rules for kids operating boats

[boatradioman]

what are the rules for kids operating boats?I bet they differ by area so just tell me your areas rule for this.

 

[bhammer]

Re: rules for kids operating boats

In Texas: http://www.tpwd.state.tx.us/faq/learning/boater_education/

Anyone born on or after September 1, 1984 and under the age of 18 must complete a TPWD-approved course and be certified with TPWD to operate: any vessel over 10 horsepower; wind-blown vessel over 14 feet and
all personal watercraft.

Who must be certified to operate a vessel alone?
In Texas a person cannot operate a windblown vessel over 14 feet in length, a motorboat with more than 10 horsepower, or personal watercraft with more than 10 horsepower unless he/she:

was born after September 1, 1984 and has passed a boater education class or equivalency examination prescribed by the department.
is 18 years of age or older or born before September 1, 1984, or,
is under 16 years of age and is accompanied by a person 18 years of age or older, or
is at least 13 years of age and have passed a boater education course or equivalency examination prescribed by the department.

 

[TBarCYa]

Re: rules for kids operating boats

In NJ, to operate a powered vessel on any waters you must be over 13 years of age and have taken a NJ Boater's Safety Course and passed the exam OR have over 100 hours of experience and tested out of the course.

 

[SnappingTurtle]

Re: rules for kids operating boats

In Germany no one can operate a boat with over 5HP without taking an extensive course, and corresponding test similar to a driving license test. These classes and test are very expensive. You need approval (classes and test) for each type of water, I.e. river, lake, near coastal, coastal, off shore. Sailboats have their own certification processes, as do all forms of commercial use. There are also different test for different vessel types (hulls), and, and, and ...

This can easily run into the tens of thousands of dollars, for a young active boater. There are of course “Grand Father” clauses written into most of these rules, so older boaters who didn't have to complete these courses and test, tend not to care about the cost and time involved for the younger generations of boaters. This has had a negative effect on those wishing to boat in Germany, there is no new generation of boaters on the waters. Only the very “well to do” have the time and the money to boat here.

 

[SnappingTurtle]

Re: rules for kids operating boats

I'll divide my post into two parts. We live in a time of “sound bites”, and people don't like to read anymore ...

I am all for safety courses of all types, for all ages. I have taken dozens of performance driving & safety courses over the last 35 years (motorcycles, boats, & autos).

... but government over regulation of anything, is costly nightmare.

There is a thin line between safety regulations and out control.

According to a recent report over “out of control” government spending in Germany, there are now 3 government (boating sector) employees for every registered boater (commercial & recreational) in this country.

Makes me fill good to know that I personally, have three German government employees sitting in an office somewhere being payed by taxes, just to control my personal boating activities. NOT!

It all sounds good on paper, but be careful of over government regulation!

P.S. The Germans have a similar system for fishing. No fishing school, no government test, no fishing. Period. Even recreational fishing here, is regulated like the commercial airline industry.

 

[bhammer]

Re: rules for kids operating boats

I'll divide my post into two parts. We live in a time of ?sound bites?, and people don't like to read anymore ...

I am all for safety courses of all types, for all ages. I have taken dozens of performance driving & safety courses over the last 35 years (motorcycles, boats, & autos).

... but government over regulation of anything, is costly nightmare.

There is a thin line between safety regulations and out control.

According to a recent report over ?out of control? government spending in Germany, there are now 3 government (boating sector) employees for every registered boater (commercial & recreational) in this country.

Makes me fill good to know that I personally, have three German government employees sitting in an office somewhere being payed by taxes, just to control my personal boating activities. NOT!

It all sounds good on paper, but be careful of over government regulation!

P.S. The Germans have a similar system for fishing. No fishing school, no government test, no fishing. Period. Even recreational fishing here, is regulated like the commercial airline industry.

I am not trying to turn this into a political thread cause it'll get locked... I have to say that I am a small government type of guy; think there is too much here in the states as there is. But, boy, if there was somewhere we could use a little more control, it is on the water. Hearing your story though, I'll keep what we have and let the Darwin winners thin themselves out.

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: rules for kids operating boats

in Florida, a 14 year old who has qualified for their boating certificate, and operate private crafts alone. our Member Baconbiscut, now 15, is a prime example. he just recently navagated the St Johns River for Jacksonville to Palatka, Fl. in a 27 ft Formula.the purpose of the trip, was to be an escort, and safety boat, for the Mugg Race,(sailboats). he ended up having to tow a sinking Hobie cat, back up the river.

 

[mainexile]

Re: rules for kids operating boats

Up here the policy is:

A ?ski craft? (motorized vessel less than 13 feet long that is capable of exceeding 20 miles per hour and has the capacity to carry no more than an operator and one other person) may be operated only by persons who are 16 years old or older and who have a valid Safe Boater Education Certificate as required by the ?Schedule for Required Safe Boater Education.?

A vessel powered by more than 25 horsepower (other than a ?ski craft?) may be operated by:

A person under 16 years of age only if he or she is accompanied by a person 18 years old or older who has a valid Safe Boater Education Certificate. The accompanying person is responsible for any injury or damage caused during operation of the vessel.
A person 16 years of age or older only if he or she has obtained a Safe Boater Education Certificate as required by the ?Schedule for Required Safe Boater Education.?

 

[Phantom_II]

Re: rules for kids operating boats

In California:

No person under 16 years of age may operate a motorboat of more than 15 horsepower, except for a sailboat that does not exceed 30 feet in length or a dinghy used directly between a moored boat and the shore, or between two moored boats.
The law allows persons 12-15 years of age to operate motorboats of more than 15 horsepower or sailboats over 30 feet if supervised on board by a person at least 18 years of age. A violation of these provisions is an infraction.

PWC's:

Operator Age - It is an infraction for a person under 16 years of age to operate a motorboat of more than 15 horsepower, including personal watercraft.
Any person who permits a person under the age of 16 to do so is also guilty of an infraction. A person 12 - 15 may operate a motorboat of more than 15 horsepower if supervised by a person on board who is at least 18 years of age.

(Source : http://www.dbw.ca.gov/Pubs/Abc/oplaw.pdf )