Mandatory Education, Age Requirements for Boaters
A Quantico Water Rescue vehicle prepares to leave the Aquia Harbour marina after a successful search and rescue mission. Photo by: KJ Mushung
The Virginia General Assembly enacted a law in 2007 to establish a boating safety education compliance requirement that will depend on your age and boat type. The new law applies to all public waters of Virginia. All motorboat operators using a motor of 10 horsepower or greater (including boats documented by the U.S. Coast Guard) and also personal watercraft operators (i.e. jet ski) are affected by the new law. Sailboat operators do not have to meet the requirement unless the sailboat has a motor that is 10 hp or greater (whether or not the engine is running). A canoeist does not have to meet the requirement, nor does a kayaker, a rower, or operator of other manually propelled craft.
The requirement for boating safety education is phased-in over several years according to the following schedule:
PWC operators 20 years of age or younger shall meet the requirements by July 1, 2009;
PWC operators 35 years of age or younger shall meet the requirements by July 1, 2010;
PWC operators 50 years of age or younger and motorboat operators 20 years of age or younger shall meet the requirements by July 1, 2011;
All PWC operators, regardless of age, and motorboat operators 30 years of age or younger shall meet the requirements by July 1, 2012;
Motorboat operators 40 years of age or younger shall meet the requirements by July 1, 2013;
Motorboat operators 45 years of age or younger shall meet the requirements by July 1, 2014;
Motorboat operators 50 years of age or younger shall meet the requirements by July 1, 2015;
All motorboat operators, regardless of age, shall meet the requirements by July 1, 2016.
How Do I Comply With This Law?
A person shall be considered in compliance with the requirement for boating safety education if he/she meets one or more of the following provisions:
Completes and passes a boating safety education course that is approved by NASBLA and accepted by the Department;
Passes an equivalency exam;
Possesses a valid license to operate a vessel issued to maritime personnel by the United States Coast Guard or a marine certificate issued by the Canadian government or possesses a Canadian Pleasure Craft Operator’s Card;
Possesses a temporary operator’s certificate;
Possesses a rental or lease agreement from a motorboat rental or leasing business, which lists the person as the authorized operator of the motorboat. The person must also completed the Dockside Safety Checklist;
Operates the motorboat under onboard direct supervision of a person who meets the compliance requirement;
Operates a boat not registered in Virginia, temporarily using the waters of Virginia for a period not to exceed 90 days, and meets any applicable boating safety education requirements of the state of residency
Has assumed operation of the motorboat due to the illness or physical impairment of the initial operator, and is returning the motorboat to shore in order to provide assistance or care for the operator;
Is registered as a commercial fisherman pursuant to the Code of Virginia or is under the on-board direct supervision of the commercial fisherman while operating the commercial fisherman’s boat.
How Do I Prove I Completed and Passed a Course?
Boaters that must comply with the new education standards must be able to present to the officer a card or certificate that indicates you have passed a NASBLA approved boating course or that you have passed the equivalency exam.
What if I am Only Visiting Virginia?
You must demonstrate that you are not a resident of Virginia, that you are temporarily using the water of Virginia for a period of 90 days or less (your boat is registered in another state as the “state of principal use”), and that you meet any applicable boating safety education requirements of your state of residency.
Is there a Minimum Age to Operate?
For a personal watercraft, the minimum operator age is 14 and operators must complete and pass a boating safety course before they can operate. For a motorboat, there is no minimum operator age and there is no minimum age requirement to attend a NASBLA approved boating safety course. Youngsters can operate a boat under direct supervision of a person who meets the boating safety education requirement.
Source: BoatUS Foundation
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One of the problems in the US is gtteing classes added to a school. Teaching Boating Safety early in schools is a good idea, give the students some good information before they develop unsafe habits. The U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary has taught classes in Middle and High School at times, but gtteing the classes offered is an uphill battle. Parents have more luck when they ask for a class to be added for their children. I would recommend that if parents want a boating safety class taught at their schools then they talk with their school and contact a C.G. Auxiliary Flotilla in your area, I am sure they would be more than happy to teach classes. Many Flotillas have a have class will travel if you provide a minimum number of students and a place to teach they will come to you or your company.
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