River Riders Shenandoah River Tubing Launch Area

In West Virginia, you must be at least 18 to rent a personal watercraft; for other motorboats, legal operating age depends on horsepower and supervision. Under 58 CSR 25, unsupervised operation generally begins at 15. Ages 12 through 14 may operate a motorboat up to 10 horsepower alone, but a person over 18 must be aboard for a higher powered motorboat. Personal watercraft operators ages 12 through 14 need someone 18 or older aboard.

Under West Virginia Code §20-7-12b, operators born on or after December 31, 1986, need a boating safety education certificate, subject to listed exceptions. Rental operators may set their own minimums, so confirm the age requirement when booking.

Source: West Virginia Division of Natural Resources (apps.sos.wv.gov)

Yes, for many operators. In West Virginia, anyone born on or after December 31, 1986, must carry a boating safety education certificate when operating a motorboat or personal watercraft. Operators generally must be 15; ages 12 through 14 may operate with a person over 18 aboard, or operate a motorboat of 10 horsepower or less without an adult. A renter without a card must complete the facility’s safety orientation and receives a temporary certificate valid for the rental period; personal watercraft cannot be rented to anyone under 18. Exemptions include qualifying visitors, commercial operators and eligible recent boat purchasers. The West Virginia Division of Natural Resources administers the program.

Source: West Virginia Division of Natural Resources (wvdnr.gov)

West Virginia’s best boating choices are its large mountain reservoirs and contrasting river corridors. In the Mountain Lakes region, Summersville Lake offers expansive water and more than 60 miles of shoreline, while Stonewall Jackson Lake is suited to pontooning, kayaking and paddleboarding. In Mountaineer Country near Morgantown, Cheat Lake is a reservoir used for motorboating, waterskiing and wakeboarding. For moving water, the New River and Gauley River offer everything from family oriented upper New River trips to challenging whitewater in the New River Gorge area.

Source: West Virginia Department of Tourism (wvtourism.com)

West Virginia’s most popular boating destinations include Summersville Lake, Sutton Lake, Cheat Lake, Tygart Lake, Bluestone Lake and Beech Fork Lake. Summersville draws boaters with broad water, long shoreline and cliff scenery; Sutton offers quiet coves and room for waterskiing, wakeboarding and tubing; and Cheat Lake near Morgantown is known for motorboating, paddling and watersports.

Tygart Lake near Grafton combines boating with swimming, kayaking, canoeing and fishing. Bluestone Lake by Hinton is suited to boating, fishing, tubing, paddleboarding and swimming, while Beech Fork Lake near Huntington offers pontoon, fishing boat, canoe and kayak options.

Source: West Virginia Department of Tourism (wvtourism.com)