Am I required to have a boat license?

[sleekpete]

I live ib southern Minnesota, and I just bought my first boat. I was just wondering if I'm required to have a boat license to legally drive it, like I have to have a motorcycle license to legally drive a motorcycle.

Thanks!

 

[cr2k]

Re: Am I required to have a boat license?

No but you would be better off taking a boating safety course.

 

[grahamh]

Re: Am I required to have a boat license?

Generally not, I'm not sure about Minnesota, but unless your boat is enormous or you're charging passengers, then you'll be fine.

A boating course is a good idea, especially if you don't have a boat savvy buddy to go out with you and show you the ropes.

 

[CATransplant]

Re: Am I required to have a boat license?

No license in Minnesota, but do take the advice and go through a boating safety course on line. Here's a good one:

http://www.boatus.org/onlinecourse/ReviewPages/BoatUSF/Project/section0x.htm

 

[RWilson2526]

Re: Am I required to have a boat license?

In NJ you do have to go to the DMV and get a little boat emblem on your drivers license....only way you can get it is to show proof you completed boaters safety course.....

 

[northernmerc]

Re: Am I required to have a boat license?

Is there movement in the US towards licensing? Licensing would make the waterways safer and reduce boating related accidents and deaths. Doing so would keep a lot of the inexperienced and most dangerous boaters off the water.

Since last fall, all power boat operators in Canada need a license. To get it requires passing a written test. One can either take a course and then take the exam or one can challenge the exam.

 

[mrz333]

Re: Am I required to have a boat license?

After taking the BoatUS course I went to the local USCGAux (Flotilla 95) and took all their courses and, got a free vessel inspection to boot. Safety, weather, radio, navigation & charts, rules of the road, local area knowledge, basic seamanship - lots of great info and great guys who share it well. You might not have a flotilla available where you are though.

I can't understand why a license is not required for more pleasure boaters.

 

[Hogger]

Re: Am I required to have a boat license?

Washington State is implementing a boaters license. I just took the BoatUS course, but of coarse the State wants their share, so I have to send them $10.
I will say that I agree with it. There are a lot of people out there that need some boating fundamentals.

 

[roscoe]

Re: Am I required to have a boat license?

In NJ you do have to go to the DMV and get a little boat emblem on your drivers license....only way you can get it is to show proof you completed boaters safety course.....

And what do you do if you do not have a drivers license?

 

[apaseman]

Re: Am I required to have a boat license?

-edited- sorry truly wasn't about the original posters question.

 

[H20Rat]

Re: Am I required to have a boat license?

And what do you do if you do not have a drivers license?

get a state issued ID card, they probably put the same emblem on that with proof of the course.