Do you need a boaters license in your part of the world ?

[Summer Fun]

Re: Do you need a boaters license in your part of the world ?

Old people diving scare me,

Me too.

 

[jspansel]

Re: Do you need a boaters license in your part of the world ?

In OR I believe you only need one if the boat is over a certain length an/or has more than 10hp...

 

[fisherguy123]

Re: Do you need a boaters license in your part of the world ?

to eastont
I heard they are cutting out the online test this year precisely because of the reasons you gave of cheating. This will raise the cost even more because you`ll have an instructor to teach and test as I did. I agree about learning to deal with rough water and storms and my lobster fisher buddy is a fine example. He can handle a 20 ft flat bottom power dory on the Atlantic ocean in conditions which would put the fear of God in any recreational boater but he can`t legally take his son out recreational fishing without the Almighty Boat Card. He has to first learn what a yellow buoy with
flicking white lights mean(as if anyone can remember what sequence means what) They left the common sense questions off the test.

 

[Tim Wagner]

Re: Do you need a boaters license in your part of the world ?

You folks up there across the border in Ontario, tell me more.
Is that for foreigners too??
Here in PA, if you were born before a certain date, you dont need one.
If you wish to run a PWC, you need one. No matter what.
No one under 16 on a PWC riding solo.
You can still take the test and get a boaters license if you wish though, which I have.
Whats the scoop for us coming up there to run our boats??
Is there a website with this info on it??
I need to pass this along.

 

[texasabil]

Re: Do you need a boaters license in your part of the world ?

Here in taxes if you where born before 1983 I believe you must complete a boaters safety course i got mine even though I didn't need to by law but me and my son done it the same time there was things i didn't know so i'm glad we took it!!!!

 

[tswiczko]

Re: Do you need a boaters license in your part of the world ?

Like 642 says here in Indiana it is not required,But it probably will be in the future.

If there is a need to regulate and register who boats, then there will be a need to increase water patrols, and set up a section of the courts for it then the lawyers will get involved to get their moneys worth out of the system driving up the cost of insurance then charging you for testing and renewal and making boating cost more.

In short just because you license some doesn't make them good at it. "Certified does not mean qualified" is my opinion. You can take your boat to water but they can't make you think.

The government will do it under the premises of making it safer, but as to whether or not it really does make it safer is dependent on how the surveys are done and who is paying for them.

Sorry if I sound like I'm ranting.

 

[fisherguy123]

Re: Do you need a boaters license in your part of the world ?

http://www.tc.gc.ca/eng/marinesafety/debs-obs-paperwork-paperwork_operatorfaq-2233.htm
To Tim Wagner,
Here is the link to the Transport Canada website on all this legislation. It looks like you don`t need a license in any Canadian waters if you operate less than 45 days as a foreigner. I guess the officials don`t expect you to have an incident in that short time period ....ha ha

 

[Chris-R]

Re: Do you need a boaters license in your part of the world ?

Here in Rhode Island, anyone born after January 1, 1986 must pass a test. I'm old so I'm exempt. Even though I'm exempt, I still took a boating safety class with the Coast Guard Auxiliary last year (and 20 years prior to that) and I'm going to refresh my skills and take Advanced Navigation starting the end of this month. Hey, what else is there to do in the Winter?

 

[fisherguy123]

Re: Do you need a boaters license in your part of the world ?

hey Chris-R, winter is the time to Drink beer & watch Hockey like us Canucks !!!!!!! go Team CANADA !!!!!!!!!!!

 

[NYBo]

Re: Do you need a boaters license in your part of the world ?

No license is required in NY, but operators between 10 and 18 must pass an approved boating safety course to operate a boat without adult supervision. To operate a PWC, you must have taken an approved safety course or be accompanied by someone age 18 or above who has taken one. When a safety course is required, the certificate must be carried when operating the boat or PWC.

 

[JimS123]

Re: Do you need a boaters license in your part of the world ?

In short just because you license some doesn't make them good at it. "Certified does not mean qualified" is my opinion. You can take your boat to water but they can't make you think.

You are 100% correct in your assessment. And that sums up the dilemma here! Do you force all of the "Duh" people to take a course, while at the same time penalize all of the honest experienced responsible people?

All I can say is: Would you like to drive on the highway in a community where driver's education, licencing and competency testing was not required?

People will always do stupid things and disobey the law. Drunks and texters are rampant. But could you imagine how it would be if there were NO laws?

 

[Ernest T]

Re: Do you need a boaters license in your part of the world ?

