The Ultimate Guide to Boating Safety in North Carolina

North Carolina is a boater’s dream come true, offering over 300 miles of ocean shoreline alone. Whether you’re looking to enjoy the scenery or the thrill of the catch on one of its 17 designated river basins and 22 natural lakes, safety must always be a priority. That means following the rules and regulations to ensure you have everything you need and understand how to navigate this beautiful state’s waterways safely.

In this ultimate guide to boating safety in North Carolina, you’ll learn the importance of its regulations, key safety tips and how to navigate its waterways like a pro. We also cover how to get a boating license in North Carolina and boating safety habits.

Boating Regulations in North Carolina

North Carolina’s waterways attract thousands of boating enthusiasts every year. The Wildlife Resources Commission (WRC) keeps everyone on the waters safe while they enjoy recreational activities like sailing, fishing and water skiing by enforcing laws and regulations related to safety equipment, licenses and registrations.

Do You Need a Boating License in North Carolina?

Yes, you do need a boating license in North Carolina. The state has several strict regulations regarding the age and qualifications required to operate a motorized vessel. It’s called a Boater Education Certificate, and someone born on or after January 1, 1988, needs one to drive a vessel that produces 10 or more horsepower (HP) on public waterways.

This boating certificate is also necessary for anyone 14 or older to operate a personal watercraft (PWC). However, if a 14-year-old is accompanied on the PWC by an adult at least 18 years old who has this license, they can drive it without their own. At any time, this adult must be willing and able to take control of the PWC.

Someone younger than 14 may not drive a PWC under any circumstances in North Carolina.

To obtain a boating license in North Carolina, you must complete a boating education course approved by the National Association of State Boating Law Administrators (NASBLA).

What Documentation Do You Need To Prove Ownership?

Owning a boat in North Carolina is similar to owning a vehicle — you must register and title it. Once you do, the law requires you to carry the relevant documentation on board at all times while navigating North Carolina’s waterways.

The following vessels must be registered and titled by the owner or owners:

• All PWCs
• Any new or transfer motorized vessel that measures 14 feet or longer
• Sailboats over 14 feet long at the load waterline used on public waters
• Vessels documented by the U.S. Coast Guard (USCG) that have been operating for over 90 days in North Carolina
• Vessels with an out-of-state registration brought into North Carolina for over 90 days, unless it’s a temporarily stationed, active-duty military vessel

What Safety Equipment Must You Carry?

When operating recreational vessels in North Carolina, you must have the proper safety equipment before getting onto the water. Here’s a list of what you’ll typically need:

• One Type I, II or III portable floatable device (PFD) of a suitable size per person aboard and skier towed
• A throwable PFD if your boat is 16 feet long or longer
• An anchor and line
• Visual and sound-producing distress signals, such as a power horn, flare gun, whistle or bell, mobile phone, or radio
• Fire extinguishers approved by the USCG
• An up-to-date weather and warning report
• A compass and chart
• A first aid kit, including medication specific to anyone on board with a medical condition
• A tool kit containing the necessary tools, including a flashlight, extra batteries and a rope
• Approved fuel storage and navigation lights

Essential Boating Safety Tips

North Carolina boater safety is essential on the waterways. Following the correct safety measures for boat docking and riding reduces the chances of you and your passengers having an accident. To ensure your time on the water is nothing but fun, consider these boating safety tips:

Always Wear a Life Jacket

Life jackets automatically bring you face-up in the water — a vital feature if you’re unconscious. They keep you afloat and prevent water from entering your nose and mouth. In 2021, 83% of boating-related deaths were people without life jackets. Wearing a PFD saves lives by preventing drownings during water-related activities. The law also requires children under 13 to wear a life jacket while on a moving boat. The only exception is if they’re in an enclosed cabin or below deck.

Stay Sober

Drugs and alcohol limit your ability to react, balance and make sound judgments. As it is, being exposed to stimuli like wind, sun and noise while on water for over four hours can significantly reduce your reaction time. This level of fatigue is known as boater’s hypnosis and affects you as much as being legally drunk does.

Adding more substances on top of boater’s hypnosis can significantly raise the risk of accidents. If you’re caught operating a boat under the influence, you’ll also be subject to a $1,000 fine and up to $5,000 in criminal penalties.

So, staying alert and avoiding water hazards is essential to practicing boater safety in North Carolina and safeguarding your and your passengers’ lives. Here’s how you can do that:

• Be wary of how alcohol and boating stress factors affect you.
• Ideally, anyone under the influence should not take the helm.
• Drink one or fewer alcoholic beverages per hour.
• Allow a non-drinker to operate the boat if you drink more than one or two every two hours.
• Avoid stimulant drugs.

Conduct a Predeparture Checklist:

Before you head out on the water, conduct a predeparture checklist. This involves checking your boat’s condition and ensuring you have everything you need on board.

