- Home
- Safety & Education
- ABCs of California Boating
Learn about California’s boating laws, regulations for equipment, rules of the road, etc.
- Boating Accident Statistics
- Children's Outdoor Bill of Rights
Every child should have the opportunity to: play in a safe place, explore nature, learn to swim, go fishing, follow a trail, camp under the stars, ride a bike, go boating, connect with the past, and plant a seed.
- Courses / Classes
Explore the opportunities for correspondence, classroom and on-the-water boating safety education.
- Educational Outreach to Children
DBW offers teachers and parents a complimentary K-12 boating safety curriculum, statewide poster contest, and a boating and water safety puppet show.
- Fact Sheets
- Float Plan
File a float plan with a reliable person who will notify authorities, if necessary.
- Life Jackets
Knowing how to swim does not make you drown-proof. Find out California’s life jackets laws, what type of life jacket to use and how to properly choose one.
- Non-Motorized Boating
Find out how to safely operate a non-motorized boat, and about the laws and regulations regarding this type of recreational activity.
- Outreach Campaigns
DBW manages media campaigns to raise boaters’ awareness of safety and environmental concerns. Help us spread the messages.
- ABCs of California Boating
- Environment
- Aquatic Invasive Species
Learn how to clean, drain and dry your vessel to stop the spread of harmful aquatic invasive species. Also, plan ahead. A number of California waterways have vessel restrictions in place.
- Aquatic Weed Control
DBW acts as the lead state agency to cooperate with other agencies in controlling Egeria densa and water hyacinth in the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta.
- Beach Erosion and Restoration
Develops strategies for coastal infrastructure protection. Assesses the economic impact of sea-level rise on California beaches. Provides grants to public entities to plan, design and restore public beaches.
- Boating Clean and Green
Be part of a movement to become a clean and green California boater. Marinas can also benefit from this program. Find out how.
- Properly Disposing of Vessels
Find out how to properly dispose of a vessel.
- Oceanography
Monitors coastal and estuarine oceanography. Funds studies to improve boating facility, beach erosion, restoration design, and boating and maritime safety and access. Supports climate change data collection and studies.
- Two-Stroke Engines
Here you will find a list of restrictions placed by certain California waterways on two-stroke engines and personal watercraft.
- Vessel Pumpout Information
Keep California’s waterways clean by using the restroom before boating or by properly disposing sewage at a pumpout station. Find the nearest pumpout station here.
- Aquatic Invasive Species
- Licensing
- Broker Act Violations
- For-Hire Licensing
DBW licenses and regulates yacht brokers and salespersons.
- Yacht and Ship Broker Licensing
DBW licenses and regulates vessel for-hire operators.
- Law Enforcement
- Abandoned Watercraft Abatement Program
Funds the removal, storage and disposal of abandoned recreational vessels and other navigational hazards.
- Boating Accident Program
DBW collects and analyzes boating accident reports; develops safety strategies and makes recommendations.
- Boating Law Enforcement Equipment Grant Program
Local governmental agencies may apply for grants to purchase boats, equipment, dive gear, etc.
- Boating Law Enforcement Training Program
Provides training courses to law enforcement officers, lifeguards, harbor patrol officers and others.
- Boating Laws
- Boating Safety and Enforcement Financial Aid Program
Provides funding to local government agencies to augment their existing budget for boating law enforcement personnel, search and rescue operations, recovery of drowned bodies, etc.
- Forms
- Information Letters
- Uniform Bail and Penalty Schedule
- Vessel Turn-In Program
Funds the disposal of recreational vessels that are voluntarily surrendered by owners to participating local agencies.
- Abandoned Watercraft Abatement Program
- Grants & Loans
- Grants
Abandoned Watercraft Abatement Fund
Public agencies may apply for grants to remove, store and dispose of abandoned recreational vessels and other navigational hazards.
Aquatic CentersUniversities, colleges, local public and nonprofits are eligible to receive grants to fund classroom and on-the-water safety education.
Boat Launching FacilitiesLocal public entities may apply for grants to plan, design, renovate, and construct launching ramps and facilities for motorized and non-motorized boats.
Boating Law Enforcement Grant ProgramLocal governmental agencies may apply for grants to purchase boats, equipment, dive gear, etc.
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Boating Safety and Enforcement Financial Aid ProgramLocal governmental agencies may apply for grants to purchase boats, boat patrol equipment, dive gear, etc. Funding may also cover training, law enforcement personnel, search and rescue operations, recovery of drowned bodies, etc.
Coastal Beach Erosion ControlGrants are available to public entities to plan, design and restore public beaches.
National Boating InfrastructureLocal public agencies may apply for grants to provide transient (guest) dockage for recreational boats 26 feet or more in length.
Vessel Pumpout StationsFunds the placement of vessel pumpout stations.
Vessel Turn-In ProgramPublic agencies may apply for funds to run a program in which dilapidated vessels are voluntarily surrendered to them by owners.
- Loans
Private Marinas
Local private entities may apply for funding to plan, design, renovate and construct small craft harbors, marinas, dry storage facilities and fund emergency repairs.
Public MarinasLocal public entities may apply for funding to plan, design, renovate and construct small craft harbors, marinas, dry storage facilities and fund emergency repairs.
- Grants