South Dakota Boating Laws and Regulations

Who needs a South Dakota Boater Education Card?

South Dakota does not require boating education however you can take a boater safety course to save on insurance or to boat in states that require a card or certification.

There is no minimum age requirement to take a course. You do not have to be a resident of South Dakota to take a course.

South Dakota’s Life Jacket Requirements

Every person on board a PWC must wear a PFD (life jacket) at all times.

Children under seven years old must wear a PFD (life jacket) while on any vessel operating at greater than “slow, no wake speed” unless below deck or in an enclosed cabin.

South Dakota Boating License Requirements for Personal Watercrafts (PWCS)

There are no mandatory boating ed requirements in South Dakota. Children under the age of 12 cannot operate a motorboat of more than 6 horsepower unless accompanied by a person at least 18 years of age. Minimum age to operate a PWC is 14 unless accompanied by a person at least 18 years of age.

Boating and Alcohol

South Dakota law prohibits anyone from boating under the influence (BUI)—that is, operating any vessel while under the influence of alcohol or drugs.

South Dakota law states that a person is considered to be boating under the influence (BUI) if:

The alcohol concentration in his/her blood or breath is 0.08% or more or,
The person is under the influence of alcohol, any other drug, or combination of drugs and/or alcohol to a degree that makes him/her incapable of safely operating the vessel

By operating a vessel on South Dakota’s waters, you have given consent to alcohol and/or drug testing if requested by a law enforcement officer.

South Dakota’s Boat Accident Reporting Requirements

An operator involved in a boating accident must:

Stop his/her vessel immediately at the scene of the accident and assist anyone injured or in danger from the accident, unless doing so would seriously endanger his/her own vessel or passengers and give, in writing, his/her name, address, and vessel identification to anyone injured and to the owner of any damaged property.

A vessel operator involved in a boating accident must report the accident if it results in:

Death or disappearance of any person or Injury to any person or damage in excess of $1,000 to any one person’s property or total damage in excess of $2,000 (for example, property damage may include damage from striking submerged objects such as stumps, rocks, etc.)