This question was asked a while back, so I flicked an email to the DPI RST coordinator. Thought it would be worthwhile info.




Basically:





NO - If it's a hire non trailorable boat (house boat, pontoon boat) in sheltered waters. Motor size not applicable.





YES - If it's a hire boat that is trailorable etc and has a motor of 6Hp or more. (edit - correction - replaced 'less' with 'more'  :)   )



- here was her reply:




Hi Mr Molloy




Thanks for your interest and we will certainly be looking at updating our webpage ASAP to reflect your enquiry.




In February 2006, the Minister for Planning and Infrastructure
introduced the Recreational Skipper’s Ticket (RST), a competency based
qualification aimed at ensuring recreational boaters have the minimum
skills necessary to be safe on the water.



Under the new regulations, the skipper of a registrable recreational
vessel with a motor exceeding 4.5kW (6Hp) will be required to hold an
RST. Skippers on vessels that do not have a motor, or vessels with a
motor 4.5kW (6Hp) or less will not be required to hold an RST.



In addition, skippers aged between 14 and 16 years old will be
restricted in their use of a boat to daylight hours and to a maximum
speed of 8 knots.



The regulations supporting the RST come into effect on 1 April 2008 (1 April 2007 for under 25’s).




People travelling in Western Australia from overseas or interstate will
be able to operate on their boat driver’s licence or certificate issued
by their home state for up to 3 months, after which they will need to
apply for a Western Australian RST.




Vessel hire and drive businesses operate under licence to DPI and
are governed by the WA Marine (Hire and Drive Vessels) Regulations
1983.



All hire and drive vessels are subject to pre-operation and annual
inspections by officers or representatives of DPI and are required to
carry mandatory safety equipment.



Hire and drive licences issued by DPI also mandate a range of operating
parameters, including the minimum age of hirer (must be 17 years or
older), hours and area of operation, and vessel type, depending on the
classification of the hire and drive operation. There are three broad
categories of hire and drive operations:




Hire and drive licence holders will be affected by the RST
initiative and operations will need to be altered depending on there
licence type as follows:




· any hire and drive vessels with an engine capacity of 4.5 kW
(6Hp) or less, or no motor attached, will NOT be affected by the RST;




· vessels hired from a “trailerable hire and drive business” (that
is hook up the boat and trailer, drive away and go wherever you want in
the boat) with an engine capacity greater then 4.5 kW (6Hp) will
require at least one person on board having the responsibility of
skipper/master to hold an RST when operating in Western Australian
navigable waters;




· vessels hired from an “on site hire and drive licence”,
(including houseboats, pontoons and personal water craft (PWC)
operating in restricted areas) regardless of engine capacity, will not
require a skipper to hold an RST subject to appropriate alternative
safety interventions being in place. All on-site hire and drive
operators will need to provide training and assessment to each person
operating a hired vessel. This can be in the form of a safety briefing
which must be approved by the Department for Planning and
Infrastructure. In addition, operations hiring out PWC will need to
ensure each water craft has an operating safety cut out system on each
vessel.




All safety training and assessment delivered by the hire and drive
operators must be approved by the Department and cover off the safety
aspects of the RST and take into account the area of operation. The
safety training and assessment are auditable items for their hire and
drive licence renewal. If a business fails to meet any requirements
their licence can be revoked or not renewed.