Required Boaters License / Education Card?

[lcoates68]

Re: Required Boaters License / Education Card?

Missouri has just started requiring a "license" for operators born after Jan. 1, 1984 and those who have had legal issues on the water. The following is taken from the MO Water Patrol Website:<br /><br />

<br />Beginning January 1, 2005, every person born after January 1, 1984, who operates a vessel on Missouri lakes shall possess, on the vessel, a boating safety identification card issued by the Missouri State Water Patrol (along with a valid photo I.D). <br /><br />Beginning January 1, 2006, every NON-RESIDENT boat operator born after January 1, 1984, shall possess a boating safety certification card from their home state, United States Coast Guard Auxiliary, U.S. Power Squadron, or the Missouri State Water Patrol. <br /><br />Any person convicted of Boating While Intoxicated, Reckless and Negligent Operation, Failing to Stop on Signal of Water Patrol or Leaving the Scene of a Vessel Accident, shall enroll in and successfully complete, at his or her own expense, a boating safety education course; file with the court proof of successful completion of such course and submit a certified copy to the water patrol; and not operate a vessel until such filing.<br />

 

[Scaaty]

Re: Required Boaters License / Education Card?

Coming to a state near you! Washington has something in the works, and given time, it will spread.

 

[Boatist]

Re: Required Boaters License / Education Card?

I support required boater edcuation. I taken the Coast Guard Aux class 3 times and the US Power Squadrons class 3 times. My whole crew has taken the class at least one time. I think it is a good idea. I enjoy the classes and always learn something.<br /><br />Class not required in California and if you allow this state to collet fee then it would be $100 in less than 5 years. Then they would not use the money to build boat ramps and parking but instead to study the sex life of sand fleas and enhance the important people retirement.

 

[ziggy]

Re: Required Boaters License / Education Card?

in nebraska, ya need a boater safty corse. if under 14, ya can't operate a motorized vessel. 14-18 ya need a boater safety certificate. and i think they (the lawmakers) are increaseing this age yearly, up to what point i don't know. personaly i don't want "the man" (question authority)to tell me what to do. however, i am all for a safety class for all. i see all kinds of bad behavior at the lake. perhaps dangerous behavior would be a better statement. also. since i am interested im boats,and boating. i am now talking more classes. started with boater safety and have now completed boat smart, seamanship, engine maint. and the piloting corse with the power squadron. probably will keep going foward and talk advance piloting next. have no idea what i will do with the things i've learned, as i just can't get more landlocked than nebraska. i just want to know more that's all. the education thing kinda feeds itself for me, just brings up more questions........

 

[Sea Mitch]

Re: Required Boaters License / Education Card?

As stated above, CT requires a "safe boating certificate" for both PWCs and Boats although when I get boarded by the Coast Guard, they never ask for it. I guess it must be for the local police. CT's had it for a while. They are issued once, after successfully completing a course and test, and are good for life, never have to be renewed. They recently changed the PWC law to no one under 16 can operate a PWC by themselves and for boats, under 12 years old max 10HP.

 

[MrBill]

Re: Required Boaters License / Education Card?

New Hampshire is phasing in the requirement for a Coast Guard approved course and licensing over a seven year period. This will be year 3, and requires all born after January 1, 1967 to be licensed by January 1, 2005. All must be licensed by Jan 1, 2008.<br /><br />See this site for states requirements (bottom of page) http://www.boat-ed.com/nh/index.htm

 

[Major Woods]

Re: Required Boaters License / Education Card?

A clarification, CT boat license is only aquired by taking a boating safty/nav course.<br />There is no cost for the license and is for your lifetime.<br />The boat course does cost around $50 depending on where you take it. The one I took was no cost but that is unusual.<br />I took my class when I was 12 and have not been asked to see my card in the last 28 years.

 

[imstillatwork]

Re: Required Boaters License / Education Card?

www.boat-ed.com seems to be the official site for most states.<br /><br />As long as prices are reasonable, I don't mind.<br /><br />But like was said earlier, as long as there are prices, it will be raised. A one time deal isn't too bad though. In the end, I think it's worth it.

 

[mattttt25]

Re: Required Boaters License / Education Card?

md requires a boating safety course for all powerboaters born after 1972. right now, i think there are several courses that qualify, most costing less than $100. i received mine about 4 years ago. called the local cg station and told them i was a qualified surface warfare officer in the navy. they said just come in and take the test. no course. i had my card in about an hour.

 

[kisinana]

Re: Required Boaters License / Education Card?

In British Columbia and the rest of Canada, all persons under 16 years of age must have a license and anyone operating a boat with a motor under 12 feet. By 2009 all boat operators will need a license. PWC operators must be licensed and can not be operated by anyone under 16.

 

[swist]

Re: Required Boaters License / Education Card?

