[Paramedic0633]

Recently, someone told me that Virginia passed a law requiring everybody that operates a boat in their State must have a safe coaters course. It was my understanding that a safe boating course was only mandatory if you were under a certain age. Although I believe that everyone should have a safe boaters course, I would think that a change in the regulation should have been released to the public sooner. Just wondering.

 

[Tom Powers]

Here is the link to state code that directed DGIF to do something.

LIS > Code of Virginia > 29.1-735.2

Below is the age phase in schedule and rules from the DGIF web page. I am pretty sure that you can satisify the requirement by doing an online "course" which often times just means trying to take the on line test until you get a passing score. Went the bill was in progress I went through and did two of the tests which were pretty straight forward with an understanding of boating basics. Some of the courses charge $20 to get the certificate, some (BOATSUS for instance) are free. Here is a link to the DGIF web page that has the courses

WAIT A MINUTE this sucks.

THERE ARE NO LONGER FREE ON LINE CORSES. . . THEY BOTH COST LIKE $30. When it was a PWC class you could just take the test for free. . .

Also the state code says

2. Passes a proctored equivalency examination that tests the knowledge of information included in the curriculum of an approved course;

There is not option on the DGIF web site to do the proctored test. We should be able to do this at a DGIF office or DMV or something.

Tom

In 2007, the Virginia General Assembly enacted a law to establish a boating safety education compliance requirement. This requirement does not apply to law enforcement officers while engaged in their official duties. The requirement for boating safety education is phased-in over several years and applies to all PWC operators and operators of motorboats of 10hp and greater according to the following schedule:

1. PWC operators 20 years of age or younger shall meet the requirements by July 1, 2009;
2. PWC operators 35 years of age or younger shall meet the requirements by July 1, 2010;
3. 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;
4. All PWC operators, regardless of age, and motorboat operators 30 years of age or younger shall meet the requirements by July 1, 2012;
5. Motorboat operators 40 years of age or younger shall meet the requirements by July 1, 2013;
6. Motorboat operators 45 years of age or younger shall meet the requirements by July 1, 2014;
7. Motorboat operators 50 years of age or younger shall meet the requirements by July 1, 2015;
8. All motorboat operators,regardless of age,shall meet the requirements by July 1, 2016.

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:

1. Completes and passes a boating safety education course that is approved by NASBLA and accepted by the Department;
2. Passes an equivalency exam;
3. 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;
4. Possesses a temporary operator's certificate;
5. Possesses a rental or lease agreement from a motorboat rental or leasing business, which lists the person as the authorized operator of the motorboat, and has also completed the Dockside Safety Checklist;
6. Operates the motorboat under onboard direct supervision of a person who meets the compliance requirement;
7. Is a non-resident, is 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, or possesses a Canadian Pleasure Craft Operator's Card;
8. 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;
9. Is registered as a commercial fisherman pursuant to the Code of Virginia or is under the onboard direct supervision of the commercial fisherman while operating the commercial fisherman's boat.

 

[H202H20]

a dummy will be able to pass this test, they only want the cash!!!

taxation is the reason

where does the money go

to help the bay

 

[Paramedic0633]

Thanks for the information. I guess that I'll just take it online and make my "donation" to help the bay

 

[V.B. wells & irrigation]

I doubt that it will cut down on the amount of fools. But, maybe.

 

[BowMovements]

I doubt that it will cut down on the amount of fools. But, maybe.

VB wells you on pulaskiy hwy. by costco?

 

[Tom Powers]

That is the bad part the money doesn't go to the bay or DGIF or VMRC it goes to the companies that do the coures. Free enterprise. . .

 

[JimRockfish]

I was clueless when my youngest daughter, while looking at the new skiff, told me that she would have to take a MD boating course. She lives out-of-state and thought that she would need to attend classes in-person but I found the link to take it online and sent it to her. I'm sure this is not new info to most TFers. Maryland Basic Boating Course

 

[Tom Powers]

I did some checking today. There will be some more vendors that offer the courses. It takes 6 hours to go through the on line course. You have to get a 90% on the on-line test. No word on if any of the new on-line classes will be free like the ones for the PWC classes used to be.

The class room tests passing grades are 70% closed book. 90% open book.

They are preparing a test that you can take in order rather than take a class. You have to score a 70% on the test. It will be proctored and closed book, which means that it can not be on-line. It is still not clear who will be allowed to offer the test. Hopefully, it is not someone that is going to charge you to take it.

I am an old fart so I have 7 years to figure it out. My 19 and 16 year old sons will have to do something this spring if they want to take my boat out.

Oh one of the good things for the kids that want to get started. Is that there is an exemption for boats with 10 hp or less motors.

 

[lreops]

Now that I'm all checked out on what the Virginia rules are, can anyone provide some info or a link for Maryland rules. I thought that if you were born before a certain date, you were grandfathered in. Has that changed?

 

[JimRockfish]

Ireops - I posted the link in the reply two back from your question. Looks like MD is much easier. Jim

 

[lreops]

Ireops - I posted the link in the reply two back from your question. Looks like MD is much easier. Jim

Thanks Jim for making me read it more thoroughly this time. On my first glance, I thought that the link was just for courses. My speed reading isn't what it once was.

In any case, looks like I'm safe, being born considerably earlier than 1972.

 

[V.B. wells & irrigation]

VB wells you on pulaskiy hwy. by costco?

Nope. HWY 13 across from the airport.

 

[JimRockfish]

Thanks Jim for making me read it more thoroughly this time. On my first glance, I thought that the link was just for courses. My speed reading isn't what it once was.

In any case, looks like I'm safe, being born considerably earlier than 1972.

Me too. That's the year I graduated from HS.