Virginia Safe Boating Classes

[Sam]

To get the Virginia Safe Boating course requirement out of the way, I was at the Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries from 8:00 to 4:30 today.

Glad to say I scored a 92 on the test; missing two questions regarding jet skis and two more on general boating safety.  

I was not interested in the jet skis portion of the course so that is why I missed two of their questions.

I could have waited until 2015 to take the safety course but I thought I would take the class before I totally lost my mind and memory and get it out of the way.

Here is some of the information they gave us for you guys living in Virginia.

Enjoy!

You will need to have successfully passed a NASBLA approved Virginia Safe Boating Course to operate a watercraft of 10 horsepower or more in the Commonwealth based on the following age chart.

You will have to carry proof of the successful completion of an approved safety course on your person if you are operating a motor craft in the future.

If you have already successfully completed an approved safe boating course and your information is on file with DGIF you can obtain your safe boating card at this time.

AGE BY JULY 1      YEAR YOU MUST HAVE THE SAFETY CARD

20                      2011

30                      2012

40                      2013

45                      2014

50                      2015

Everyone                      2016

And don't stand behind any jet skis because when they start their motors the water pressure will drive the water up your fanny!  

I thought that was an interesting piece of information.

[burleytog]

I was not aware of this impending requirement.

Mixed feelings to be sure... :-/

[bassboy1]

In Ga the requirements are:  If you are 12 or 13, you can operate anything under 30hp with either a) boaters safety course or b)an adult within 300 yards.  14 or 15 and you can operate any hp with either the course or the supervision.  I think they should change it to all boaters.  Especially the PWCs.  

I made an 92 as well.  Again, 2 PWC questions, and one other was the life jacket age.  I thought everybody under 12 had to have one whenever underway.  It was ten.  I think that should be counted - as I was actually being safer.  

Although, down here in GA, it took 15 bucks and 20 minutes to do it on the computer.

[Root beer]

In tennessee anyone born after january 1st, 1989 has to have one. Cost 10 bucks to take it many times as you want. They didnt have a course, so I had go to libary take a 75 question test. I passed it on first try I just wing it. It was mostly common sense questions.

[Jeff_NHBA]

Boat US has an online course and exam that meets the VA Boater Safety requirement.

Here's the link: http://www.boatus.org/onlinecourse/

You can print out a certificate upon successful completion of the course and test.