Jet Skiing in Wilmington NC: Rules, Routes and What to Expect

The Intracoastal Waterway between Wrightsville Beach and Carolina Beach is made for a jet ski: sheltered water, marsh on one side, the back of Masonboro Island on the other, and dolphins working the channels. Before you twist the throttle, here's what North Carolina expects from riders and how to get the most out of a rental.

North Carolina's jet ski rules

These come straight from the NC Wildlife Resources Commission, and rental shops have to follow them too.

• Age. No one under 16 may drive a personal watercraft. A 14 or 15 year old can drive only when someone 18 or older is on board, or when they hold a boating safety certificate and proof of age. Shops can't rent to anyone under 16 unless those conditions are met.
• Boater education. Anyone born on or after January 1, 1988 needs an approved boating safety course to drive a boat with a 10 hp or bigger motor, and that includes jet skis. A rental agreement that lists you as the operator also satisfies the law, and so does riding under direct supervision of a qualified operator who's at least 18.
• Life jackets. Every rider and passenger wears one, and so does anyone being towed.
• Kill switch. If the ski has a lanyard cutoff, the driver wears the lanyard the whole ride.
• Daylight only. No jet skis between sunset and sunrise.
• Keep it at no-wake speed within 100 feet of swimmers, docks and anchored boats, among other places.
• No reckless riding. Jumping another boat's wake within 100 feet of it, or swerving at the last second to spray someone, counts as reckless operation.

Where people ride

• The Intracoastal behind Masonboro Island. Protected channel running between Wrightsville Beach and Carolina Beach. Watch for no-wake zones near marinas and bridges.
• Around Carolina Beach. The Carolina Beach State Park marina sits where Snow's Cut meets the Cape Fear River, with two public ramps and a $7 fee to launch your own craft.
• Masonboro Island Reserve. An 8.4-mile undeveloped barrier island reachable only by boat. If you pull up on the sound side, stay off the dunes and marsh grass.

Inlets and the open ocean are a different game, with currents, breaking waves and heavy boat traffic. Many rental shops keep riders inside protected water. Ask before you plan a route.

Renting: what to ask

Rules and prices vary by shop, so call ahead and ask:

• What ID and minimum age do you require for drivers and passengers?
• Do you issue a rental agreement that covers boater education?
• Is fuel included? What's the deposit and damage policy?
• Where am I allowed to ride, and what happens if weather rolls in?

Check the marine forecast before you go. If you hear thunder or see lightning, get off the water.

Share the water

Jet skis are fast and loud, and the sounds are full of kayaks, paddleboards and anglers. Slow down and give them room. Bottlenose dolphins are common in the channels. NOAA Fisheries asks everyone to stay at least 50 yards away, and chasing, feeding or harassing wild dolphins is illegal under federal law. On the water, VHF channel 16 reaches the Coast Guard. On land, call 911.

Keep exploring

Want someone else at the wheel? A Masonboro eco cruise heads out to the reserve, and the boating and fishing hub has more charters. For quieter water, see the water sports guide or browse the water sports hub.

Catch you on the water!