“Half of being smart is knowing what you are dumb about.” – Solomon Short, author.
Never is this quote more appropriate than when it comes to boater education. Unfortunately, many people think they can just get into a boat on a body of water and just do as they please as long as they don’t hit anything. This couldn’t be further from the truth. Understanding the rules of the water will not only make you safer on the water, but it will make everyone on the water safer also.
Do I need to take a boater education course? The automatic answer to this should be YES! Not all states require you to have a boater education course or certificate, but all of them have a requirement for minors to have one if they are powering a boat with a motor over 10hp. You will need to look up each states individual requirements to find out the age ranges. To help with this I have included a table with each states requirements, ages, and links to states information about boating guidelines. Pick your state or the state you will be boating in, below.
Why take a Boater safety Course?
Why would you not take one! I mean really. Why would you not want to be as safe as possible on the water. Not only for your own safety, but for your family and friends also. Boating on different bodies of water will come the its own challenges. For instance, if you are boating in Oregon on the Columbia River, can you spot and identify channel markers that are used by cargo ships and barges? If you are in Florida, do you know the proper way to enter or exit an inlet during tide changes? And most of all, do you know if you are in compliance with all state regulations? These are just three of hundreds of possible situations that you can come across while out on different bodies of water. By taking a boater education course you will be better prepared for those situations that are within your region.
What does a Boater Education Course Cover
Although the requirements for a course differ from state to state there are some basic topics that all courses cover. First, they will cover the state regulations that apply to the state in which you are taking the course.
This could include:
- Age restrictions
- DUI
- Boat and or trailer registration
- Boat inspections for invasive species
- On water signage
- State safety regulations
Safety will be another main topic of the Course. According to the American Boating Association, There are about 7,700 boating accidents a year, and 70% of them were caused by operator error. And of those where a fatality occurred, 80% of them happened to a boater that did not have a boater education course. So to combat this the courses will talk about a wide range of safety topics. They can cover items such as:
- Floatation devices
- Boat Flooding/ Capsizing
- Boat Fires
- Man Overboard
- Weather/ Lightning
- First Aid
Finally, they will cover basic general boater information. This really could be a wide range of topics, and it really depends on the area that you are in, to determine how in depth the course will go. For instance, once again, in Oregon, they teach you the proper way to navigate a Lock. But this is probably not information you will need to know boating on a lake in Iowa. Because of this you should have a course in every state that you will be boating in. Topics covered could also include:
- Marine terms/ Boat parts
- Boat traffic Flow
- Boater etiquette
- Boat launch/ landing
- Regional specific items
This by no means is a total list of items that will be covered in you boater education course, but it can give you a pretty good idea of what to expect going into it. And remember there will be a test at the end so pay attention.
Boater Education Course Requirements by State
Here is a list of states that require Boater education courses. This does not replace whether your state also requires a boater’s or driver’s license. Click on the state name and it will take you to the NASBLA (National Association of State Boating Laws Administrators). This site will give you the best information about the laws of boating according to your state. The list below is just a quick reference. Go to NASBLA for the most accurate regulations.
| STATE | MINORS | AGES | ADULTS |
| Alabama | Yes | Ages 12 and up | Yes |
| Alaska | No | No | |
| Arizona | Yes | Ages 10 and up | No |
| Arkansas | Yes, with supervision | All ages | If born after Jan. 1, 1986 |
| California | Yes, with Supervision | Ages 12-15 | Yes, if ordered by courts |
| Colorado | Yes, With supervision | Ages 14-16 | No |
| Connecticut | Yes | Ages 12-16, but no minimum to be certified | Yes, if Boating more than 60 days a year |
| Delaware | Yes | If Born after Jan. 1, 1978 | Yes |
| District of Columbia | Yes | Everyone | Yes |
| Florida | Yes | Under 21 | Yes, if convicted of boating infractions |
| Georgia | Yes | Ages 12-15, 16 for PWC | No |
| Guam | No | No | |
| Hawaii | Yes | At least 15 years old | Yes, for PWC |
| Idaho | No | No, unless renting PWC or convicted of OUI | |
| Illinois | Yes | Ages 12-18 | No |
| Indiana | Yes | Age 15 only | No, but must have Driver’s License |
| Iowa | Yes | Ages 12-17 | No |
| Kansas | yes | Born after Jan 1, 1989 | Yes, unless born before Jan 1, 1989 |
| Kentucky | Yes | Ages 12-17 | No |
| Louisiana | Yes | Under 16 | No |
| Maine | Yes | 16-17-year old | No |
| Maryland | Yes | Yes, if Born after July 1, 1972 | |
| Massachusetts | Yes | Ages 12-16, 17 for PWC | No |
| Michigan | Yes | Age restrictions on Motor Horsepower | No |
| Minnesota | Yes | Ages 12-17 | No |
| Mississippi | Yes | Yes, if Born after June 30, 1980 | |
| Missouri | Yes | Yes, if Born after Jan 1, 1984 | |
| Montana | Yes | Ages 13-14 over 10 HP | No |
| Nebraska | Yes | Ages 14-18 | No |
| Nevada | Yes | Yes, if born after Jan 1, 1983 | |
| New Hampshire | Yes | Yes, if over 25 HP | |
| New Jersey | Yes | Ages 11 and up. 16 for PWC | Yes |
| New Mexico | Yes | Born after Jan 1, 1989 | Yes |
| New York | Yes | Ages 10-18, 14 for PWC | No |
| North Carolina | Yes | Ages 14-16 | No |
| North Dakota | Yes | Ages 12-15 with restrictions | No |
| Ohio | Yes | Born after Jan 1, 1982 | Yes |
| Oklahoma | Yes | Ages 12-16 | No |
| Oregon | Yes | 12 and older | Yes |
| Pennsylvania | Yes | Born after Jan 1, 1982 | Yes, over 25 HP |
| Puerto Rico | Yes | Born after Jan 1, 1972 | Yes |
| Rhode Island | Yes | Born after Jan 1, 1986 | Yes |
| South Carolina | Yes | Under 16 over 15 HP | No |
| South Dakota | No | No | |
| Tennessee | Yes | Born after Jan 1, 1989 | Yes |
| Texas | Yes | Ages 13-17 | No |
| Utah | Yes | Ages 12-17 | No |
| Vermont | Yes | Born After Jan 1, 1974 | Yes |
| Virginia | Yes | Ages 14, 15 for PWC | Yes, age dependent |
| Virgin Islands | No Data | No Data | |
| Washington | Yes | 12 or older | Yes, age dependent |
| West Virginia | Yes | Born after Dec 31, 1986 | Yes |
| Wisconsin | Yes | Born after Jan 1, 1989 | Yes |
| Wyoming | No | No |
Even though not all the states require a boater education course, I would highly recommend that everyone take one. The safer we are on the water the more enjoyable it can be for all. So set an example, and take the time to educate yourself and your family. Have a safe and happy boating adventure.