36 CFR § 3.6 - What are the requirements to operate a power driven vessel?

---
identifier: "/us/cfr/t36/s3.6"
source: "ecfr"
legal_status: "authoritative_unofficial"
title: "36 CFR § 3.6 - What are the requirements to operate a power driven vessel?"
title_number: 36
title_name: "Parks, Forests, and Public Property"
section_number: "3.6"
section_name: "What are the requirements to operate a power driven vessel?"
chapter_name: "NATIONAL PARK SERVICE, DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR"
part_number: "3"
part_name: "BOATING AND WATER USE ACTIVITIES"
positive_law: false
currency: "2026-04-05"
last_updated: "2026-04-05"
format_version: "1.1.0"
generator: "[email protected]"
authority: "54 U.S.C. 100101, 100751, 320102."
regulatory_source: "72 FR 13702, Mar. 23, 2007, unless otherwise noted."
cfr_part: "3"
---


# 3.6 What are the requirements to operate a power driven vessel?

(a) To operate a power-driven vessel on park waters, a person must be either:

(1) At least 16 years old; or

(2) Between 12 and 15 years old and accompanied on the vessel by a person at least 18 years old.

(b) If a park area is located within a State having different age requirements, then the applicable State law is adopted in lieu of paragraph (a) of this section.

(c) If a park area is located within a State having a mandatory boater education requirement, then that State requirement is adopted.