Victoria boating rules: licence, lifejackets and safety gear
What the rules in Victoria require on the water, from official sources and linked line by line: boat and jet ski licences, lifejackets, safety equipment, registration and who to call when things go wrong.
- Emergency
- 000 · ask for Police
- Boat licence
- Any powered vessel
- Lifejackets
- When you must wear one
- Log on
- How to log on
Emergency on the water in Victoria
In Victoria a 27 MHz radio no longer counts as a marine radio (Marine Safety Regulations 2023): carry a VHF of at least 25 W.
What Victoria tells boaters to do
Safe Transport Victoria: 'Always call triple zero (000) if you are involved in or witness an emergency.' If an incident has occurred but you are not in immediate danger, report it to Victoria Police on 1800 135 729. The Victorian Recreational Boating Safety Handbook's 'Raising the alarm' panel: all occupants put on lifejackets; by phone call 000; by marine radio VHF channel 16 (or the distress button on a DSC-equipped, registered VHF); by EPIRB/PLB; by flares when a potential rescuer can see them. Marine Radio Victoria monitors VHF channels 16 and 67 for distress calls 24/7 along the whole coast to 20 nm (Charleville Radio monitors HF 4125/6215/8291 kHz out to 200 nm). 27 MHz is no longer accepted in Victoria as a required marine radio.
How to call for help on the water: 000, VHF 16, EPIRB · Marine radio channels in Australia
Logging on before you go (Victoria)
No single state-run log-on service. ST Vic advises: always let someone know where you're going, departure point and planned return, and agree who to call if you haven't returned. Marine Radio Victoria (government-funded) monitors distress calls; the handbook notes 'some Marine Search and Rescue agencies provide track following services along the coast on VHF channels'. The Australian Volunteer Coast Guard (Victoria Squadron and West Victoria Squadron flotillas) offers log-ons via VHF and its TripWatch web system (tripwatch.platformrescue.com.au). What volunteers do when a Victorian log-on becomes overdue is not described on an official page we could access.
VesselSOS doesn’t log you on with anyone and alerts nobody if you’re overdue. Log on with the service above as well; the VesselSOS live link is for your family ashore. Marine rescue log-on vs VesselSOS →
Victoria boat licence and jet ski licence
Boat licence
Anyone operating a powered recreational vessel on Victorian waters needs a marine licence – no speed threshold – including sailing boats with motors, e-foils and paddlecraft with a motor (exemption: tapered kayaks/canoes with an electric motor of max 40 lb thrust / 750 W used at no more than 5 knots). Get it via an accredited training course or the VicRoads computer test. Interstate licence holders may use an equivalent licence for 3 months.
Jet ski (PWC) licence
Jet ski riders need a marine licence with a PWC endorsement; must be 16 or older to apply; the endorsement can't be standalone and can't be added to a restricted licence. Carry the licence when riding.
Minimum age
Restricted marine licence for ages 12–15: daylight only, under 10 knots, no towing; it automatically becomes a full licence at 16. PWC endorsement from 16.
Source: safetransport.vic.gov.au
Victoria lifejacket rules
A lifejacket must be carried for everyone on all vessels (unless exempt). Must be WORN: on powerboats up to and including 4.8 m at all times when underway (Level 100 on coastal and enclosed waters; Level 100/50/50S on inland waters); on powerboats 4.8–12 m and yachts at times of 'heightened risk' – crossing an ocean bar or in a designated hazardous area (Port Phillip Heads, 3 nm radius from Point Lonsdale: all vessels under 12 m), boating alone (a sole adult with children under 12 counts as alone), from 1 hour after sunset to 1 hour before sunrise, disabled vessel, restricted visibility, BoM gale/storm/severe thunderstorm/severe weather warnings, yachts without lifelines/harnesses in use. Children under 12: at all times in open areas of a vessel underway, Level 100 on enclosed and coastal waters (Port Phillip, Western Port, Gippsland Lakes, Mallacoota). PWC: everyone at all times (Level 100/50/50S). Towed persons: at all times. Kayak, canoe, rowing boat, raft, SUP, pedal boat: Level 100/50/50S on all waters – but SUP, kiteboard and sailboard riders within 400 m of shore are not required to wear one. Powerboats over 12 m: carry only.
Source: safetransport.vic.gov.au
Lifejacket levels: Level 50S is similar to the old Type 3, Level 50 to Type 2, and Level 100, 150 and 275 to Type 1 (NSW Maritime’s comparison). AS 4758 is the Australian standard for the levels. Lifejacket rules in every state →
Required safety equipment in Victoria
Victoria groups waters as inland, enclosed (e.g. Port Phillip, Western Port, Gippsland Lakes) and coastal. Powered vessels: lifejackets for all; bucket with lanyard; dry-chemical fire extinguisher if carrying fuel or with electric start/gas/stove (1 under 8 m); anchor on coastal and enclosed waters. Coastal and enclosed waters: 2 red hand flares + 2 orange smoke signals – on enclosed waters these can now be replaced by a GPS EPIRB, a PLB or a 25 W VHF radio. Coastal waters more than 2 nm offshore: 406 MHz EPIRB registered with AMSA, ACMA-approved VHF marine radio of at least 25 W (27 MHz no longer counts), magnetic compass, and one red star parachute rocket flare in addition. Operating a VHF needs a qualification (e.g. Australian Waters Qualification).
