Ask Game and Fish

A: Wyoming lakes and reservoirs are popular for the whole family to enjoy the outdoors, fishing and boating. With so many people using Wyoming’s waters, it is important for everyone to keep boating safety in mind. In Wyoming, the age a person is allowed to operate a motorboat and non-motorized watercraft are different.

A motorboat is any watercraft propelled in any respect by propulsion machinery powered by an energy source other than human effort. To legally operate a motorboat, the operator must be at least 16 years old.

A person under the age of 16 may operate a motorboat as long as they are accompanied by an adult who is at least 18 years old. The term “accompanied by an adult” means that an adult is also physically in or aboard the motorized watercraft and is responsible for the operation of the watercraft. There is no age restriction to operate a non-motorized watercraft, like a canoe, kayak or raft.

You can find Wyoming’s watercraft regulations and safety information, including a boater education course, at a Game and Fish office and online.

Submitted by Jake Brown, Green River Game Warden