Does your state require a safe boating certificate?

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Author Topic:   Does your state require a safe boating certificate?

adaps4 posted 06-04-2003 06:39 PM ET (US)
I grew up in Connecticut, and there they require any boat driver to have either coast guard or power squadron certificates. I am just wondering how many states require this. I live in Florida now, and any moron with money can buy a really fast boat and take it out that day.
The best part of the CT law is that PWC operators are required to have seperate certificates. Their test is supposed to be a lot harder as well. So, in that state if you own both, you need to be certified for both. Kinda like a drivers license and a motorcycle license.
I feel this is a good practice, and wonder why Florida does not do this. PWC and Boat rentals may come into play here. Any thoughts?
acseatsri posted 06-04-2003 07:23 PM ET (US)
I live in CT- all that is required is a SAFE BOATING COURSE to obtain the license. It's A LOT less than a CG or PS certificate. And if you owned and operated a boat before the law took effect, none of the above were required, just a check for $25.
doobee posted 06-04-2003 10:05 PM ET (US)
Here in Massachusetts the law requires you to pass a test and have a license to drive a car, and there is a seperate test and license for motorcycles.
Even with all these licensing requirements, I still see morons on the road every day.
Responsible people take the courses that are offered by the the Power Squadron or USCG, learn from them, and become responsible boaters. Morons don't take the courses, and, as a result, they wind up enjoying the sport less because they don't know what they are doing. Eventually they sell their boats, and become politicians.
Licensing won't keep morons off the water, yet it will make it harder, and more expensive, for the average person to own a boat.
captbone posted 06-04-2003 10:54 PM ET (US)
The sad part is that you can get a boating licensed from the seatow website in less than a half an hour.
whaler3 posted 06-04-2003 11:05 PM ET (US)
I boat in N.J. and Fla. N.J requires a boat license for non-tide waters but none for tide waters. To get the license all you do is apply and pay. PWC operators all must have a special license that requires a test. The had a lot of accidents and deaths. Florida on the other hand has no requirments but age for both. It is alarming to think that anyone can get in a machine that can endanger other lives with no training or rules of the road. Also insurance is not required. Both should require a safe boating course.
Dick posted 06-04-2003 11:32 PM ET (US)
Here in Washington nothing is required other than a current registration.
Dick
triblet posted 06-05-2003 12:51 AM ET (US)
In California, nothing is required except the
keys, if any. Six pack is optional. ;-)
The legislature passed a requirement for
passing a test last year, Grey Davis vetoed it.

Chuck
Robob2003 posted 06-05-2003 08:44 AM ET (US)
Most people of my acquaintance who moved from Ct. and Mass. did so to escape from too much government and too many fees. I guess you'll have to go back up there or take your chances.
Incidentally, most of the PWC accidents involve tourists;-)
Bob in Florida
Chap posted 06-05-2003 11:07 AM ET (US)
Hello,
I believe that a safety course and certificate possession is coming and will be "phased in" completely by 2007 in NJ, for ALL power boaters/PWC.
www.njleg.state.nj.us/bills/BillsByNumber.asp
Thanks
Chap
Landlocked posted 06-05-2003 11:38 AM ET (US)
No requirements in Tennessee.
ratherwhalering posted 06-05-2003 12:43 PM ET (US)
California does require that childern wear an approved lifejacket, but that is it. I took the power squadron's safe boating course a few years ago, and it was very helpful. I've been sailing and boating all my life, and took the classes (12/3 hour classes) for the substantial insurance discount given for sucessful completion. I thought I knew all there was about boating, but really learned alot about safety, proper docking techniques, navigation aids, chartplotting, and other stuff I never thought about. It was a real eye opener, and has saved my A** at least twice.
Hugh Williams posted 06-05-2003 01:29 PM ET (US)
I live in Florida ad agree that we need better boating laws. Currently you have to 14 and have a saftey boating card to operate a vessle over a certian length or 10+ h.p. thats why they make the 9.9 and 9.8 engines. The saftey test is a joke. You can take it online or get the mail in form. You can be any age to take the test and get the card but i am pretty sure you still have to be at least 14 to operate one even with a card. This confusing is pretty confusing. One more thing, the law only applies to people born after 1980.
I think that FL should especially have a mandatory saftey because of all the boat traffic. I can not tell you how many times i have seen people on PWC's driving wreckless. From driving under my fishing line while surface trolling for kings just offshore of Panama City Beach. To a jet ski spinning out and hitting a post on a low dock. These guys almost killed themselves because the back end of the jet ski was the part that hit. Thse dock was the perfect height for the back end of the jet ski to go underneith while pinning them against their steering bar as they slid backwards (dounut) possibly breaking their back but they hit the pilling. one foot over and they could have been killed. I do not think they reallized how luck they were.
PWC's are very agile but can loose steering. Then what? A pair of jet skies were playing around on a lake one day when one of them thought it would be funny if they turned off the other one's gas valve. Harmless right? The jet ski turned off while comming up on the other jet ski while going fast. It lost steering and slammed into the back passenger of the other jet ski breaking the rear passengers back. True story!
Happy boating HW.
where2 posted 06-05-2003 05:12 PM ET (US)
I've boated in Florida for the past 32 years, and driven a car for the last 16. I've been cut off and nearly run off the road by so many people that passed the state's test for a Automobile license, that I figure any test they could offer for a boating license would be a waste of my tax dollar.
You can't keep unlicensed auto drivers off the road, so why would an unlicensed boat operator stay home when his chances of being stopped are less than if he got behind the wheel of a car?

