Except as provided, no person under 16 years of age shall operate a personal watercraft (PWC).

Individuals not less than 12, nor more than 15 years of age may operate a PWC if a supervising person 18 years of age or older is also onboard. In the case of a supervising person born on or after January 1, 1982, the supervising person must hold a certificate meeting the requirements of ORC 1547.05 and in the case of rented powercraft, must meet the requirements of ORC 1547.052.

No person under 12 years of age shall operate any vessel unless under the direct visual and audible supervision of a person who is 18 years of age or older. This section does not apply to personal watercraft (see previous paragraph) or other powercraft powered by more than 10 horsepower (see following paragraph).

No person under 12 years of age shall operate powercraft powered by more than 10 horsepower unless under the direct visual and audible supervision of a person 18 years of age or older who is aboard the powercraft (excludes PWC operation). In the case of a supervising person born on or after January 1, 1982, the supervising person must hold a certificate meeting the requirements of ORC 1547.05, and in the case of a rented powercraft, must meet the requirement at ORC 1547.052.

Child operators operating powercraft powered by more than 10 horsepower are required to meet the mandatory education requirements as described inORC 1547.05 even while supervised by a person 18 years of age or older.

No supervising person shall allow any person they are supervising to violate any watercraft law.

Any person or organization owning any number of canoes, rowboats, inflatable watercraft, or sailboats for the purpose of rental to the public may apply with the chief of the division of parks and watercraft for and receive an annual certificate of livery registration. No watercraft shall be rented to the public from a livery or other place of business in this state unless it first has been numbered and registered in accordance with this section or section 1547.54 of the Revised Code. Certificates of livery registration shall be issued by an authorized agent who is selected by the chief from among those designated under section 1547.54 of the Revised Code.