennsylvania regulations and boating tips relating to the proper operation of motorboats.
• Review each item on the poster with all individuals renting or using a boat.
• Describe all known boating hazards on the waters where the renter will use the boat. Include such hazards as dams, bridge piers, shallow areas, swim areas, obstructions in the water, slow-no-wake areas, docks, piers, and boating access areas.

Renting boats equipped with motors larger than 25 horsepower and Personal Watercraft
- In addition to the general motorboat rental requirements:

• Show the video supplied by the Commission to everyone who will be renting or operating a rented boat equipped with a motor larger than 25 horsepower, or
• Show the video from the Personal Watercraft Industry Association (PWIA), designed for PWC rental businesses, to everyone renting, operating or using a PWC.
• All motorboat operators who do NOT possess a permanent certificate in accordance with the law and regulations must be given the Motorboat Rental Examination. This is a “learning” test and no grade is given or required. Its purpose is to provide an indication to the boat rental business and the boat operator being tested of the student’s knowledge of boating regulations and operational requirements.
• Provide every operator of the rented boat a Temporary Boating Safety Education Certificate for Rented Watercraft. The livery operator or designee and the customer must both sign the certificate.
• Instruct the operator that the Temporary Boating Safety Education Certificate must be in the operator’s possession during the date and time of rental.

Posters and other information for boat rental businesses can be accessed on the Commission's Boat Rental page. All materials can be requested using the Commission's order form . The livery operator may make copies of the provided examination master.

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