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Motor Vessel Safety Operating and Equipment Checklist
The Washington’s Mandatory Boating Education law requires agencies that rent,
charter or lease motorboats or vessels with engines of 15 horsepower or more, to
review the Motor Vessel Rental Safety
Checklist (1MB PDF) with renters/operators.
The checklist covers both safety practices and equipment for all types of
motorboats and personal watercraft. The Commission-approved checklist must be used
to ensure uniformity and compliance with the law, even by rental agencies that have
developed their own safety checklist.
Rental agency staff must review the contents of the checklist with every renter/operator
to insure each statement about operation and safety equipment is understood. The renter/operator
must review the checklist and initial each item on both sides of the checklist.
Boaters must carry their signed checklist with them, or they may be ticketed if stopped by a
marine law enforcement officer.
Washington State Parks will make pads of the checklist available
free of charge to each requesting agency. Rental agencies also may download
the checklist form and make as many copies as needed. It is recommended that rental agencies
provide renters some type of water proof container to store the document in (i.e. sealable
plastic bag).
To get copies of the Motor Vessel Rental Safety Checklist, contact the Washington State
Department of Printing by:
- Mail: Send a completed
checklist order form (143kb PDF)
to Washington State Department of Printing, P.O. Box 798, Olympia, WA 98507-0798.
- Phone: Call (360) 570-3062.
- Online: Order the checklist forms through the Department of Printing
Fulfillment Center Web site. Print these ordering tips (32kb Word)
for help ordering checklist forms online.
Allow four to six weeks for delivery of your order.