Source: safetransport.vic.gov.au
Boat registration in Victoria
All powered recreational vessels (any boat with an engine capable of propulsion, including PWC and e-foils) must be registered with VicRoads every 12 months; trailers separately. Exempt: tapered kayaks/canoes with electric motors up to 40 lb thrust (750 W) operated at no more than 5 knots.
Jet ski (PWC) rules in Victoria
Marine licence with PWC endorsement (16+); everyone on board or towed wears a lifejacket (Level 50/50S recommended); carry a waterproof buoyant torch; nav lights at night. 5-knot limit within 200 m of the water's edge on enclosed and coastal waters (500 m between Martha Point and Point Nepean), within 50 m of a person or another vessel, within 100 m of a dive flag, within 50 m of wharves/jetties/ramps (except access lanes), and in anchorages. Towing from a PWC requires an observer on board. Local rules may differ.
Kayak, canoe, paddle board and kite rules
SUP: Level 50 or 50S lifejacket must be worn when more than 400 m from shore (strongly recommended always); leg leash recommended; white light (torch) at night or in reduced visibility where practicable. Kiteboards/sailboards: lifejacket only required beyond 400 m from shore (Level 100 or 50 on coastal waters). Kayaks/canoes/surf skis/rowboats: lifejacket must be worn. Unpowered paddlecraft need no licence or registration.
Popular boating waters in Victoria
- Port Phillip Bay
- Western Port
- Gippsland Lakes
- Lake Eildon
- Murray River
- Mallacoota Inlet
- Corio Bay (Geelong)
- Lake Eppalock
Some of the waters Victoria boaters know best. This is our list, not an official one, and it isn’t complete.
VesselSOS on Victoria waters
- Life in danger? Tap “Yes, life in danger” and the app dials Triple Zero (000). The screen shows your GPS position in words and a word-for-word script that starts “Police. Boat emergency, I’m on the water.”, then the waterway, the nearest town and the state.
- The rescue-centre list also has JRCC Australia (1800 641 792), the national maritime rescue line for offshore, as a second Call button, and a VHF Channel 16 MAYDAY text filled with your boat’s details for you to read on your own radio.
- A live link for family ashore (Plus, free during the beta): your position, speed, course and phone battery in any browser, no app needed on their end. You send it by text yourself.
What it doesn’t do: it doesn’t log you on with Marine Rescue or anyone else, and it isn’t connected to 000, Police, Marine Rescue or AMSA. Nobody is alerted automatically if you’re late: the return-time check only asks “Are you OK?” on your own phone. Marine rescue log-on services do follow up when you don’t log off, so log on with them as well. A phone doesn’t replace a marine radio, an EPIRB or PLB, or the safety gear your state requires.
iPhone only, in invite-only TestFlight beta. Not in the App Store yet, no Android. Australian support (000 routing) is in beta version 1.5 and later.
Quick answers
Do you need a boat licence in Victoria?
Anyone operating a powered recreational vessel on Victorian waters needs a marine licence – no speed threshold – including sailing boats with motors, e-foils and paddlecraft with a motor (exemption: tapered kayaks/canoes with an electric motor of max 40 lb thrust / 750 W used at no more than 5 knots). Get it via an accredited training course or the VicRoads computer test. Interstate licence holders may use an equivalent licence for 3 months.
How old do you have to be to get a boat licence in Victoria?
Restricted marine licence for ages 12–15: daylight only, under 10 knots, no towing; it automatically becomes a full licence at 16. PWC endorsement from 16.
Do you need a jet ski licence in Victoria?
Jet ski riders need a marine licence with a PWC endorsement; must be 16 or older to apply; the endorsement can't be standalone and can't be added to a restricted licence. Carry the licence when riding.
Do you have to register a boat in Victoria?
All powered recreational vessels (any boat with an engine capable of propulsion, including PWC and e-foils) must be registered with VicRoads every 12 months; trailers separately. Exempt: tapered kayaks/canoes with electric motors up to 40 lb thrust (750 W) operated at no more than 5 knots.
Sources
Marine safety agency: Safe Transport Victoria (ST Vic) – maritime safety regulator; licences and registration via VicRoads
- https://safetransport.vic.gov.au/on-the-water/recreational-boating/wear-a-lifejacket/
- https://safetransport.vic.gov.au/on-the-water/recreational-boating/safety-equipment/
- https://safetransport.vic.gov.au/on-the-water/recreational-boating/operating-a-boat-safely/
- https://safetransport.vic.gov.au/on-the-water/marine-licence-and-vessel-registration/licensing-and-registration/
- https://safetransport.vic.gov.au/on-the-water/jet-skis/
- https://safetransport.vic.gov.au/on-the-water/paddleboards/
- https://safetransport.vic.gov.au/on-the-water/kayaks-and-canoes/
- https://safetransport.vic.gov.au/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/Boating-Safety-Handbook-2024-DIGITAL.pdf
- https://www.legislation.vic.gov.au/in-force/statutory-rules/marine-safety-regulations-2023
- https://content.legislation.vic.gov.au/sites/default/files/2026-09/26-135sra-authorised.pdf
- https://coastguard.com.au/
Checked October 2026. Rules change — confirm with Safe Transport Victoria before you go.
This page summarises the rules for planning; it isn’t legal advice. Where this page and the official text differ, the official text wins. Spotted an error? Email support@vesselsos.com.