New York boater safety course required, no grandfather clause now

[zipper]

Has anybody else come to the end of the grandfather clause and now taking the required boater safety course to boat on NY waters? The wife and I are required to take the test in order to go across the Lake. She is taking the course online, I have not yet started. This stems from Briannas Law-NYS Boating Education Classes USCG License

 

[Coult45]

I took it last winter, at the same time that i was studying for my Public Vessel License. Every boater safety course is time well spent. I learned things from both efforts that make me a better operator. And i'll go through the course again in the next few weeks along with my wife, since she hasn't done it yet. She's my primary driver when i'm wakeboarding or taking wildlife photos, so she needs to be legal.

 

[Coult45]

There are a bunch of qualifying courses offered, all different prices. All the same result when you pass the state test. I used boat-ed.com

 

[FSH 210 Sport]

I read through several articles about this, It appears that originally it was in person classroom training but also read that the law was amended to online courses as well?

 

[RocMOT]

I read through several articles about this, It appears that originally it was in person classroom training but also read that the law was amended to online courses as well?

I just took it last night. I used aceboater.com. With a 20% coupon discount, it cost about $32. If it wasn't required, I'd say its not worth it but I've been boating for over 55 years. To a new boater, it would probably have been more useful. I'm sure I could have taken the test without taking the course and passed with no problems. I got 59 out of 60 correct. (I didn't know how close the registration sticker had to be to the registration numbers!). However, you HAVE to go thru the course and that took almost 5 HOURS! There was no way to shortcut it. Every piece of information was timed and you can't skip thru it. Having said that, the actual presentation is fine. Lots of slides and audio with questions to answer after each chapter. There are 7 chapters. Then a final, 60 question multiple choice test at the end. You're required to get 76% correct to pass. Then you get a certificate and an actual card sent to you. There is also an optional way to get (at least for NYS) an anchor put on your drivers license that says you passed. You need either that card or your license whenever you're operating a boat or PWC.

Personally, I thought quite a bit of the info didn't belong in a boating safety course but the content is mandated by NYS and/or the Coast Guard so you just have to muddle thru it.

There are probably some online ones at are cheaper or maybe free. I did not shop around. I used the same one that my son used. There might also be ones that would not have taken so long.

The concept of licensing boat drivers is a very good one. Way too many folks get a boat with no knowledge of the dangers and rules to follow. I guess 5 hours is a small price to pay to have some sort of assurance that the people out on the water have SOME idea of what they are doing.

 

[2kwik4u]

Wife and I are starting to look into this.

New boaters in NY as of last season. Ran with the "it has Indiana tags on it, and we just moved here" ignorance plan should we have gotten stopped (we didn't). Can't pull that stunt this year I don't think.

Thanks @Coult45 and @RocMOT for the sites. I was just starting to look into how to make this happen.

Anyone have some clarity on if I should get my 13yr old to go through this as well?

 

[FSH 210 Sport]

I just took it last night. I used aceboater.com. With a 20% coupon discount, it cost about $32. If it wasn't required, I'd say its not worth it but I've been boating for over 55 years. To a new boater, it would probably have been more useful. I'm sure I could have taken the test without taking the course and passed with no problems. I got 59 out of 60 correct. (I didn't know how close the registration sticker had to be to the registration numbers!). However, you HAVE to go thru the course and that took almost 5 HOURS! There was no way to shortcut it. Every piece of information was timed and you can't skip thru it. Having said that, the actual presentation is fine. Lots of slides and audio with questions to answer after each chapter. There are 7 chapters. Then a final, 60 question multiple choice test at the end. You're required to get 76% correct to pass. Then you get a certificate and an actual card sent to you. There is also an optional way to get (at least for NYS) an anchor put on your drivers license that says you passed. You need either that card or your license whenever you're operating a boat or PWC.

Personally, I thought quite a bit of the info didn't belong in a boating safety course but the content is mandated by NYS and/or the Coast Guard so you just have to muddle thru it.

There are probably some online ones at are cheaper or maybe free. I did not shop around. I used the same one that my son used. There might also be ones that would not have taken so long.

The concept of licensing boat drivers is a very good one. Way too many folks get a boat with no knowledge of the dangers and rules to follow. I guess 5 hours is a small price to pay to have some sort of assurance that the people out on the water have SOME idea of what they are doing.

