Patchwork Boat Operator
Education Marks Issue

A look at vessel operator licensing shows an uneven approach

Should people be required to have a license to operate a boat? While licensing has long been opposed by boat manufacturers and dealers, public sentiment seems to be shifting in the other direction. As boat and watercraft operator licensing issues are currently a topic of discussion before a number of state legislatures, as well as the Department of Homeland Security, we thought it would be interesting to review regulations in a number of key states. The results show a smorgasbord of education and testing protocols as exemplified by the following state plans.

Alabama enacted a significant boat operator education/license program following a major boating accident involving young children, according to Belinda Pollard, who runs the education system for the Alabama Marine Police Division Headquarters. Called the Archer Robinson Law, Alabama is one of a few states with mandatory education for boat operators.

Boat operators born before 1954 are exempt from the state’s education requirements, but everyone else must take a written exam. All high school students who take driver’s education courses must also take boating safety classes. Those already out of high school can take a written boating examination at their driver’s examination office.

“It is like the written portion of the driver’s test,” Pollard said. “People must study a book and we have an Internet course.” The Marine Police Division also offers free “live” classes encompassing eight hours of classroom instruction including films and lectures. The test is given at the end of the session.

“This education program has really cut down on accidents,” Pollard said. Even people with years of boating experience have been thrown by some of the questions, according to Pollard. Many people are less familiar than they thought about buoy placements and other safety issues. Those who have completed the course and passed the test are given a sticker to display on their vessel.

California has no state boating license law and anyone can drive a boat. But the state does offer a home study course leading to a certification, says Sue Swanberg of the California Department of Boating and Waterways. “The course we offer can save people’s lives because people who know a lot about boating safety are less likely to be involved in boating accidents,” Swanberg said. “Also, those who successfully complete our course can receive a ten to fifteen percent deduction on their insurance.”

Californians who want the boating safety certificate receive a 128-page study guide containing basic rules of water and boating safety. The guide includes information about flags, signals, buoys, and tips for preventing accidents and problems while boating. Candidates for the certificate must pass a 60-question test, according to Swanberg.

In Florida, powerboat operators under age 21 are required to take an online boating safety course or take a test from a state-issued booklet. They can also take the test at a Coast Guard facility, according to Marlene Stelling, of the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission. People over 21 also are encouraged to take this course and test. Interestingly, because the administration of the program comes from the state’s conservation commission rather than a law enforcement agency, the program also covers wildlife issues. Those who pass the test receive a Boat Smart card, which can result in lower insurance rates.

“This course covers personal floatation devices, boating regulations, laws for personal water craft, and ways to prevent collisions on the water. People can learn about the different parts of a boat, what buoys mean, how boat engines work, manatee laws, and other important safety issues,” Stelling said. “This course prevents collisions and tragedies,” she added. “A lot of the accidents we see are caused by operator inexperience, and we want people to learn as much as possible about boating regulations.”

People who want to operate a boat in Maryland waters and who were born on or after July 1, 1972, must earn a boating education certificate, according to Kara Turner, of the Maryland Department of Natural Resources. People can attend an eight-hour class offered in various locations around the state or they can complete an online study course. To earn the required Maryland certificate, one must pass a 50-question boating safety test with a score of at least 80 percent correct answers.

Mary Podlich, vice president of governmental affairs at Boat U.S., said her organization supports having boat license tests but thinks people should have a wide range of options in terms of taking boating safety courses. The organization’s position is that those with years of boat operating experience should be allowed to simply take a test without being required to sit in a classroom.

“The U.S. Coast Guard is pursuing a national, mandatory standard for recreational boating safety education,” Podlich said. “Right now the educational requirements vary from state to state.” Following last year’s boating security summit, she suggests this eventually may be tied into a national boat operators ID.