Lake Champlain Safety

Boating Safety

New York Boating Safety Course

Who Needs a New York Boating License?

• Boater Education is required for all persons between 10 and 18 years of age who operate a motorboat and for all persons 14 years of age and older who operate a PWC on New York waters.
•  Get your New York Boating License
• To receive your official New York Boating Safety Certificate, you must take a proctored exam in a classroom setting.
• For a list of classroom courses in Long Island, Manhattan, Brooklyn, Queens, Bronx and Westchester Counties, please visit: www.safeboatingamerica.com.
• To find a classroom course in other areas of New York state, please visit: www.nysparks.com

New York Boating Laws and Regulations

The New York boating safety certificate is proof that a boater has taken and passed an approved boater education course. The New York Office of Parks, Recreation & Historic Preservation currently has a mandatory boater education requirement requiring all boaters between 10 and 18 years of age who operate a motorboat and for all persons 14 years of age and older who operate a PWC to have the New York boating license on board when the vessel is underway to satisfy the New York boating regulations.

Many boating fatalities occur because boaters aren’t educated about boating safety. The New York Office of Parks, Recreation & Historic Preservation believes that an educated boater is a safer boater.

Where can I take my safe boating exam and get my Boating Safety Certificate?

You can write your practice exam directly on the Internet at BoaterExam.com™. In order to meet New York’s mandatory education requirement, boaters must successfully complete a boating safety course with a minimum of 8 hours of classroom instruction and a proctored exam. For a list of classroom courses, please visit: www.safeboatingamerica.com.

• Overview of the New York online boating exam process

Where can I get the boater safety education course material?

All the required safe boating training material to pass the classroom course will be provided at the time of the class. BoaterExam.com™ provides you with the same information free of charge on this web site. Simply visit safe boating training material. BoaterExam.com™ has been reviewed by New York State and has been found to contain the required state specific information. The information contained in this online program follows the materials presented in the class room course. Successful completion of the BoaterExam.com™ program will help you prepare for the New York Safe Boating Program.

• Free Safe Boating Training for New York

Where can I get more information about New York boating regulations and the New York boater education card?

Answers to most of your questions about the New York boater’s license can be found on ourFrequently Asked Questions page. You may also visit The New York Office of Parks, Recreation & Historic Preservation for additional information, or you can contact us and we will be glad to answer any of your questions.

• Frequently Asked Questions about the New York boater’s license
• BoaterExam.com™ Contact Information
• Get your New York Boating License Online!

Related articles

• Coast Guard Cracks Down On Fat Boaters, Limits Total Passengers (huffingtonpost.com)

Lake Champlain Safety

Boating Safety

Canada Pleasure Craft Operator Card

Who Needs a Pleasure Craft Operator Card?

Where can I take my exam and get my boat license?

You can write your exam directly on the internet at BoaterExam.com^® . Once you pass the exam your boat operator license is mailed to your home. In the meantime, you can print a temporary license and use that while you wait for your permanent card to arrive.

• Overview of the online Boater Exam^® process

Where can I study for my boating license test?

All the required safe boating training material to get your boat operator license is available for free at BoaterExam.com^® ®. Simply visit our Free Safe Boating Training section to gain access to the course manual.

• Free Safe Boating Training

Where can I get more information about Canadian boating regulations and the Canadian boating license?

Answers to most of your questions can be found on our Frequently Asked Questions page. You may also visit the Transport Canada Office of Boating Safety for additional information, or you can contact us and we will be glad to answer any of your questions.

• Frequently Asked Questions
• BoaterExam.com^® Contact Information
• Get your boating license now, it’s the law!

Related articles

• On Boats (tbray.org)

Vermont Boating Safety Course

Who Needs a Vermont Boating Safety Education Certificate?

• All persons born after January 1, 1974, must have successfully completed a boating safety education course to legally operate any motorized vessel (this includes personal watercraft). Vermont Boating License Course
• Those successfully completing a course are issued a certificate by the Vermont State Police, which is valid for the student’s lifetime. No one younger than 10 years of age may receive a certificate. Those younger than 12 years of age must take a classroom course. Handbook of Vermont Boating Laws and Responsibilities

Personal Flotation Devices (PFDs)

All vessels, except sailboards, must carry one wearable U.S. Coast Guard–approved Type I, II, III, or V PFD for each person on board. Types of PFD’s

Other specific rules regarding PFD’s Click Here

Unlawful Operation

In addition to the laws mentioned previously, here are some other Vermont regulations which apply when vessel operators are on the water. Vermont law states that these dangerous operating practices are illegal.

Careless and Reckless Operation of a vessel or the reckless manipulation of water skis, a surfboard, or a similar device is operating in a manner that causes danger to the life, limb, or property of any person. Examples of illegal, reckless operation are:

• Boating in restricted areas without regard for other boaters or persons, posted speeds and wake restrictions, diver-down flags, etc.
• Boating while under the influence of alcohol or drugs
• Failing to follow the navigation rules
• Weaving through congested waterway traffic
• Swerving at the last possible moment in order to avoid collision
• Causing danger or damage from the wake of your vessel
• Chasing, harassing, or disturbing wildlife with your vessel

Overloading is loading the vessel beyond a safe carrying capacity, taking into consideration the weather and other operating conditions.

Improper Speed or Distance is not maintaining a proper speed or distance while operating a vessel or while towing a person on water skis or any similar device. Specifically, the following actions are illegal:

• Operating a vessel (except sailboards) at greater than “no wake speed” within 200 feet of:
  • The shoreline
  • A person in the water
  • A canoe, rowboat, or other vessel
  • An anchored or moored vessel with a person on board
  • An anchorage or dock
• Operating a vessel at speeds of five miles per hour or greater within 200 feet of a marked swimming area
• Operating a vessel at speeds that may cause danger, injury, or damage. Be aware of and obey all regulatory markers, including areas marked as “no wake”
• “No Wake Speed” means…operating your vessel at a speed at which the vessel does not produce a wake, not to exceed five miles per hour.

Violating Underwater Historic Preservation Area Requirements is the failure to follow the requirements that govern operation in areas marked “State of Vermont Underwater Historic Preserve.” Vessels may not operate in these areas. Additional requirements also apply in these areas.

• A vessel may secure to a yellow buoy only if diving at the preserve. These vessels must be 35 feet in length or less and display a diver-down flag. No more than one vessel may moor to a yellow buoy.
• When a vessel is secured to a yellow buoy, all other vessels must stay at least 200 feet from the buoy.
• A vessel may not anchor within 200 feet of a yellow buoy.