New Jersey Boating Safety Class (and test)

J

JohnH

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What did I do yesterday...? I went to the NJ Boating Safety Class. Instead of two four hour sessions on different days, this one was done in one day. About 8:00 am to 4:00 pm including the test.
Even though I wasn't required to have this certificate until 2009, my brother was going to do it and he asked me if I wanted to come along.
First, let me say that most Hudson River boaters with some experience can probably opt out of the class and go directly to the test and probably pass. You need to get 40 out of the 50 questions correct in order to pass.
However, while most of the class was a little tedious, there are things that you probably don't know or need a refresher on, which will guarantee that you pass.
For example, there might be a question about what kind of equipment is needed on a particular size boat. How close can you get to a dock, marina, etc, before going to no wake speed? Fire extinguisher requirements. Fog signals. There also may be a question or two for trailer boaters and PWC'ers.

Rules of the road, aids to navigation, weather and such shouldn't be a problem. It's the seven or eight questions on the test, that if you do not take the course, you may easily miss.

So, while it was a long day, at least I got this out of the way sooner than I expected.
 
It can't come soon enough. On the way back from Jersey we had to work our way (very slowly, we were idling) past the fishing fleet that stretched from Sandy Hook all the way to Staten Island. There was one knuckle head out there that saw us coming and went to the bridge, moved his boat in front of us, and stopped. Then when I yelled, "yer killin' me what the heck are ya doin" he says he was drifting and that I should turn the wheel. I said we saw you move the boat. He called me some names and I just motored on wishing I had merely waked the whole gang.
While we did get a NUMBER of waves of gratitude, there's always one.
 
Just goes to show you that you can pass a test but still be an a$$hole.
They can't teach common sense or courtesy.

Dan, by the way, was Red Bank, as a destination, a worthwhile stop? I understand that it is another of those communities being reborn into a better place. Much like Hoboken and now Jersey City.
 
Good advice, John.

I took my 11 yr old son to a NYS Parks safe boating class last month. It'd been 10 years since my last course,and I wanted a refresher . . . he just wanted his boating license! A local PD (Carmel, NY) gave the course. A good refresher, but not nearly as informative (to those who boat on the river) as the CG Aux course, IMHO.

Also, as it seem all of our neighboring states (and NY) require a safety course for PWC operation, it make sense to just take a course and have it under your belt.
 
John
If you stay at MollyP or perhaps Irwins, yes it is a good stop over. Plenty of good eats, antiques within walking distance.
 
Re: NJ Boating Safety Class, I was under the impression you were allowed to miss 15 of the 50 questions giving you a score of 70 which I believe is passing.
 
The Jersey City waterfront has certainly improved in the last few years but the interior is still [:-yuck]. Actually, I think it might have gotten worse in the last 4 or 5 years.
 
BobJ,
Could have sworn he said you could only miss ten questions, but I could be mistaken. What you suggest, a score of 70, should equate to a passing grade.
 
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