---
title: O.C.G.A. § 51-1-21. Liability of owner of watercraft for torts generally.
collection: code
id: 51-1-21
cite_as: O.C.G.A. § 51-1-21 (2025)
canonical_url: https://georgiacommons.org/code/51-1-21
md_url: https://georgiacommons.org/code/51-1-21.md
text_url: https://georgiacommons.org/code/51-1-21/text
source_url: https://www.legis.ga.gov/api/document/docs/default-source/joint-features-document-library/t51-(v39)-2017-pdf.pdf?sfvrsn=6b891965_0#page=145
date: 2025
status: active
corpus_version: 2025-supplement-89aa39ab3c68
license: CC0-1.0
publisher: Georgia Commons, an independent project of Georgia Civic Data. Not the State of Georgia. Not legal advice.
up: https://georgiacommons.org/code/51-1.md
previous: https://georgiacommons.org/code/51-1-20.2.md
next: https://georgiacommons.org/code/51-1-22.md
index: https://georgiacommons.org/code/index.md
version: the only printed version
in_force: true
current_through: Including Acts of the 2025 Regular Session of the General Assembly
heading_path: TORTS / GENERAL PROVISIONS
---

# O.C.G.A. § 51-1-21. Liability of owner of watercraft for torts generally.

(a) As used in this Code section, the term:

(1) ‘‘Owner’’ means a person other than a secured party who has title to personal property or who has the use and possession of personal property subject to a security interest.

(2) ‘‘Watercraft’’ means any boat, vessel, or craft, other than a seaplane, used as a means of transportation on water.

(b) The owner of a watercraft shall be liable for any tort caused by the operation of the watercraft, in the same manner and to the same degree as the owner of an automobile is liable for torts caused by its operation.

## History

Code 1933, § 105-108.1, enacted by Ga. L. 1968, p. 1416, § 1.

## Cross References

Operation of watercraft generally, T. 52, C. 7.

## Law Reviews

For article, ‘‘Motorboat Collisions and the Family Purpose Doctrine,’’ see 2 Ga. St. B. J. 473 (1966).