State park lakes
State park lakes follow the limits DCNR posts. Here is what the state park rule says.
State parks: without DCNR's written permission, no gas engines totalling more than the posted horsepower, no gas engine on waters posted electric-only, and no PWCs unless the lake is posted open to motorboats without an hp limit. 17 Pa. Code §11.219(f).
Read the exact wording
(1) Operating a boat powered by one or more internal combustion engines totaling more than the posted maximum horsepower. (2) Operating a boat powered by an internal combustion engine in waters that are posted as being restricted to electric motor use. (3) Operating personal watercraft unless the body of water is posted as being open to motorboats without a limit on horsepower.
PWCs
In state parks a PWC may run only where the lake is posted open to motorboats with no horsepower limit. DCNR lists 3 such lakes in our data: Beltzville Lake, East Branch Clarion River Lake and Foster Joseph Sayers Lake. Check posted signs.
Launching
State parks: launching needs a DCNR launching or mooring permit, or a PFBC registration or use permit. 17 Pa. Code §11.219(i)(3).
State parks: motorized boats may be launched or removed only at DCNR-designated launch sites. 17 Pa. Code §11.219(i)(1).
At Pymatuning State Park, a valid Ohio launching permit satisfies the state park launching rule. 17 Pa. Code §11.219(i)(4)(ii).
Skis and inflatables
State parks: water skis only on lakes where unlimited-horsepower motorboats are permitted or where posting allows waterskiing. 17 Pa. Code §11.219(e)(3)(iii).
State parks: inflatable boats must be at least 7 feet long with more than one buoyancy chamber. 17 Pa. Code §11.219(e)(3)(vi).
DCNR's park pages write limits as '20 hp/15 kWh'. Motor power is rated in kW; kWh measures battery energy. 20 hp ≈ 14.9 kW (our conversion).
Two regulators
Many state-park lakes also have Chapter 111 rules. We show both. Where they disagree we show both texts and the stricter reading only when it is unambiguous.