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Kansas: The Legal Requirements of Boating
1
Kansas:
The Legal Requirements of Boating
Your Vessels Registration
Requirements for vessel registration vary from state to state. In Kansas all
vessels powered by gasoline, diesel, electric motors, or sail must be registered
and numbered in Kansas. Sailboards and personal watercraft (PWCs) are
considered vessels. Exceptions to registration are:
Vessels without any kind of motor or sail
Vessels properly registered in another state and using Kansas waters for up to
60 consecutive days
Vessels documented with the U.S. Coast Guard
If your vessel requires registration, it is illegal to operate it or allow others to
operate your vessel unless it is registered and numbered.
Registration application forms are available at marine stores, county clerks
offices, or from the Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks (KDWP). Mail
the completed application and required fee to the KDWP.
A Kansas boat registration is valid for three years from the date it is issued.
Renewal notices are mailed prior to the registration deadline. If you do not
receive a renewal notice by mail, contact the Boating Section at the Pratt
Operations office or renew your registration over the Internet at
www.kdwp.state.ks.us
.
When a vessel is sold, lost, stolen, destroyed, transferred, or abandoned, or if
the vessel owners address changes, the owner must notify the KDWP within
15 days.
Both in-state and out-of-state vessels must have their Certificate of Number
(pocket-size registration card) on board at all times.
Larger recreational vessels, owned by U.S. citizens, may (at the option of the
owner) be documented by the U.S. Coast Guard. Call the USCG at
1-800-799-8362
for more information.
Assigned Numbers and Registration Decals
The vessel number and registration decals must be displayed as follows.
Number must be painted or permanently attached to each side of the
forward top half of the vessel.
Numbers must be in bold, BLOCK letters at least three inches tall that read
from left to right on both sides of the vessel.
The color of the numbers must contrast with the background color and be
distinctly visible and legible.
Spaces or hyphens equal to letter width must separate letter groups and
numeral groups; for example: KA 123 AB or KA-123-AB.
Registration decals must be displayed in line with the assigned number on
each side of the vessel.
No numbers other than the one assigned should be displayed on the forward
half of the vessel.
Sailboards are required to display only the registration decal, which should be
attached to the front half of the top of the sailboard.

Certificate of Number
The Certificate of Number (pocket-size
registration card) must be carried on board
whenever the vessel is operated.
Registration Decal
KA 123 AB
KA 123 AB Spaces or hyphens
should appear here.
PWCs also
are required
to display the assigned registration
number and registration decals.
Copyright © 2006 by Boat Ed. All rights reserved. Boat Ed is not responsible or liable for any claims, liabilities, damages or other adverse eff ects or
consequences to any person or property caused or alleged to be caused directly or indirectly from the application or use of the information contained in
this publication. Boat Ed, 2906 Ladybird Lane, Dallas, TX, 75220 2

State Law
Hull Identification Number
The Hull Identification Number (HIN) is a unique, 12-digit number assigned
by the manufacturer to vessels built after 1972.
Hull Identification Numbers:
Distinguish one vessel from another the same as serial numbers distinguish
one car from another.
Are engraved in the fiberglass or on a metal plate permanently attached to
the transom.
The HIN is required by federal law and must appear on the registration appli-
cation.
You should write down your HIN and put it in a place separate from your
vessel in case warranty problems arise or your vessel is stolen.
Who May Operate a Vessel
The minimum age for operating a vessel in Kansas is 12. No one under the
age of 12
may operate a motorboat or personal watercraft on Kansas public
waters unless accompanied by and under the direct supervision of a parent or
person over the age of 17.
Any person born on or after January 1, 1989, and less than 21 years of
age
, must complete an approved boater safety education course in order to
operate a motorboat, personal watercraft, or sailboat on Kansas public waters
unless accompanied by and under the direct supervision of a person over the
age of 17. The supervising person must:
Possess a certificate of completion of an approved boater safety education
course or ...
Be exempt from this requirement.
It is illegal for the owner or person in possession of a vessel to allow a person
who does not meet the age and boater safety education requirements to
operate the vessel. Registration Questions?
Call the Kansas Department of
Wildlife and Parks at
620-672-5911
or visit our website at
www.kdwp.state.ks.us
Boater Safety Education Certificate
Operators required to have completed a boater
safety education course must carry the course
certificate on board the vessel.
ABC 67689 B6 06
Manufacturers
Hull Serial
Date of
Model
Identification
Number
Manufacture
Year

