COMMON
BOATING COURSE
AND
SAFETY CERTIFICATE QUESTIONS
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WHO IS REQUIRED TO TAKE A SAFE BOATING COURSE ?
You must take a safety course and carry a safety certificate if:
1) You operate a personal watercraft and are at least 14 years of age.
Until 2009 operators age 10-13 can still operate with restrictions.
(See the NYS Boaters Regulation Guide Book)
2) You wish to operate a motorboat (including a personal watercraft) and
you are at least 10 years old and less than 18 years old.
3) If you are less than 10 years old you may operate a motorboat (non-PWC)
only if someone over 18 or someone between the ages of 10 and 18 years
old who holds a safety certificate, is on board with you. Anyone may
operate a personal watercraft if someone at least 18 years old is riding on
the craft and they hold a safety certificate.
CAN I TAKE AN ON-LINE COURSE ?
No. Only certificates issued by New York State, the USCG Auxiliary or the
US Power Squadron are acceptable. State law requires that NYS, USCGAUX
and USPS boating courses include at least eight hours of classroom instruction
and a proctored exam.
I'M VISITING NEW YORK, WILL MY SAFETY CERTIFICATE FROM MY HOME
STATE BE SUFFICIENT ?
Yes, provided that it was issued from your current state of residence, and the
National Association of Boating Law Administrators approved the course.
CAN I USE MY NY SAFETY CERTIFICATE IN ONTHER STATES ?
Yes, Because the U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary boating course is NASBLA
approved it is accepted in other states and Canada.
WHAT WILL HAPPEN IF I DO NOT HAVE A BOATING SAFETY CERTIFICATE ?
If convicted of a first violation you can be fined not lass than $25 or more than
$100, or by imprisonment for not more than seven days, or both fine and
imprisonment. For a second conviction, fines and imprisonment terms increase.
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