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There is no single nationwide boating law called “the 100-feet rule.” Some states use 100 feet as the boundary for a slow-speed or no-wake restriction, but the covered vessels, people and structures—and the required speed—vary by state and situation. Check the boating rules for your state and the specific waterway before you launch.
What does “the 100-feet rule” mean?
It is informal shorthand, not a complete legal rule. In some places, a boat or personal watercraft must reduce speed within 100 feet of specified hazards or users. The restriction may require slow, no-wake operation, set a speed such as 10 mph, or use another limit. The law may also define exceptions for particular waterways or activities.
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To work out what applies, identify the state and waterway, the vessel type, the people or objects named in the rule, the required speed, and any channel or posted-zone exceptions.
How the rule differs by state
| State | What the cited rule covers | Distance and speed | Important qualification |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pennsylvania | Boats near shoreline, docks, launch ramps, swimmers, downed skiers and other listed users or vessels. | Within 100 feet: slow, no-wake speed. | The regulation provides an exception for certain zoned ski and authorized ski-return areas. It separately bars entry within 100 feet of marked water siphons or intake towers. See the Pennsylvania regulation and the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission powered-boat guidance. |
| North Carolina | Personal watercraft near anchored or moored vessels, docks, piers, swim floats, marked swimming areas, swimmers, surfers, anglers and manually operated propelled vessels. | 50 feet for the listed circumstances in narrow channels. | This statute concerns personal watercraft, and its distance depends on the channel circumstance. See North Carolina General Statutes § 75A-13.3. |
| West Virginia | Personal-watercraft conduct near specified boats, places and people; it also addresses wake jumping and following distance. | Operating above slow or no-wake speed within 100 feet of listed locations or people is among the conduct treated as reckless operation. | The statute separately addresses becoming airborne while crossing another vessel’s wake within 100 feet. See West Virginia Code § 20-7-14. |
| Oregon | Personal watercraft near another motorized boat or sailboat underway, as well as other listed locations and people. | Within 100 feet of another motorized boat or sailboat underway: slow to 10 mph. Slow-no-wake limits apply within 200 feet of several other listed locations and people. | The applicable distance and speed depend on what is nearby. See Oregon’s personal-watercraft guidance. |
| Maryland | Vessels near listed objects and people in Maryland waters other than the Atlantic Ocean. | Within 100 feet: 6 knots. | The state brochure also describes a separate wake-jumping restriction. See Maryland’s boating regulations brochure. |
These examples are not a complete survey of state law. Do not assume that a distance, speed, vessel category or exception in one state applies elsewhere.
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Does it apply to all boats or only personal watercraft?
That depends on the specific law. Pennsylvania’s cited regulation applies to boats generally, while the North Carolina and West Virginia provisions above specifically address personal watercraft. Oregon’s cited guidance is also for personal watercraft. Read the rule’s stated vessel category; “100 feet” alone does not tell you who must comply.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.How close can you pass a swimmer, dock or anchored boat?
There is no universal answer. The examples use different distances, covered objects and speeds; a narrow-channel provision or posted local restriction can change what applies. Before operating near people or structures, check the state boating authority’s current rules and follow signs on the waterway.
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How to check the rule for your waterway
- Identify the state and waterway. Rules may differ across state lines and may include local restrictions.
- Open the state boating authority’s current guidance or code. In Pennsylvania, the Fish and Boat Commission’s powered-boat page links to handbook material and waterway-specific regulations.
- Check the vessel category and listed circumstances. Confirm whether the provision covers boats generally or only personal watercraft, and which people, vessels or structures trigger it.
- Verify the required speed, distance and exceptions. Look for distinctions such as no-wake speed versus a numeric limit, narrow-channel provisions, ski areas and posted zones.
- Follow posted restrictions on the water. If the applicable rule is unclear, use a conservative speed and keep clear of people and other vessels while you verify it with the relevant state authority.
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