Thanks for the comprehensive post!

Is the license good for life or are there some continuing education requirements?

 

[Coult45]

I read through several articles about this, It appears that originally it was in person classroom training but also read that the law was amended to online courses as well?

correct.

 

[RocMOT]

Wife and I are starting to look into this.

New boaters in NY as of last season. Ran with the "it has Indiana tags on it, and we just moved here" ignorance plan should we have gotten stopped (we didn't). Can't pull that stunt this year I don't think.

Thanks @Coult45 and @RocMOT for the sites. I was just starting to look into how to make this happen.

Anyone have some clarity on if I should get my 13yr old to go through this as well?

If you want them to drive, they have to have it. Even if you are in the boat. And they will learn some good information also.

 

[RocMOT]

Thanks for the comprehensive post!

Is the license good for life or are there some continuing education requirements?

Good for life. (unless they change the requirements.. But governments NEVER do that...)

 

[Coult45]

Wife and I are starting to look into this.

New boaters in NY as of last season. Ran with the "it has Indiana tags on it, and we just moved here" ignorance plan should we have gotten stopped (we didn't). Can't pull that stunt this year I don't think.

Thanks @Coult45 and @RocMOT for the sites. I was just starting to look into how to make this happen.

Anyone have some clarity on if I should get my 13yr old to go through this as well?

If my kids were that age, there's no question i would have them take the course. He'll be more valuable to you on the boat, and he'll be a better operator.

 

[Coult45]

the ten bucks to get a new license with the anchor on there is worth it.

 

[RocMOT]

the ten bucks to get a new license with the anchor on there is worth it.

Yup. In my case, my drivers license renews in May anyway so its free! Yay! You don't have to pay if you're willing to wait until your normal renewal. Its SUPPOSED to be on any of my drivers licenses in the future also. I'm not sure how it gets on a license if a minor takes the course now and doesn't HAVE a driver's license yet. Presumably it would automatically get put on when they DO get one? But how does NYS know that?

 

[2kwik4u]

the ten bucks to get a new license with the anchor on there is worth it.

Good grief ANOTHER new license?!?! I'm on my 2nd now since we moved up here. 1st got my address wrong and wasn't enhanced (even though I thought I said that when I got it). Also just got my NEXXUS card the other day (finally), hoping a new license doesn't make me redo that does it?

Also, thanks for the tips on the 13yr old.

 

[RocMOT]

Good grief ANOTHER new license?!?! I'm on my 2nd now since we moved up here. 1st got my address wrong and wasn't enhanced (even though I thought I said that when I got it). Also just got my NEXXUS card the other day (finally), hoping a new license doesn't make me redo that does it?

Also, thanks for the tips on the 13yr old.

You're not required to get a new license. The card you get from passing the course is all you really need. The anchor on the driver license is optional. Its just another valid thing you can show if you're stopped. You should also be able to have the place you took the course just submit it to the DMV and, whenever your license DOES expire, the new one will have the anchor.

 

[2kwik4u]

You're not required to get a new license. The card you get from passing the course is all you really need. The anchor on the driver license is optional. Its just another valid thing you can show if you're stopped. You should also be able to have the place you took the course just submit it to the DMV and, whenever your license DOES expire, the new one will have the anchor.

Thanks for the info.

Some quick googling shows you only have to be 10 to operate a motor boat in New York State. Does that mean the 13yr old can drive legally once he completes the course. Feels young, but it's more likely I'm just old and not ready for that yet

 

[FSH 210 Sport]

Thanks for the info.

Some quick googling shows you only have to be 10 to operate a motor boat in New York State. Does that mean the 13yr old can drive legally once he completes the course. Feels young, but it's more likely I'm just old and not ready for that yet

I think there is a horsepower limit for operators that young?

 

[RocMOT]

Thanks for the info.

Some quick googling shows you only have to be 10 to operate a motor boat in New York State. Does that mean the 13yr old can drive legally once he completes the course. Feels young, but it's more likely I'm just old and not ready for that yet

That's correct. 10 years old. I think that's a bit young also. But I did it quite a few decades ago too. I don't think I'd let a 10 year old take my boat out alone but it would be good to take them out with you and teach them so they can learn under supervision.

 

[FSH 210 Sport]

As I suspected. The operators of the offending boat were intoxicated.

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