whalernut posted 06-05-2003 07:40 PM ET (US)
Not yet, except for PWC`s, but I think there will be one in the near future, legislators legislate the He*L out of us, so it is only hindsight that they will hit us soon with this one, but I really hope there is a grandfather clause that only people born after a certain date need it, but personally I hope it just doesn`t happen. I boat in PA and OH and they are way to tough on Drinkin and driving a boat now, they take the whole fun out of boating :( Jack.
Perry posted 06-05-2003 08:52 PM ET (US)
Here in Hawaii it is not required but many people have them. I quess they feel that if the Coast Guard ot Harbor Patrol stops you and you have the certificate, they let you on your merry way without checking for life vests etc.
Shssaildude posted 06-06-2003 08:07 AM ET (US)
I like in MA and the law is any kids between the ages of 12 and 16 must have a boating certificate and kids between the ages of 16 and 18 need one for a PWC.
I think the law should be for every one I live right near the cape cod canal and see so many idots(sp) one guy anchored his boat for the night near low tide and didn't let any rde out the next morning he reported it stolen and some one found it in p-town
adaps4 posted 06-06-2003 09:16 AM ET (US)
Thanks for the replies. I have always wondered how many states did this. Now, I know the CT law had it's flaws,i.e. granfathering in current boat owners, etc. But, I feel it is better than nothing. Cause nothing is what we have here in Florida, and the stuff I see amazes me.
I do not feel this is a result of bigger government, as someone suggested. I feel that this is a neccesity to protect ourselves and our hobby. I guess I just feel a lot safer boating in CT than FL. You would think it would be opposite, since CT boaters don't get to practice as much.
Drisney posted 06-06-2003 12:12 PM ET (US)
I was under the impression that Calif. has an age limit now. Dave

