This article is one in a series offering tips on boating skills and seamanship prepared for The Citizen by the U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary
In order to be able to drive a car, one must study, pass a test and obtain a license.
Ditto for flying an airplane. In order to operate a boat, an adult needs no boating education and no license. None is required.
This may change in the future. To be sure, youngsters below the age of 18 wishing to operate a motor boat without an adult on board, must take and complete successfully a boating safety class. Adults do not need such.
The same used to be true for the operation of a Personal Watercraft (PWC). No boating course was required and no license. However, this now has changed. A boating safety course, such as the one offered by the Coast Guard Auxiliary and the Power Squadron several times during the year, is required of everyone who wishes to operate a Personal Watercraft (PWC) on New York state waters.
In the wake of the Coast Guard's interest in federally-mandated boater education, Boat Owners Association of The United States recently conducted an online survey to gauge member opinion on this issue as well as to determine whether boaters should be required to carry a separate ID card/license for national security purposes.
Based on the first 25,000 responding, 61 percent favored mandatory education for all boaters as long as an exam substitute was an option. An additional 9 percent were even more strongly in favor saying that no exam substitute should be allowed. The survey was sent to 325,000 of the association's 650,000 members for whom it has an e-mail address.
“The bottom line is that BoatU.S. members believe that recreational boaters should complete some type of instruction, be tested and certified to ensure that they have the knowledge to properly operate a boat,” said BoatU.S. President Nancy Michelman.
On the issue of being required to carry an ID card, while 75 percent had no problem with being asked to produce a state driver#'s license or passport if requested by law enforcement, over half disagreed with being required to carry a separate boater ID card/license.
“It is fair to say that boaters want to be treated no differently than any motorist or aircraft passenger required to produce a current photo ID,” Michelman noted.
Survey results indicate that BoatU.S. members have a considerable amount of boating experience. Most have been boating for more than 20 years. Sixty-eight percent had taken a boating safety course taught in a classroom, 19 percent had taken a safety class on the water, 19 percent had taken a class at home and 19 percent had taken a course online.
“Based on these results it is clear to us that we need a diversity of boating safety course formats,” Michelman said.
While the survey shows that 68 percent of BoatU.S. members had taken a boating safety course, among all the boaters at large, the average is closer to 10 percent. Federally-mandated boating education will send all recreational boat skippers looking for a course. It is the prudent skipper who does not have to be told when to take a boating safety class. Knowledge one gains in a boating safety course may save his/her life or the life of loved ones. Some insurance companies offer reduced rates in boat insurance to persons who successfully complete courses in boating safety.
Of course, anyone who completes successfully a course and passes the examination will receive the coveted United States Coast Guard Auxiliary or the Power Squadron certificate in boating safety.
John E. Keshishoglou is the IP flotilla commander of the Ithaca Flotilla 22. He can be reached at (607) 273-7175
Boater Safety Classes at Bass Pro Shops
Boaters Safety Classes are required for certain boaters such as young people to operate private water crafts and are even good for adults who are just getting into boating for the first time. Bass Pro Shops will host a series of classes this summer to enable boaters to get the certificate needed. Classes will run either one or two days, and the cost of a class is $35 per student. Registration is available at the shop's customer service counter or by calling 258-2700.
Planned classes
€ 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. June 14
€ 5:30 to 9:30 p.m. June 25 and 26
€ 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. July 12
€ 5:30 to 9:30 p.m. July 23 and 24
€ 5:30 to 9:30 p.m. Aug. 13 and 14
Ditto for flying an airplane. In order to operate a boat, an adult needs no boating education and no license. None is required.
This may change in the future. To be sure, youngsters below the age of 18 wishing to operate a motor boat without an adult on board, must take and complete successfully a boating safety class. Adults do not need such.
The same used to be true for the operation of a Personal Watercraft (PWC). No boating course was required and no license. However, this now has changed. A boating safety course, such as the one offered by the Coast Guard Auxiliary and the Power Squadron several times during the year, is required of everyone who wishes to operate a Personal Watercraft (PWC) on New York state waters.
In the wake of the Coast Guard's interest in federally-mandated boater education, Boat Owners Association of The United States recently conducted an online survey to gauge member opinion on this issue as well as to determine whether boaters should be required to carry a separate ID card/license for national security purposes.
Based on the first 25,000 responding, 61 percent favored mandatory education for all boaters as long as an exam substitute was an option. An additional 9 percent were even more strongly in favor saying that no exam substitute should be allowed. The survey was sent to 325,000 of the association's 650,000 members for whom it has an e-mail address.
“The bottom line is that BoatU.S. members believe that recreational boaters should complete some type of instruction, be tested and certified to ensure that they have the knowledge to properly operate a boat,” said BoatU.S. President Nancy Michelman.
On the issue of being required to carry an ID card, while 75 percent had no problem with being asked to produce a state driver#'s license or passport if requested by law enforcement, over half disagreed with being required to carry a separate boater ID card/license.
“It is fair to say that boaters want to be treated no differently than any motorist or aircraft passenger required to produce a current photo ID,” Michelman noted.
Survey results indicate that BoatU.S. members have a considerable amount of boating experience. Most have been boating for more than 20 years. Sixty-eight percent had taken a boating safety course taught in a classroom, 19 percent had taken a safety class on the water, 19 percent had taken a class at home and 19 percent had taken a course online.
“Based on these results it is clear to us that we need a diversity of boating safety course formats,” Michelman said.
While the survey shows that 68 percent of BoatU.S. members had taken a boating safety course, among all the boaters at large, the average is closer to 10 percent. Federally-mandated boating education will send all recreational boat skippers looking for a course. It is the prudent skipper who does not have to be told when to take a boating safety class. Knowledge one gains in a boating safety course may save his/her life or the life of loved ones. Some insurance companies offer reduced rates in boat insurance to persons who successfully complete courses in boating safety.
Of course, anyone who completes successfully a course and passes the examination will receive the coveted United States Coast Guard Auxiliary or the Power Squadron certificate in boating safety.
John E. Keshishoglou is the IP flotilla commander of the Ithaca Flotilla 22. He can be reached at (607) 273-7175
Boater Safety Classes at Bass Pro Shops
Boaters Safety Classes are required for certain boaters such as young people to operate private water crafts and are even good for adults who are just getting into boating for the first time. Bass Pro Shops will host a series of classes this summer to enable boaters to get the certificate needed. Classes will run either one or two days, and the cost of a class is $35 per student. Registration is available at the shop's customer service counter or by calling 258-2700.
Planned classes
€ 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. June 14
€ 5:30 to 9:30 p.m. June 25 and 26
€ 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. July 12
€ 5:30 to 9:30 p.m. July 23 and 24
€ 5:30 to 9:30 p.m. Aug. 13 and 14
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