Check that the following items are on board and in order before departing:

• Provide a friend or family member with your float plan
• North Carolina boating license
• Registration documentation
• Validation decals
• Safety equipment
• Ignition safety switch
• Muffler, backfire flame arrestor and ventilation system
• Boat condition and operation for damage, leaks, cracks, airflow and controls
• Enough fuel to go out and return and in reserve
• Evenly distributed weight of people and gear

Navigating Waterways Safely

When navigating North Carolina’s waterways, it’s important to follow the rules to ensure everyone on the water is safe and has a good time. Here are some key guidelines to consider when taking the helm:

Understand Navigation Rules

Understanding who has the right-of-way when operating a boat is essential to avoid accidents and angering other boaters. Here are the rules you should follow while boating in North Carolina:

• Pass safely: If you’re being overtaken by a vessel traveling in the same direction, maintain course, speed and a safe distance. When a boat approaches head-on, each of you must adjust your course to the right if it avoids collision.
• Cross carefully: The boater to the right has the right-of-way when two vessels approach each other at an angle.
• Give way to unpowered vessels: Non-motorized sailboats and oar- or paddle-propelled vessels have right-of-way over motorboats unless they’re trying to overtake them. In narrow channels, large commercial vessels have right-of-way over small pleasure crafts.

Using Navigation Aids

Waterway navigation aids help boaters navigate the waters safely, just as road signs help drivers. They notify you where divers are, if there’s danger or construction ahead and where you can and can’t go. Here’s a breakdown of the typical signs and markers you’ll spot:

• All-red buoy: Pass between this and its all-green buoy companion. Keep red to the right and green to the left when going upstream or entering a channel from the main body of water.
• Diamond with cross: Boats must keep out.
• Diamond with words: This sign warns of danger relating to the word in the diamond. Examples include snag, marine construction or rock.
• Circle: This indicates controlled areas with wording in the circle, such as no swim, ski only or slow-no wake.
• Rectangle: The rectangle sign directs boaters to particular necessities, such as arrows pointing toward groceries or fuel.
• Mooring buoy: This buoy has a blue band halfway between the water line and the top of the buoy. It’s typically used to aid in anchoring your boat.
• Diver’s flag: This is a flag placed on the vessel or a float to show someone is diving. Keep away to avoid collision with a diver.

Avoiding Overcrowded Areas

To avoid accidents, slow your vessel when approaching or passing busy or marked areas. Also, steer clear of swimming, fishing, mooring and similar service and activity areas. That way, you’re less likely to interfere with, harm or endanger anyone.

Maintain a Safe Speed

While there isn’t a general speed limit for boaters to follow, it’s essential to operate vessels at reasonable speeds. Some waterways may define certain speed limits you should be wary of. The most important thing is to always be entirely in control of your boat.

However, when leaving, passing or entering within 50 yards of state-owned or controlled access areas, slow down to no-wake speeds. No-wake speeds also apply when you’re within 100 feet — 50 feet in a narrow channel — of law enforcement signaling with a flashing blue light.

Keep a Proper Lookout

A designated lookout helps keep everyone on the boat safe by informing the operator of potential hazards and collisions. They allow you to respond to any dangers or changing conditions and safely navigate areas crowded with people or wildlife. It takes some of the load off the operator, who must also remain vigilant. Having someone to alert you of risks helps you mitigate them and ensure everyone on board has a safe and enjoyable time.

How EZ Dock Products Enhance Boating Safety

EZ Dock products are designed with stability, low maintenance, strength and lightweight construction. By keeping up with regulatory changes and best practices, we ensure safety standards for the environment and our customers are high. Our products provide safety through the materials we use and the construction methods applied to them.

Here are the key ways EZ Dock products enhance boating safety:

• Stable and secure docking solutions: EZ Dock products offer strength and structural integrity thanks to marine-grade polyethylene flotation chambers. They’re foam-free and trap air inside their extra-thick walls, making them one of the most stable platforms. This material’s texture offers high but gentle traction, making it slip-resistant and comfortable. We ensure wall thickness is consistent and durability is exceptional using the roto-molding process, which makes dock sections able to withstand collisions and extreme weather.
• Easy access to watercraft: EZ Dock products are Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) accessible and can be adjusted to comply with U.S. Access Board Regulatory guidelines to ensure people of all ages and abilities can access the docks and their boats. The gentle transitions, wide design, strategically placed handrails and grab bars, and slip-resistant surfaces ensure everyone’s safety from land to boat.
• Durability and weather resistance: Flexibility is crucial as weather conditions change and escalate. That’s why EZ Dock products use special connectors and durable rubber coupler sets to allow dock sections to move independently without losing structural integrity. They also act as shock absorbers, minimizing the stress extreme weather conditions cause docks. EZ Dock products are made of high-quality, corrosion- and rust-resistant materials, ensuring durability and longevity.
• Customizable docking systems: EZ Dock products feature a modular design, making them easy to adjust and customize to suit your docking needs. Whether you want to create an expansive commercial dock or a simple, one-vessel boat port, our design team can provide a concept that maximizes functionality, space efficiency and safety.

Stay on the Water Longer and Safer With EZ Dock

With over 26 years of experience, EZ Dock pioneered floating docks and remains the premier floating dock company. We make our products from eco-friendly materials that provide traction, stability, comfort and durability. Our polyethylene docks ensure you don’t have to worry about the splinters and rot of traditional wood docks, and our recycled rubber couplers provide shock absorbance to combat extreme weather conditions.

So, if you want a dock that offers safety, convenience and longevity, look no further than our EZ Dock products. From boat lifts and canoe launches to entire dock configurations, we have something to suit every need. If you’re after something more unique, contact us today to get in touch with one of our EZ Dock team members, who can help you create the dock of your dreams.