Teaching kids to operate a motor boat

boat_guy64 · 07-09-2008, 02:11 PM

Nightwing,

The following is from the boated website. If I am reading your information correctly, it seems to contradict. Is it correct or out of date? I hope that it is still valid as I've been teaching my 13 yr. old to drive and dock the boat. He has gone through the entire boat ed website course. I often wish that a jr. level course and certificate were offered for kids aged 12+ just like the snowmobile courses.

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From boated website:

A vessel powered by more than 25 horsepower (other than a “ski craft”) may be operated by:

A person under 16 years of age only if he or she is accompanied by a person 18 years old or older who has a valid Safe Boater Education Certificate. The accompanying person is responsible for any injury or damage caused during operation of the vessel.

A person 16 years of age or older only if he or she has obtained a Safe Boater Education Certificate as required by the “Schedule for Required Safe Boater Education.”

Lake Fan · 07-09-2008, 04:08 PM

My 14 and 12 year olds now regularly head out in our 12' aluminum boat with a 15 hp motor. They are very safety minded - wear lifejackets, etc. The 14 year old took and passed the boater safety class and has his card along with the personal watercraft endorsement, even though he can't operate a PWC alone yet. I can see their sense of pride and independence when they are in the boat. Under 25 hp there is no age restriction and no boater safety certificate is needed, but it couldn't hurt.

NightWing · 07-09-2008, 04:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by boat_guy64

Nightwing,

The following is from the boated website. If I am reading your information correctly, it seems to contradict. Is it correct or out of date? I hope that it is still valid as I've been teaching my 13 yr. old to drive and dock the boat. He has gone through the entire boat ed website course. I often wish that a jr. level course and certificate were offered for kids aged 12+ just like the snowmobile courses.

------------------------------------------------------------------------
From boated website:

A vessel powered by more than 25 horsepower (other than a “ski craft”) may be operated by:

A person under 16 years of age only if he or she is accompanied by a person 18 years old or older who has a valid Safe Boater Education Certificate. The accompanying person is responsible for any injury or damage caused during operation of the vessel.

A person 16 years of age or older only if he or she has obtained a Safe Boater Education Certificate as required by the “Schedule for Required Safe Boater Education.”

Read your quote again. That is for boats over 25 HP. The OP was training on a boat with only 11 HP, therefore, no certificate is required of the teacher or the student.

07-09-2008, 02:11 PM	#1
boat_guy64 Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Windham and Meredith Posts: 225 Blog Entries: 5 Thanks: 33 Thanked 90 Times in 43 Posts	Is boated information valid?? Nightwing, The following is from the boated website. If I am reading your information correctly, it seems to contradict. Is it correct or out of date? I hope that it is still valid as I've been teaching my 13 yr. old to drive and dock the boat. He has gone through the entire boat ed website course. I often wish that a jr. level course and certificate were offered for kids aged 12+ just like the snowmobile courses. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ From boated website: A vessel powered by more than 25 horsepower (other than a “ski craft”) may be operated by: A person under 16 years of age only if he or she is accompanied by a person 18 years old or older who has a valid Safe Boater Education Certificate. The accompanying person is responsible for any injury or damage caused during operation of the vessel. A person 16 years of age or older only if he or she has obtained a Safe Boater Education Certificate as required by the “Schedule for Required Safe Boater Education.”

07-09-2008, 04:08 PM	#2
Lake Fan Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Whortleberry Island Posts: 129 Thanks: 16 Thanked 55 Times in 31 Posts	My 14 and 12 year olds now regularly head out in our 12' aluminum boat with a 15 hp motor. They are very safety minded - wear lifejackets, etc. The 14 year old took and passed the boater safety class and has his card along with the personal watercraft endorsement, even though he can't operate a PWC alone yet. I can see their sense of pride and independence when they are in the boat. Under 25 hp there is no age restriction and no boater safety certificate is needed, but it couldn't hurt.