West Virginia Jet Ski (PWC) requirements

No person under the age of fifteen (15) shall operate or be permitted to operate a personal watercraft upon the waters of this State.

Those twelve (12) to fifteen (15) years of age may operate a personal watercraft if a person over eighteen (18) years of age is aboard the personal watercraft and they posses a valid boating education certificate. 

A person may not operate a personal watercraft unless each person onboard or being towed behind is wearing a wearable lifejacket device defined and approved by the United States Coast Guard.

A person operating a personal watercraft equipped by the manufacturer with a lanyard-type engine cutoff switch must attach the lanyard to his or her person, clothing, or wearable life jacket as appropriate for the specific vessel.

A person may not operate a personal watercraft at any time between the hours of sunset and sunrise.

A personal watercraft must at all times be operated in a reasonable and prudent manner. Maneuvers which unreasonably or unnecessarily endanger life, limb, or property constitute reckless operation of a vessel and include, but are not limited to:

• Weaving through congested traffic.

• Jumping the wake of another vessel unreasonably or unnecessarily close to the other vessel or when visibility around the other vessel is obstructed or restricted.

• Becoming airborne or completely leaving the water while crossing the wake of another vessel within 100 feet of the vessel creating the wake or following too closely in excess of 10 miles per hour within 100 feet to the rear or 50 feet to the side of another vessel which is underway.