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Louisiana Regulatory Guide

Louisiana has regulations related to the operation of vessel, including boats used for leasing. These regulations cover various aspects of vessel operation, such as equipment requirements, safety procedures, and licensing requirements for operators. On this page, we navigate you through everything you need to have in place in order to ensure that your boat rental business is compliant with Louisiana’s regulations, along with some other important things to keep in mind.

Boxes you need to tick

These are requirements as defined by law:

Age Requirement

Renters must be minimum 16 years old

You must be age 16 or older to operate a personal watercraft. It is illegal for a person who owns or has charge of a personal watercraft to knowingly permit a person under age 16 to operate a personal watercraft. It is also illegal for a rental company to rent a personal watercraft to anyone under age 16

Rental Boating Safety and Education Video

Rental Boating Safety and Education Video must be watched for those renting a boat to have a 48-hour exemption from the NASBLA-approved education course to operate a vessel in excess of 10 HP.

Rental Boating Safety and Education Video must be watched for those renting a boat, born after Jan. 1, 1984 and have not taken the NASBLA-approved boating education course.  After watching this rental boating safety and education video, individuals have a 48-hour exemption from the NASBLA-approved education course to operate a vessel in excess of 10 HP.

Keep in mind when renting out boats

Required

Boat Registration
Safety Equipment

Recommended

Renter Insurance
Boater Education Card

Not required

Renter Insurance
Livery Definition
Record Requirement
Rental Agreement

The information provided is intended to be general and informative, and should not be interpreted as regulatory, legal, or insurance advice. It does not constitute professional advice from a licensed insurance agent and does not establish an attorney-client or insurer-insured relationship. This information should not replace the counsel of a qualified legal, regulatory, or insurance professional. Always consult with a qualified professional for legal, regulatory, or insurance advice pertaining to your specific circumstances.

Boat Rental Accident Reporting

The operator/owner of a vessel used for recreational purposes is required to file a report in writing whenever an incident results in: loss of life or disappearance from a vessel; an injury which requires medical treatment beyond first aid; or property damage in excess of $500 or complete loss of the vessel. Reports must be submitted within 5 days.

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Reports must be submitted to the Louisiana Department of Wildlife & Fisheries:

Louisiana Department of Wildlife & Fisheries
Boating Safety and Waterway Enforcement
PO Box 98000
Baton Rouge, LA 70898-9000

Rental Boat Accident Reporting Form
Report Accident

Federal Regulation

The United States Coast Guard (USCG) regularly provides updates on recentchanges in regulation and have overviews of specific requirements for boatrental companies

Boater’s Guide to Federal Requirements for Recreational Boating
Passenger Vessel Charters
Requirements for Uninspected Passenger Vessels
Marine Safety Information Bulletin

Compliance by State

Alabama
Alaska
Arizona
Arkansas
California
Colorado
Connecticut
Delaware
District of Columbia
Florida
Georgia
Hawaii
Idaho
Illinois
Indiana
Iowa
Kansas
Kentucky
Louisiana
Maine
Maryland
Massachusetts
Michigan
Minnesota
Mississippi
Missouri
Montana
Nebraska
Nevada
New Hampshire
New Jersey
New Mexico
New York
North Carolina
North Dakota
Ohio
Oklahoma
Oregon
Pennsylvania
Rhode Island
South Carolina
South Dakota
Tennessee
Texas
Utah
Vermont
Virginia
Washington
West Virgina
Wisconsin
Wyoming

Buoy is your one-stop shop for compliance & insurance

Buoy provides boat rental companies with peace of mind while saving time and money. When using Buoy’s insurance solution, we will help you get fully compliant free of charge.

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