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Reckless Boat Operation Laws in North Carolina

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North Carolina’s Laws for Negligent or Reckless Boat Operation

In North Carolina, reckless boat operation means operating any boat, or manipulating any waterskis, aquaplane, or similar devices in a willfully or wantonly reckless or negligent manner that endangers the life, limb, or property of any person.

Examples of reckless operation include:

Weaving through congested boat traffic.
Jumping the wake of another boat within 100 feet of that boat, or when the visibility around the other boat is obstructed.
Intentionally approaching another boat in order to swerve at the last possible moment to avoid a collision.
Operating contrary to the ‘rules of the road’.
Following another boat too closely.
Towing a person behind your boat in a manner that causes the person being towed to collide with another person or an object.
Permitting passengers to ride on the bow, gunwale, transom, seat backs, raised decks or any other location on the boat where there is a risk of falling overboard.

Boat Speed Limit Laws in North Carolina

The operation of a boat at a speed that may cause inconvenience, danger, damage, or injury is illegal in the state of North Carolina. Local speed limit regulations may vary depending on the area/body of water.

Any boat entering, leaving or passing within 50 yards of a state-owned or controlled boating and fishing access area is required to operate at a ‘No-Wake’ speed.

Any person operating a boat within 100 feet of a law enforcement boat that is displaying a flashing blue light is required to slow their boat to a ‘No- Wake’ speed, unless the boat is in a narrow channel, in which case they are required to slow to a ‘No-Wake’ speed when within 50 feet of the law enforcement boat that is displaying a flashing blue light.

Restricted Areas

It is illegal in the state of North Carolina to operate a personal watercraft (PWC) on state waters at a speed greater than ‘No-Wake’ when within 100 feet of a:

Moored or anchored boat.
Dock or pier.
Swim float.
Marked swimming area.
Swimmers.
Surfers.
Persons engaged in fishing activities.
Human-powered boats.