This Is How Old You Have To Be To Legally Drive A Boat In Iowa

The 4th of July is at our door and it's time to get out on the water.

I'm absolutely spending time on a lake for the 4th of July. If I could, I'd spend the whole week flopped out on a boat. We put up with a gross, snowy January for this. Spending time on the lake or river is a blast. Whether you're swimming, drinking, or the one driving the boat, there are sure to be shenanigans.

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I've driven a boat and I admit I don't make it an easy smooth ride. It's almost jetski intense. I zoom all over the lake, I won't lie. Some of us start driving boats sitting in our family's lap holding the steering wheel. And that's not too far from the legal boating age in Iowa.

The Minimum Age To Drive A Boat In Iowa

According to Iowa's boating laws, a kid as young as 12 can operate a boat by themselves. But minor boaters (12-17) have to have an Iowa Watercraft Safety Certificate with them on the boat.

It also depends on the boat the kid is in. 12 is the minimum age to operate a boat that's over 10 horsepower. If the kid is operating a boat and they're younger than 12, they have to have an adult with them.

For non-powered boats like kayaks, canoes, or sailboats, there's no minimum age to steer it. The kid should probably have some sense of wind direction though.

Also, as a good reminder for the 4th of July, don't let the most blitzed person on your boat drive it. They don't need to do anything besides try not to black out.