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Author	Topic: Does your state require a safe boating certificate?
adaps4	posted 06-04-2003 06:39 PM ET (US) I grew up in Connecticut, and there they require any boat driver to have either coast guard or power squadron certificates. I am just wondering how many states require this. I live in Florida now, and any moron with money can buy a really fast boat and take it out that day. The best part of the CT law is that PWC operators are required to have seperate certificates. Their test is supposed to be a lot harder as well. So, in that state if you own both, you need to be certified for both. Kinda like a drivers license and a motorcycle license. I feel this is a good practice, and wonder why Florida does not do this. PWC and Boat rentals may come into play here. Any thoughts?
acseatsri	posted 06-04-2003 07:23 PM ET (US) I live in CT- all that is required is a SAFE BOATING COURSE to obtain the license. It's A LOT less than a CG or PS certificate. And if you owned and operated a boat before the law took effect, none of the above were required, just a check for $25.
doobee	posted 06-04-2003 10:05 PM ET (US) Here in Massachusetts the law requires you to pass a test and have a license to drive a car, and there is a seperate test and license for motorcycles. Even with all these licensing requirements, I still see morons on the road every day. Responsible people take the courses that are offered by the the Power Squadron or USCG, learn from them, and become responsible boaters. Morons don't take the courses, and, as a result, they wind up enjoying the sport less because they don't know what they are doing. Eventually they sell their boats, and become politicians. Licensing won't keep morons off the water, yet it will make it harder, and more expensive, for the average person to own a boat.
captbone	posted 06-04-2003 10:54 PM ET (US) The sad part is that you can get a boating licensed from the seatow website in less than a half an hour.
whaler3	posted 06-04-2003 11:05 PM ET (US) I boat in N.J. and Fla. N.J requires a boat license for non-tide waters but none for tide waters. To get the license all you do is apply and pay. PWC operators all must have a special license that requires a test. The had a lot of accidents and deaths. Florida on the other hand has no requirments but age for both. It is alarming to think that anyone can get in a machine that can endanger other lives with no training or rules of the road. Also insurance is not required. Both should require a safe boating course.
Dick	posted 06-04-2003 11:32 PM ET (US) Here in Washington nothing is required other than a current registration. Dick
triblet	posted 06-05-2003 12:51 AM ET (US) In California, nothing is required except the keys, if any. Six pack is optional. ;-) The legislature passed a requirement for passing a test last year, Grey Davis vetoed it. Chuck
Robob2003	posted 06-05-2003 08:44 AM ET (US) Most people of my acquaintance who moved from Ct. and Mass. did so to escape from too much government and too many fees. I guess you'll have to go back up there or take your chances. Incidentally, most of the PWC accidents involve tourists;-) Bob in Florida
Chap	posted 06-05-2003 11:07 AM ET (US) Hello, I believe that a safety course and certificate possession is coming and will be "phased in" completely by 2007 in NJ, for ALL power boaters/PWC. www.njleg.state.nj.us/bills/BillsByNumber.asp Thanks Chap
Landlocked	posted 06-05-2003 11:38 AM ET (US) No requirements in Tennessee.
ratherwhalering	posted 06-05-2003 12:43 PM ET (US) California does require that childern wear an approved lifejacket, but that is it. I took the power squadron's safe boating course a few years ago, and it was very helpful. I've been sailing and boating all my life, and took the classes (12/3 hour classes) for the substantial insurance discount given for sucessful completion. I thought I knew all there was about boating, but really learned alot about safety, proper docking techniques, navigation aids, chartplotting, and other stuff I never thought about. It was a real eye opener, and has saved my A** at least twice.
Hugh Williams	posted 06-05-2003 01:29 PM ET (US) I live in Florida ad agree that we need better boating laws. Currently you have to 14 and have a saftey boating card to operate a vessle over a certian length or 10+ h.p. thats why they make the 9.9 and 9.8 engines. The saftey test is a joke. You can take it online or get the mail in form. You can be any age to take the test and get the card but i am pretty sure you still have to be at least 14 to operate one even with a card. This confusing is pretty confusing. One more thing, the law only applies to people born after 1980. I think that FL should especially have a mandatory saftey because of all the boat traffic. I can not tell you how many times i have seen people on PWC's driving wreckless. From driving under my fishing line while surface trolling for kings just offshore of Panama City Beach. To a jet ski spinning out and hitting a post on a low dock. These guys almost killed themselves because the back end of the jet ski was the part that hit. Thse dock was the perfect height for the back end of the jet ski to go underneith while pinning them against their steering bar as they slid backwards (dounut) possibly breaking their back but they hit the pilling. one foot over and they could have been killed. I do not think they reallized how luck they were. PWC's are very agile but can loose steering. Then what? A pair of jet skies were playing around on a lake one day when one of them thought it would be funny if they turned off the other one's gas valve. Harmless right? The jet ski turned off while comming up on the other jet ski while going fast. It lost steering and slammed into the back passenger of the other jet ski breaking the rear passengers back. True story! Happy boating HW.
where2	posted 06-05-2003 05:12 PM ET (US) I've boated in Florida for the past 32 years, and driven a car for the last 16. I've been cut off and nearly run off the road by so many people that passed the state's test for a Automobile license, that I figure any test they could offer for a boating license would be a waste of my tax dollar. You can't keep unlicensed auto drivers off the road, so why would an unlicensed boat operator stay home when his chances of being stopped are less than if he got behind the wheel of a car?
whalernut	posted 06-05-2003 07:40 PM ET (US) Not yet, except for PWC`s, but I think there will be one in the near future, legislators legislate the He*L out of us, so it is only hindsight that they will hit us soon with this one, but I really hope there is a grandfather clause that only people born after a certain date need it, but personally I hope it just doesn`t happen. I boat in PA and OH and they are way to tough on Drinkin and driving a boat now, they take the whole fun out of boating :( Jack.
Perry	posted 06-05-2003 08:52 PM ET (US) Here in Hawaii it is not required but many people have them. I quess they feel that if the Coast Guard ot Harbor Patrol stops you and you have the certificate, they let you on your merry way without checking for life vests etc.
Shssaildude	posted 06-06-2003 08:07 AM ET (US) I like in MA and the law is any kids between the ages of 12 and 16 must have a boating certificate and kids between the ages of 16 and 18 need one for a PWC. I think the law should be for every one I live right near the cape cod canal and see so many idots(sp) one guy anchored his boat for the night near low tide and didn't let any rde out the next morning he reported it stolen and some one found it in p-town
adaps4	posted 06-06-2003 09:16 AM ET (US) Thanks for the replies. I have always wondered how many states did this. Now, I know the CT law had it's flaws,i.e. granfathering in current boat owners, etc. But, I feel it is better than nothing. Cause nothing is what we have here in Florida, and the stuff I see amazes me. I do not feel this is a result of bigger government, as someone suggested. I feel that this is a neccesity to protect ourselves and our hobby. I guess I just feel a lot safer boating in CT than FL. You would think it would be opposite, since CT boaters don't get to practice as much.
Drisney	posted 06-06-2003 12:12 PM ET (US) I was under the impression that Calif. has an age limit now. Dave