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Marine and Safety Tasmania
  • Recreational boating and personal water craft
    • Licence and registration for motor boats and personal water craft
    • How to register a motor boat or personal water craft
    • Personal water craft rules and safety
    • Required safety equipment for recreational boats
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    • Paddle craft
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Marine and Safety Tasmania
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Navigation
  • Recreational boating and personal water craft
    • Licence and registration for motor boats and personal water craft
    • How to register a motor boat or personal water craft
    • Personal water craft rules and safety
    • Required safety equipment for recreational boats
    • Safe boating rules and information
    • Marine communications
    • Handling and operating a boat
    • Trip checklists and tips
    • Motor boat and personal water craft registration check
    • Incidents on the water
  • Facilities and moorings
    • Facilities across Tasmania
    • Infrastructure funding
    • Tasmanian mooring rules
    • Applying for a new mooring
    • Buying an existing mooring
    • Change of vessel details on a mooring
    • Mooring maintenance
    • Repair and maintenance of vessels on moorings
    • MAST public cruising moorings
    • MAST GIS – Moorings and Aids to Navigation (AtoNs)
  • Paddle, rowing and novel craft
    • Paddle craft
    • Rowing
    • Novel craft
    • Operating in Port Areas
  • Using Tasmanian waterways
    • Navigation rules
    • Prohibited zones
    • Speed limits
    • Bridge transits
    • Aquatic events and designated ski areas
    • Lake Barrington
    • Cruising Tasmania
    • Marine farming
  • Commercial vessels and ports
    • Commercial vessels in Tasmanian waters
    • Operational Areas – Commercial Vessels
    • Commercial vessel and operations fees and forms
    • 5-knot zone Sullivans Cove
    • Incident Reporting – Commercial
    • Regulation of marine farm leases
    • MAST Commercial Bulletin
  • Policies and legislation
    • MAST legislation
    • MAST reports and strategic documents
    • Right to Information
    • Personal Information Protection
    • MAST Misconduct Complaints Handling Policy
    • Complaints Handling Policy
    • Public Interest Disclosure Act
  • Notices and resources
  • GIS
  • Mast Portal
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  • Contact us
  1. Home

Paddle, rowing and novel craft

Tasmania’s waterways are enjoyed by a wide range of paddle craft, rowing vessels and other human-powered recreational craft.

Whether you’re paddling a kayak, canoe or stand-up paddleboard, rowing a scull or recreational rowing boat, or using a novel craft, it’s important to understand your responsibilities on the water.

These craft are often smaller, lower to the water and less visible to other vessels. As a result, operators need to take extra care when navigating busy waterways, crossing channels or operating in areas used by larger boats.

Before heading out, check the weather and water conditions, plan your trip and ensure you have the right safety equipment. Wearing a life jacket is strongly recommended and may be required in some circumstances. Brightly coloured clothing, life jackets and craft can also help improve your visibility to other water users.

Information for paddlers, rowers, kayakers and novel craft users

Paddle craft

Whether you're paddling a canoe, kayak or stand-up paddle board, carrying the right safety equipment is essential for staying safe.

Rowing

Marine and Safety Tasmania (MAST) and Rowing Tasmania work collaboratively to help provide safety management information to the Tasmanian rowing community.

Novel craft

Novel craft are becoming more common on Tasmania’s waterways. Make sure you understand the safety requirements before use.

Operating in port areas

Understanding the rules for operating in busy port areas helps keep everyone safe.
Marine and Safety Tasmania
Marine and Safety Tasmania
Social media
Navigation
  • Recreational boating and personal water craft
  • Facilities and moorings
  • Paddle, rowing and novel craft
  • Using Tasmanian waterways
  • Commercial vessels and ports
  • Policies and legislation
Quick links
  • Forms and fees
  • Check the status of your boating services
  • Find a facility
  • Notices to Mariners and latest MAST news
  • How do I obtain a motor boat licence
  • Access myServiceTas
Marine and Safety Tasmania acknowledges the traditional owners of this Country and recognises Aboriginal people’s continuing connection to Land, Sea, Waterways, Sky and Culture.