Licensing of boat operators should be mandatory. You wouldn't think of letting people buy a car and then just drive it. Well that's what a lot of boaters do, and in conveyances much bigger than cars with the potential for causing a lot more injury/death/property damage.<br /><br />And don't forget to factor in the millions that come out of out tax dollars to support the USCG rescuing boaters from their own idiocy. We've all heard the stories.<br /><br />One of the guys at a local boat store told me he once sold a 36'Carver with big twin engines to some rich guy who put it into Boston harbor (a *very* busy place in the Summer) the next day. Zero boating experience, zero training, no charts, etc. Never heard how it turned out but I'm glad I was never near the guy. I hate gov't rules as much as anyone, but don't we have to make it just a little harder for stuff like this to happen?

 

[Dhadley]

Re: Required Boaters License / Education Card?

Licensing of boat operators should be mandatory. You wouldn't think of letting people buy a car and then just drive it.

I couldnt agree more. However, I just spent 2 hours on the interstate this morning and its real obvious that just because someone has a license dosent mean they know how to drive. At all.

 

[RatFish]

Re: Required Boaters License / Education Card?

I hold a Boating Education Safety Certificate and a Boat Operators License in NJ. The Boating Safety Certificate is a good thing because you can only get one (for free) after completing an approved "instructor taught" course. The Boat Operators License is a joke. The state just issues it for revenue purposes. The collected money doesn't even go back into boating! Just pay your $16 and you can get one. <br /><br />Here are some specifics...<br /><br /> NJ Boating Education Safety Certificate Requirements <br /><br /> NJ Boat License Requirements

 

[swist]

Re: Required Boaters License / Education Card?

However, I just spent 2 hours on the interstate this morning and its real obvious that just because someone has a license dosent mean they know how to drive. At all.

All too true, but at least even the simplest driver's test can't be passed if you can't move the car forward and back, and turn right and left under control. With ZERO licensing requirements for boating, there is no guarantee the operator can even do those things right. Yahoos we will always have with us, but let's at least do what we can to prevent them from killing someone the first time out.

 

[levittownnick]

Re: Required Boaters License / Education Card?

Most people, after plunking down some hard earned bucks will want to protect their purchase. The fear of law suites is also a great safety device.<br />A license is a device that costs everybody money without a gurantee of any benefit. We pay to get the license, then we must pay to have law enforcement and to support the bureaucy that must maintain the records etc.<br />It is abundently clear to me that many, may be most reckless acts are caused by drivers that had there license revoked, some, dozens of times,for a variety of reasons.<br />Why would I think that it would be any different for boat operators? The next logical thing is that we would have to pay more to increase law enforcement on the water.<br />There is no perfect answer. It ain't broke. Don't fix it.<br />The last thing I want is more regulations, and to pay to support those regulations. (Regulations that are not supported are worthless.)<br />There are laws that must be obeyed with or without a license. Enforce those laws or ammend them as required.<br />Please dont support anything that just errodes our freedom.

 

[SeaJayacas]

Re: Required Boaters License / Education Card?

How do we institute licenses for boat operators? Do we hire an army of examainers to go out on sea trials to determine if boaters know how to drive? Do we give every body a written test similar in complexity to the commercial captain's test?<br /><br />Or do we just charge everyone who asks for one $79.99 for a two year license to raise more money for pork barrel projects?<br /><br />By now I guess that it is obvious that I am not in favor of boat licensing.

 

[eeboater]

Re: Required Boaters License / Education Card?

Originally posted by SeaJayacas:<br /> How do we institute licenses for boat operators? Do we hire an army of examainers to go out on sea trials to determine if boaters know how to drive? Do we give every body a written test similar in complexity to the commercial captain's test?<br /><br />Or do we just charge everyone who asks for one $79.99 for a two year license to raise more money for pork barrel projects?<br /><br />By now I guess that it is obvious that I am not in favor of boat licensing.

SeaJay: I think you are making it a lot more difficult than need be. The USCG Aux hosts boater safety classes at a minimal fee. Those who take that class, even if they retain 10% of what they are taught, are safer than those who have not taken that class.<br /><br />It costs what, 40 bucks to renew your drivers license every 6 years? Why not have boaters get a license? <br /><br />There are police and government agents patrolling the waters already so no need to "hire an army" to patrol the waters. <br /><br />I personally feel safer passing a boater if I know they took a class than if they just went down to their local boat store and bought an off-the-shelf boat. <br /><br />Believe me, I'm not one for More government involvement. In fact, I encourage the the government get the hell out of my life. But THIS is a reason we have to government. To ensure the welfare and safety of their citizens.<br /><br />$0.02 Deposited.<br /><br />Sean

 

[BillP]

Re: Required Boaters License / Education Card?

Just staff the USCG and marine patrols better to "help educate" boaters. We don't need rambo marine patrols or licenses either. Licenses aren't going to help careless or reckless driving and that's what most serious boating accidents are from. Throttle jocks.