Here in NC they just passed a regulation that went into effect May 2010 that requires anyone under the age of 26 to pass a boaters safety course before operating a boat or PWC. I heard rumor that this age limit will increase every couple of years, so that eventually everyone will have to pass a boater safety course. With all the nuts on the water in this state, anything would be an improvement.

 

[Bass Buster One]

Re: Do you need a boaters license in your part of the world ?

Here in Georgia, anyone can own a boat over the age of 18 with only a Dept of Natural Resources registration, which requires filling out the application, paying a nominal fee and renewing every three years. I agree with the need in testing and licensure, but not the latter requirement giving dummies the right to run all over everyone else on the lake without having taken some sort of class on boating. Maybe the fee covers additional policing out there to assure everyone a safe day out there. Just my two cents here.

 

[Guest]

Re: Do you need a boaters license in your part of the world ?

At the present time I am enroled in a Canadian Power Squadron 13 week boating course that teaches me how to read bouys, chanel markers etc, as well as read and plot charts, weather conditions, etc. After that I MUST take a 12 hr course to be certified to use a VHF radio according to Coast Guard standards. So here is my question: why not have ALL people who boat take this course so at least they have 1/2 an idea of what all those obsticales they have to power their boats threw or around are ( aka canel markers, bouys and other boats). The idea of taking a radio course is a must as it teaches you how to use the radio properly so others listening to you will know what you are trying tell them in case of an emergency.


I strongly believe that maybe our waterways will be a whole lot safer for all other boaters if we were all to take the courses!!
Maybe there would far fewer tragedies out there with far fewer parentless children

 

[Tim Wagner]

Re: Do you need a boaters license in your part of the world ?

http://www.tc.gc.ca/eng/marinesafety/debs-obs-paperwork-paperwork_operatorfaq-2233.htm
To Tim Wagner,
Here is the link to the Transport Canada website on all this legislation. It looks like you don`t need a license in any Canadian waters if you operate less than 45 days as a foreigner. I guess the officials don`t expect you to have an incident in that short time period ....ha ha

Thanks for the info. What you posted is what I had known already. I got wind of the boaters certificate a couple years ago.
i was thinking something changed is all.
I apprectiate the info.

As for that 45 day thing??
Well, we'll just see about that. LOL

 

[ChipTam]

Re: Do you need a boaters license in your part of the world ?

I took the Canadian recreational watercraft test on-line last October since I spend about 5 months a year in Canada at our summer home in Newfoundland and am currently in the market for a used boat. I agree with a lot of the other comments regarding the test. Yes, it is a money grab by the government. Yes, there are some very experienced boaters who probably should be exempt from the test. Yes, there are a number of questions which don't apply to the type of boat one is operating nor the waters where one is operating. Yes, it is possible to cheat. Still, I guess I'm glad the guy out on the water next to me knows at least some of the basics of safe boating. The study guide is easy to use and for $50 you can take the test until you pass with a score of only 75%. One minor annoyance: the two questions I missed had to do with which piece of legislation and which governmental body governed a particular aspect of recreational boating. As long as you know the law, is it really important to know the bill number of the legislation?
ChipTam

 

[Beefer]

Re: Do you need a boaters license in your part of the world ?

Here in Sunny Florida, anyone born after 1/1/88 (may be off on the date, but it is 1988) is required to have a boater's safety certification. There's also something about being under 18 you have to be accompanied by someone over 18 with certification (if accompanying person was born after '88), or something like that.

For a PWC, you must be over the age of 14, and be certified. If you are a FL resident, you can not rent a PWC under the age of 18. (However, if you're a tourist from another state, you only have to be 14 to rent ).

For grins and giggles, even though I'm 'grandfathered in (at 45 ), I went last month and took the US Power Squadron safe boating course, which then gave me a Florida Boating Safety Education ID card. I think that and $1.50 gets me a ride on a bus.

 

[cbavier]

Re: Do you need a boaters license in your part of the world ?

You don't even need a brain to operate a boat in Indiana... I see people without brains operating boats all the time.

Same in Michigan. Most boaters are good but there are still too many Jerks and complete boaters ignoramus's. I think all boaters should be required to complete a Coast Guard safety course and be required to carry their certificate with them any time they are operating a boat.

 

[sasto]

Re: Do you need a boaters license in your part of the world ?

I have a 100 ton captains licenseant that hasn't stopped me from breaking a windshield, bending a prop and shaft or two or more, running aground, run out of fuel, get lost, swamp another boater,....I could go on and on.

 

[DianneB]

Re: Do you need a boaters license in your part of the world ?

I have a 100 ton captains licenseant that hasn't stopped me from breaking a windshield, bending a prop and shaft or two or more, running aground, run out of fuel, get lost, swamp another boater,....I could go on and on.

And you are proud of that?