BOATING EDUCATION

• No person born on or after January 1, 1986 shall operate a vessel that is fitted with propulsion machinery of more than ten (10) horsepower on the waters of this state unless the person has successfully completed a boating safety education program.
• The department shall issue a durable certificate of completion that meets the NASBLA guidelines. The certificate of completion shall be presented upon request of any authorized law enforcement officer to show proof of compliance.
• Any person having in his or her possession a certificate of completion of any boating safety course approved by NASBLA can request that a certificate be issued by the department.

The following persons shall be exempt from the educational provisions of this chapter provided that they can provide proof of exemption:

• A person who operates a vessel under training, directly supervised by a person on board the vessel who is eighteen (18) years of age or older and holds a boating safety certificate of completion.
• A person who holds a valid commercial vessel operator's license issued by the United States Coast Guard, a state, or a province;
• Non-residents temporarily using the waters of this state who meet the requirements of their state of legal residence.
• New residents of this state will be given sixty (60) days to meet the requirements of this chapter.

Any person operating a PWC on the waters of this state shall have successfully completed a boating safety education program as approved by the director of the DEM.

• The operator of a PWC must be at least sixteen (16) years of age unless an adult accompanies him or her or unless he or she has passed an approved or boating safety course.

Other Motorized Boats