Boat Inspections
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Mandatory Boat Inspections
To prevent the spread of aquatic nuisance species (ANS), boat inspections are mandatory in Colorado. Before entering the water in Colorado, these types of watercraft listed below MUST be inspected by state-certified personnel:
- Motorized boats
- Sailboats
- Jet Skis
- Any motorized watercraft
Get Your Boat Inspected
There are 77 professional Statewide Watercraft Inspection and Decontamination sites in Colorado. Find one near you.
Find an Inspection Site
Find out moreKnow Before You Go: Get Ready for Your Inspection
Following these steps will help you get ready for the inspection and help the inspection go faster.
- Have an intact green seal and matching receipt ready to present to the inspector.
- All motorized boats and sailboats must have an Aquatic Nuisance Species (ANS) Stamp before launching in the state's waters. Even if your boat is not trailered, you may still be required to complete an ANS inspection.
- Make sure the bilge plug is removed and available to be replaced at the end of the inspection.
- Remove any tarps and straps. Have the anchor and ropes out of their compartments.
- If using live aquatic bait, please have the bait receipt out and available for the inspector.
Know Before You Go: Clean, Drain and Dry
Motorized boats, Jet Skis and sailboats are required by law to "Clean, Drain and Dry" every time they enter or exit any waters. Apart from mandatory boat inspections, all paddle boards, kayaks, inflatable boats and fishing gear should be cleaned, drained and dried.
How to Clean, Drain and Dry Motorized Boats, Sailboats and Jet Skis
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Motorized Boats
- Clean: Remove all plants, animals and mud.
- Drain: Thoroughly drain and wash everything: boats, trailers, vehicle hitches and motors. Aquatic plant fragments and animals can hide in mud and survive many days out of water.
- Dry: Allow sufficient time for boats and equipment to dry completely before launching in other waters.
- Report:If you find anything that you think is an invasive species on your boat or any equipment, report it to the CPW by calling 303-291-7295 or emailing [email protected].
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Sailboats
- Clean: Clean centerboard, bilge board, wells, rudderpost, trailer and other equipment before leaving the water.
- Drain: Drain water from boat, motor, bilge, ballast, bladders, wells and portable bait containers before leaving the water.
- Dry: Allow sufficient time for boats to dry completely before launching in other waters.
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Jet Skis
- Clean: Clean the hull, trailer, intake grate and steering nozzle before leaving the water.
- Drain: Run the engine for five to 10 seconds to blow out excess water and vegetation from the internal drive before leaving the water.
- Dry: Allow sufficient time for equipment to dry completely before launching in other waters.
Save Time and Get on the Water Fast
The Colorado Green Seal and Receipt Program
Boat inspection seals and seal receipts are your proof of prior inspection and reduce your waiting time in inspection lines. These show where your boat was last, what kind of inspection was performed, and that the boat hasn’t launched since its last inspection.
Seals are applied by inspectors following a successful inspection. Seals are free to boaters and are available at the inspection station when you exit a lake or reservoir; you can also obtain a free seal ahead of your next launch at any inspection station or at CPW's statewide office at 6060 Broadway in Denver.
White receipts are given at negative waters with no aquatic nuisance species. If you have a valid seal with a white receipt, your next launch will be expedited and decontamination will not be required.
Blue receipts are from a positive water in which an aquatic nuisance species has been detected. If you have a blue receipt and are entering a water that is negative for that particular aquatic nuisance species, your boat will be quickly re-inspected to ensure it is clean, drained and dry. If it is not clean, drained and dry, it will be decontaminated.
Clean Your Gear
In addition to mandatory inspections, there are many voluntary actions we can all take to Be a Pain in the ANS. Clean, drain and drydray all watercraft and gear that make contact with the water, such as fishing gear, kayaks, oars, paddle boards and inflatable boats.
At the Inspection Site
Following these steps will help the inspection go faster. When you arrive at the inspection site, please:
- Turn off the vehicle, set the parking brake, get out of the vehicle and assist the inspector with the inspection.
