Missouri Boating Laws Life jackets must be available for every person on board a watercraft. Children under the age of seven must wear a life jacket at all times while on board a watercraft. Navigation Lights are required on all boats underway between sunset and sunrise.
Proper ventilation is required of every vessel.
Fire extinguishers are required equipment on all motorized watercraft carrying or using flammable or toxic fluid such as gasoline or propane. The operator of any boat being used for towing a person on water skis, inner tube or similar device must have another person on board the vessel, seated in a position so as to observe the progress of the person or persons being towed unless the vessel is equipped with a ski mirror, approved by the Missouri State Water Patrol, mounted so that the progress of the skier can be observed by the operator. An orange or red ski flag must be displayed any time people are in the water and not in the act of being towed by the boat. Riding on the bow , gunwales, railing, top of seat, back and decking over the back of a motorboat is prohibited. The minimum age for operating any watercraft in the State of Missouri is 14 years.