AK Boating Guide

All boats with mechanical propulsion (gas, diesel, steam engines, and electric motors) operated on Alaska waters must complete a boat registration with the Alaska Division of Motor Vehicles (DMV) and display valid boat registration numbers. For HIN lookup purposes, the boat's hull identification number is used in the registration process. Even operators of Seward Alaska boat tours must register their vessels. Vessels used in sport fishing charter activities must also complete vessel registration. Boats 24 feet or less can be titled and registered online through the DMV, making it easy to register your boat from home. Boats longer than 24 feet documented by the US Coast Guard only need to register (no title). The registration fee is $44 for a title. A completed B1 application is required for title and registration. The Certificate of Number must be carried onboard and registration numbers and boat registration decals must be properly displayed on the hull. A temporary registration (valid for 60 days) is issued upon application so boaters can hit the water immediately while waiting for the official registration to arrive.

While many visitors enjoy Seward Alaska boat tours, those on an Alaska small boat cruise or a Whittier Alaska boat tour also benefit from safety courses. Alaska does not mandate a boat safety education certificate to operate a watercraft. However, the Alaska Office of Boating Safety strongly recommends completing a boating safety course to improve your boater safety skills. The Alaska Water Wise course is a free NASBLA-approved safety course offered live over Zoom (two weekday evenings) or in person, covering pre-departure preparation, boat operation, boating emergencies, cold-water survival, navigation rules, and boating laws. Students who pass the written exam receive a course completion certificate, which may qualify for insurance discounts. The course is approved for 8 hours of Continuing Medical Education (CME) training and is an excellent boating education resource. The 'Boating Alaska' course is a 2-hour in-person/Zoom course targeting key issues for adults and teens. The Kids Don't Float (KDF) program offers free classroom-based presentations on Cold Water Survival and Passenger Safety for children.

Required equipment: US Coast Guard-approved wearable personal flotation device (PFD) for each person on board. Persons under 13 must wear a life jacket when in an open boat, on the deck of a boat, or when being towed (tubing, waterskiing). Throwable device: required on boats 16 ft to less than 40 ft (except canoes and kayaks); recommended for boats under 16 ft. Sound producing device: all boats under 39.4 ft must carry an efficient sound signal (boat horn or whistle); boats 39.4 ft+ require a horn or whistle. Visual distress signals: night signals (between sunset and sunrise) required on all boats; day signals required on boats 16 ft+ (minimum 3 day/night combination devices or 3 day + 3 night devices; pyrotechnics must be current). Fire extinguishers: at least one B-I for boats with inboard engines, living spaces, permanent fuel tanks, or enclosed storage areas; two B-I or one B-II for boats 26-40 ft; three B-I or one B-I + one B-II for boats 40-65 ft. Navigation lights (boat lighting) are required between sunset and sunrise and when visibility is restricted. Boat navigation light configuration varies by length. Backfire flame arrestor on inboard gasoline engines. Ventilation for boats with permanently installed engines or fuel tanks. Registration numbers and validation decals must be properly displayed.

No minimum age to operate a vessel in Alaska. Children under 13 must wear a PFD when in an open boat, on deck, or being towed. No mandatory boater education requirement, but courses are strongly recommended. Boats with mechanical propulsion must be registered. Navigation rules: International configuration required for navigation lights varies with length and mode of operation. Operators must follow the International Navigation Rules and Regulations. Engine cut-off device must be attached when underway. All vessels must carry emergency communication and distress signaling devices. A reboarding means should be equipped on the boat. Filing a float plan is strongly recommended. Boating under the influence is prohibited. Alaska's cold water conditions require special precautions: water temperatures below 50°F can cause cold water shock and hypothermia; always wear a PFD and carry communication devices on your person (not just on the boat), and follow all life jacket requirements for children. Popular destinations like Seward Alaska boat tours and Whittier Alaska boat tours operate under these laws. For those interested in an Alaska small boat cruise, understanding these regulations is essential.

Popular waterways: Prince William Sound (coastal fjords and glaciers), Inside Passage (Southeast Alaska's protected marine waterways), Kenai River (world-class salmon fishing), Lake Iliamna (Alaska's largest lake, 1,000 sq miles), Cook Inlet (anchorage area tidal waters), Yukon River (1,980-mile Arctic river), Kachemak Bay (Homer's marine playground), Resurrection Bay (Seward area), Alexander Archipelago (1,100 islands), and the Arctic Ocean coastal waters. Many of these destinations offer excellent boat launch and boat ramp facilities for accessing Alaska's pristine waters.

Alaska requires boaters to Clean, Drain, Dry their boats after leaving or entering a waterbody — this is state law and includes canoes and kayaks. This clean drain dry process helps prevent the spread of aquatic invasive species to Alaska's pristine waters. Boaters should inspect their boats, trailers, and gear; remove any visible plants, animals, or mud; drain all water including bilges, live wells, and bait buckets — proper boat drain plug installation ensures complete drainage. Even a jon boat drain plug must be removed. Dry the boat and equipment completely before moving to another waterbody. Invasive species of concern in Alaska include Elodea (an invasive aquatic plant), northern pike (invasive in Southcentral Alaska), and various invasive tunicates in marine waters.