- Have the battery switch turned on so that the engine can be lowered and pumps can be activated.
- Open all compartment hatches including but not limited to: live/bait wells, bilge areas, anchor compartments, equipment compartments and any other compartments that hold items that have come into contact with the water body.
Colorado Parks and Wildlife staff inspecting a boat
Save Time and Get on the Water Fast
Green Seals
An intact green seal is what shows that your boat hasn’t launched since its last inspection; green seals are used by all stations in Colorado. If you have a green seal, you must still stop at the inspection station to have the seal and matching receipt verified. Some inspection stations even have an express lane for green sealed boats. For the seal to be valid, you must have a fully filled out white or blue receipt with a matching serial number. You will quickly be granted access if you are returning to the same location or if your boat has been out of the water for more than 30 days. If you are not returning to the same location or you have not been out of the water for more than 30 days, the inspector may give your boat a quick check to ensure it is clean and dry. If the boat is not clean and dry, you will get re-inspected.
Seals are free to boaters and are available at the inspection station when you exit a lake or reservoir. You can also obtain a free seal ahead of your next launch at any inspection station or at CPW's statewide office at 6060 Broadway in Denver.
Aquatic Nuisance Species Found During Inspection
If any aquatic nuisance species is found on a boat during inspection, the inspection staff cannot permit the boat to leave and will perform decontamination onsite. It is illegal to knowingly transport ANS in Colorado.
Decontamination
Boat decontamination is essential to making sure aquatic nuisance species do not spread and infect Colorado’s waters, which would drastically change boating. Be a Pain in the ANS and stop the spread of invasive species in the water.
If you are likely to need a decontamination, getting pre-inspected and decontaminated on a weekday may be more convenient. Decontamination will be required if:
- Zebra, quagga or golden mussels are found attached to a watercraft. Any other aquatic nuisance species is positively identified or suspected on a watercraft.
- Suspected unidentifiable bumps are detected on a watercraft.
- The watercraft is from water where nuisance species have been found and has any water on and/or in it.
- The watercraft cannot be fully drained.
- The watercraft trailer has plants attached that can’t be removed by hand.
- The watercraft has live aquatic bait without a valid receipt.
- Ballast tanks, inboard engines and inboard/outboard engines cannot be fully drained. These systems will always require decontamination if the boat has no seal and receipt or is moving from a positive water (blue receipt) to a negative water (white receipt).
How are Boats Decontaminated?
To kill and remove mussels and other aquatic nuisance species during a boat decontamination, these steps are followed:
- Boats are decontaminated using hot water (120 to 140 degrees Fahrenheit).
- The exterior of the boat and trailer are sprayed with a high-pressure rinse.
- The interior compartments and the engine/motor are flushed or rinsed with low-pressure hot water.
- Enclosed ballast tanks are flushed out with hot water that will kill any mussels present.
Boats Exiting the Lake or Reservoir
Following these steps when you exit a lake or reservoir will help your next inspection go faster and reduce the risk of transporting aquatic nuisance species on your boat. When you arrive at the inspection site, please:
- Place unused bait in the trash. Never dump live bait into bodies of water.
- Open and drain all compartments including but not limited to: live/bait wells, bilge areas, anchor compartments, equipment compartments and any other compartments that hold items that have come into contact with the water body.
- Activate all pumps (bilge, live well, ballast tank, etc.) to ensure drainage.
- Lower the motor.
- Remember to dry all equipment at home prior to the next launch.
Plan Your Trip
Prepare for your next adventure on the water.
Get a Green Seal
Seals are free to boaters following a successful inspection and are available at the inspection station when you exit a lake or reservoir, by request at the CPW office located at 6060 Broadway in Denver, or one of the many marinas or marine dealers certified to do inspections.
Clean, Drain and Dry Your Motorized Boat, Sailboat or Jet Ski
Motorized boats, Jet Skis and sailboats are required by law to "Clean, Drain and Dry" every time they enter or exit any waters.
Learn how to clean, drain and dry