Code (MIC)
Copyright © 2006 by Boat Ed. All rights reserved. Boat Ed is not responsible or liable for any claims, liabilities, damages or other adverse eff ects or
consequences to any person or property caused or alleged to be caused directly or indirectly from the application or use of the information contained in
this publication. Boat Ed, 2906 Ladybird Lane, Dallas, TX, 75220 3
State Law no wake speed
A speed at which the vessel does not produce a
wake, not to exceed 5 miles per hour
Unlawful Operation of a Vessel
Kansas law states that these operating practices are illegal.
Reckless or Negligent Operation
is operating any vessel or manipulating
any water skis or similar device in a manner that causes danger to any person,
property, or wildlife. Examples of reckless or negligent operation include:
Operating under the influence of alcohol or drugs
Entering a marked swimming or all-boats-prohibited area with a vessel
Operating a vessel in violation of restrictions as given by buoys or signs
marking an area
Failing to observe the navigation rules
Weaving through congested waterway traffic
Jumping the wake of another vessel too close to that vessel
Maneuvering such that you must swerve at the last possible moment to
avoid a collision
Operating such that you collide with another vessel, object, or person
Chasing wildlife with your vessel
Improper Speed or Distance
is not maintaining a proper speed or distance
while operating a vessel. Specifically, it is illegal to:
Operate a vessel at greater than
no wake speed
in any posted no wake zone
or within 200 feet of any boat ramp, boat dock, boat storage, or
concessionaires facilities
Operate a vessel within 200 feet of any marked swimming area
Cause damage or unnecessary inconvenience from the wake of your vessel
Improper Use
is operating a vessel for purposes other than fishing or hunting
in areas marked as fishing areas or hunting areas.
Overloading or Overpowering
is loading or powering the vessel beyond the
safe load and horsepower limits, taking into consideration weather and other
operating conditions. The safe load and horsepower limits for most vessels are
shown on the capacity plate installed by the vessel manufacturer.










As an owner of a vessel, you are responsible
for any injury or damage caused by the
reckless or negligent operation of others you
allow to use your vessel.
Remember ...
Vessel Sanitation Locations
Lake Wilson Marina
(Wilson Reservoir)
Cheney Lake
(Cheney Reservoir)
RR2 Box 163
1600 NE 50th St.
Sylvan Grove, KS 67841
Cheney, KS 67025
785-658-2392
316-542-3664
Lake Perry Marina
(Perry Reservoir)
Snyder's Marina
(Cheney Reservoir)
10770 Perry Park Dr.
9912 South Titan Rd.
Perry, KS 66073
Cheney, KS 67025
785-597-5555
316-542-0163
DJs Rock Creek Marina
(Perry Reservoir)
Shady Creek Marina
(El Dorado Reservoir)
6049 West Lake Rd.
1000 NE Marina Rd., P.O. Box 287
Ozawkie, KS 66070
El Dorado, KS 67042
785-484-2656
316-321-0943
Thunderbird Marina
(Milford Reservoir)
Lighthouse Bay Marina
(Pomona Reservoir)
P.O. Box 548
4009 Marina Rd., P.O. Box 60
Junction City, KS 66441
Vassar, KS 66543
785-238-5864
785-828-4777
Milford Lake
(Milford Reservoir)
8811 State Park Rd.
Milford, KS 66514
785-238-3014
Kansas
Department of
Wildlife and
Parks conser-
vation officers,
U.S. Coast Guard
Auxiliary, and U.S.
Power Squadrons will
perform a Vessel Safety
Check (VSC) of your vessel
and equipment free of charge. This inspection
covers federal and state r