Gasoline Boats and Personal Watercraft
EPA has finalized a new emission control program to reduce hydrocarbon, nitrogen oxide, and carbon monoxide emissions from marine spark-ignition engines. The new exhaust emissions standards will take effect in the 2010 model year. The final rule also includes new standards to reduce evaporative emissions from these fuel systems. These standards will reduce the harmful health effects of ozone and carbon monoxide from these engines.
This page provides general information for consumers, boaters, and other users of outboard motors and personal watercraft that use gasoline engines, or spark-ignition (SI) engines. There are also links to the related regulations and technical documents. For additional information about our emission standards, see our Fact Sheet: Final Emission Standards for New Nonroad Spark-Ignition Engines, Equipment, and Vessels | PDF Version (x pp, xK, EPA420-F-08-013). Information is also available on Diesel Boats and Ships and Ocean Going Vessels.
Related Topics
Consumer Information
NOTE: You will need Adobe Acrobat Reader, available as a free download, to view some of the files on this page. See EPA's PDF page to learn more about PDF, and for a link to the free Acrobat Reader.
- Boating Pollution Prevention Tips
- Marine Engine Manufacturer Develops Low Emission Inboard Marine Engines | PDF Version (2 pp, 212K, EPA420-F-06-057, July 2006)
- Overview of EPA's Emission Standards for Marine Engines (PDF) (9 pp, 184K, EPA420-F-04-031, August 2004)
- Reformulated Gasoline and Your Motor Boat (EPA905-F-95-002, May 1995)
- Use of Reformulated Gasoline in Nonroad Engines (EPA420-F-95-007, April 1995)
Regulations and Guidance
- Final Rule: Control of Emissions from Nonroad Spark-Ignition Engines and Equipment (published October 8, 2008)
- Fact Sheet: EPA Finalizes Emission Standards for New Nonroad Spark-Ignition Engines, Equipment, and Vessels | PDF Version (5 pp, 205K, September 2008, EPA420-F-08-013)
- Final Rule (PDF) (348 pages, 5,468 K, published October 8, 2008)
- Final Regulatory Impact Analysis (PDF) (808 pp, 8.5MB, September 2008, EPA420-R-08-014) Instead of downloading the entire document, you can access individual chapters.
- Summary and Analysis of Comments (PDF) (480 pp, 3.1MB, September 2008, EPA420-R-08-016) Instead of downloading the entire document, you can access individual chapters.
- See the Proposed Rule page for the proposed rule, fact sheet, and technical support documents (published May 18, 2007 and August 14, 2002).
- Final 2005 Technical Amendments – Procedures
for Testing Highway and Nonroad Engines and Omnibus Technical Amendments (published
July 13, 2005)
- Fact Sheet: Regulatory Announcement: Changed Test Procedures for Nonroad Engines and Heavy-Duty Highway Engines | PDF Version (4 pp, 134K, EPA420-F-05-036, July 2005)
- Federal Register Notice:
Part 1, pages 40419-40468 | PDF Version (949K)
Part 2, pages 40469-40518 | PDF Version (938K)
Part 3, pages 40519-40568 | PDF Version (6.71MB)
Part 4, pages 40569-40612 | PDF Version (1.8MB) - Technical Support Document and Summary & Analysis of Comments (PDF) (115 pp, 1663K, EPA420-R-05-008, June 2005)
- See Proposed Technical Amendments for the proposed rule, fact sheet, and technical support documents (published September 10, 2004)
- Final 2002 Technical Amendments to 40 CFR part 91 (published November 8, 2002)
- Federal Register Notice: Control of Emissions From Nonroad Large Spark-Ignition Engines, and Recreational Engines (Marine and Land-Based) | PDF Version (207 pp, 1.1MB, November 2002)
- Other related documents regarding the final rule are available at: www.epa.gov/otaq/regs/nonroad/2002/cleanrec-final.htm
- Proposal for Cleaner Recreational Vehicles with Proposed Technical Amendments to 40 CFR Part 91.
- Fact Sheet: Emission Standards for New Nonroad Engines (EPA420-F-01-026)
- Federal Register Notice (published October 5, 2001)
- Notice of Proposed Rulemaking - Control of Air Pollution: Minor Amendments to Emission Requirements Applicable to Small Nonroad Spark-Ignition Engines and Marine Spark-Ignition Engines (published February 3, 1999)
- Federal Register Notice | PDF Version (8 pp, 63K, February 1999)
- Marine Spark-Ignition Engine Manufacturers Certification Guidance Document (PDF) (44 pp, 207K ZIP, EPA420-B-97-004, April 1997)
- Final 1997 Amendment to 40 CFR part 91 (published April 2, 1997)
- Federal Register Notice (published April 2, 1997)
- Final Rule for New Spark-Ignition Marine Engines (published October 4, 1996)
- Federal Register Notice | PDF Version (83 pp, 890K, October 4, 1996)
- Fact Sheet: Emission Standards for New Gasoline Marine Engines | PDF Version (4 pp, 13K, EPA420-F-96-012, August 1996)
- Regulatory Impact Analysis (PDF) (85 pp, 414K, June 1966)
- Nonroad Engine and Vehicle Emission Study Report (PDF) (141 pp, 1.8MB, EPA-21A-2001, November 1991)
- Nonroad Engine and Vehicle Emission Study Appendices (PDF) (415 pp, 7.7MB, EPA460/3-91-002, November 1991) This "nonroad study" quantifies the contribution of nonroad sources to air pollution, including volatile organic compounds (VOCs), oxides of nitrogen (NOx), carbon monoxide (CO), and particulate matter (PM). The study covers 10 equipment categories, including: lawn and garden equipment, farm and construction equipment, recreational vehicles, marine vessels, and airport service equipment.
- Paper copies of this study are available from the National Technical Information Service (NTIS) Publication #PB-92-126960.
Related Links
- Diesel Boats and Ships
- Engine Certification Information Center
- Compliance Fees
- Marinas & Boating (from EPA Office of Water)
- Importing Vehicles and Engines
For further information or assistance regarding this page, please contact EPA's Assessment and Standards Division voicemail at: (734) 214-4636 or email: ASDinfo@epa.gov.