Boating Certificate
- Thread starter mikev324
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There is currently no law requiring you to do so if you are an adult (I think over 13) but it is still a good idea.
There are courses given by your local Power Squadron and Coast Guard Aux. that are very helpful. I urge you to take one as there is alot of useful information to be had there in terms of safety and boat handling. You will be happy that you did.
There are courses given by your local Power Squadron and Coast Guard Aux. that are very helpful. I urge you to take one as there is alot of useful information to be had there in terms of safety and boat handling. You will be happy that you did.
Mark we may all need one in 6 months.
http://www.newsday.com/services/new...tion/ny-uscoast255663257apr25,0,6507414.story
http://www.newsday.com/services/new...tion/ny-uscoast255663257apr25,0,6507414.story
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I wonder if the one I received in 2002 from the GSB USPS will still be valid.
B
blouderback
Guest
If you venture a little south and end up in NJ waters, then YES, you will need a certificate from either NJ or your home state (from your home state is OK if you're staying less than 60 or 90 days, I can't remember).
It's on a grand-fathered scale based on your year of birth:
• Persons born in 1949 or later must possess a Boating Safety Certificate by June 1, 2008.
• All persons who wish to operate a power vessel must possess a Boating Safety Certificate by June 1, 2009.
It's on a grand-fathered scale based on your year of birth:
• Persons born in 1949 or later must possess a Boating Safety Certificate by June 1, 2008.
• All persons who wish to operate a power vessel must possess a Boating Safety Certificate by June 1, 2009.
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Fortunately, I took one in 2002 as well so I already have a certificate.
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Mark, but do you believe that they may set a new standard and we would need to take the class over? That would not be the worst thing. But I would not want to be among the crowds signing up for the class.
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I would think not but when it comes to the geniuses in charge...anything is possible.
Walter
He is talking about NJ. Here is a link to the sordid details. http://www.njsp.org/info/pdf/marine/boating_education_requirements-021606.pdf
Bottom line is if you want to boat in or around NJ then you MUST have a boater safety cert. Even if just passing thru.
Mike, in addition to what Mark said, check local libraries too, many of them offer boating courses. There tend to be a lot of the boating safety courses offered at this time of year. Definitely a good idea to take one. And tell your insurance company you did so, may save a few bucks.
It's interesting about the Newsday article and this potential regulation initiative. I read through the actual document issued by DHS today, and it does not really talk about much of the stuff Newsday mentioned, not directly anyway. They talk about identifying vessels, partnering with other law enforcement and NGO organizations, etc., but the things Newsday said about more stringent safety requirements/inspections, operator certification, and common standards for identification carried by boaters, I do not see in there. This is as close as it got to that:
iii. Move towards a knowledgeable small vessel community through a common, efficient, accessible, and easy to use lessons-learned system from exercises, real life events, peer review, and formal––but simple and inexpensive––instruction.
iv. Leverage existing education and outreach programs, such as those provided to the small vessel community by the USCG Boating Safety Division, USCG Auxiliary and partnerships with the U.S. Power Squadrons to provide both security and safety training.
I guess the key is what "move towards" and "leverage" mean. To me they don't mean "require." Generally when the gov't wants something it passes a law and requires it. It doesn't issue a position paper which is all this thing is.
I found this one more interesting:
Expand research into and invest in prototyping low-cost, non-intrusive, small vessel identification systems, such as Radio-Frequency Identification (RFID) tags, adaptable miniature transponders, portable Global Positioning System (GPS) devices, or cell-phone based recognition systems.
Are we heading for a day when we all have the equivalent of an aircraft transponder (or maybe more like an EZPass) on board?
It's interesting about the Newsday article and this potential regulation initiative. I read through the actual document issued by DHS today, and it does not really talk about much of the stuff Newsday mentioned, not directly anyway. They talk about identifying vessels, partnering with other law enforcement and NGO organizations, etc., but the things Newsday said about more stringent safety requirements/inspections, operator certification, and common standards for identification carried by boaters, I do not see in there. This is as close as it got to that:
iii. Move towards a knowledgeable small vessel community through a common, efficient, accessible, and easy to use lessons-learned system from exercises, real life events, peer review, and formal––but simple and inexpensive––instruction.
iv. Leverage existing education and outreach programs, such as those provided to the small vessel community by the USCG Boating Safety Division, USCG Auxiliary and partnerships with the U.S. Power Squadrons to provide both security and safety training.
I guess the key is what "move towards" and "leverage" mean. To me they don't mean "require." Generally when the gov't wants something it passes a law and requires it. It doesn't issue a position paper which is all this thing is.
I found this one more interesting:
Expand research into and invest in prototyping low-cost, non-intrusive, small vessel identification systems, such as Radio-Frequency Identification (RFID) tags, adaptable miniature transponders, portable Global Positioning System (GPS) devices, or cell-phone based recognition systems.
Are we heading for a day when we all have the equivalent of an aircraft transponder (or maybe more like an EZPass) on board?
B
blouderback
Guest
Walter,
NJ has been slowly requiring operators to have a certificate over the last few years, "grandfathering" older boaters year by year. It started somewhere in the summer of 2006. If you were born after 1969, you had to have a certifcate by June 2006, born after 1959, cert after Jun 2007, born after 1949, cert by June 2008, and EVERYONE must have one by June 2009.
I have a funny feeling that many states will follow suit in the next few years, as NJ has done and NY seems to be doing as we type.
NJ has been slowly requiring operators to have a certificate over the last few years, "grandfathering" older boaters year by year. It started somewhere in the summer of 2006. If you were born after 1969, you had to have a certifcate by June 2006, born after 1959, cert after Jun 2007, born after 1949, cert by June 2008, and EVERYONE must have one by June 2009.
I have a funny feeling that many states will follow suit in the next few years, as NJ has done and NY seems to be doing as we type.
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My wife & I both took the course in NY as we were going to be first time boat owners. It was very much worth it! I wouldn't mind seeing them make it a requirement in NY as there are too many people out there who really have no idea.
Thanks guys...I didn't mention that i grew up having a boat for the better part of 20 years on the South Shore. Marriage and 2 kids later I finally decided to get back into boating...Of course I do it when the gas prices go through the roof!! But...I always say "you can't take the money with you when you die" ...so F'em...I'll leave them the credit card bills!!! Hope everyone has a safe and enjoyable summer!!