Boater's Safety Course

[Jigfishn10]

Any of you boat owners ever take a safety course? I just finished up a course through Boat-Ed.com. Just wondering if you saved on boater's insurance? 

My boat is being shipped up from Florida later this month and I'm planning on getting insurance for it. In all honesty, I really don't care if I get a discount on insurance for the safety course, I was taking the course either way. ?

[Captain Phil]

Some insurance companies off safety course discounts.  Check around.  It's amazing to me that people are allowed to purchase and operate high powered boats without a license or instruction of any kind.  I once bought a 31 foot Cigarette Boat with two 200 Offshore Mercs.  The dealer handed me the keys without asking if I knew how to start it much less get it out of the marina.  Is it any wonder people get hurt and killed in boats?  Everyone who buys a power boat should be required to take a minimal course before they go on the water.  

[A-Jay]

Good on you for taking the course.

Progressive offers a discount for that.

A-Jay

[haggard]

I took it through boat-ed when I got my "big" boat (still small by most people's standard) - main reason was to learn what I needed for safely navigating salt water inshore. Well worth it. I review the course each year before the season starts, since it's easy to forget some things.

 

 

[Bolar]

I took a course while I waited for my boat to be built.  There is a lot of good to know information there.  I felt it was especially heavy on PWC . 

 

My insurance offers a discount.  Although not too expensive, I'll take what I can get.  Interestingly my state doesn't require insurance.  If you do have to get it, it's probably because the bank requires it.  

[GaryH]

I never though of asking my insurance company.  On the other hand what Capt. Phil said is so true. I can’t understand how they rent boats to people who have no idea of how to operate one. 
I know that some states are going to start enforcing that you must have a safety course card to operate a boat in the near future. 

[Junk Fisherman]

I'm taking a Coast Guard Auxiliary boater safety course at the end of this month.  2 Saturdays at 4 hours per day for $30.  And it's on Zoom so I don't have to leave my house.  My insurance has already said that my rates will go down $23 a year for completing the course.  So in the long run, I'll end up saving.  I took the class a while ago but lost the paperwork.  This will act as a refresher.  

[mcipinkie]

While I am certainly concerned about the number of idiots out there that know nothing about handling a boat, I do not want any more government mandated anything.

 

Look how well automotive driver's licensing works at preventing accidents.

 

So you take an on line course in basic boat operation, get your certificate, go out side and jump in a Bass Cat Eyra and run 80 MPH down the lake, without ever having paddled a canoe.  The safety course card is more "feel good" stuff.

 

I don't know the answer as to how we prevent some of these dumb - ass wrecks.  A bunch of on-line lawyer courses isn't it.

 

 

[Darth-Baiter]

Imagine if automobile drivers were just handed keys like boaters?  It would be mayhem. 
 

No system is perfect.  But the example above me is a scooch extreme. 
 

Gun safety. Yes. Hell, I took a chainsaw safety course when I bought my tool.  I get a boat, I’m buying into the safety course.  The lower insurance should be “the carrot”.. 

 

now if there was a mandatory parenting course....hehe, I’m joking.  

[Sam]

Boating safety course is mandatory in Virginia as of 2007 and applies to all operators of motorboats registered  in Virginia with a 10 horsepower or greater outboard motor.

 

Anyone operating a motorboat with a 10 horsepower or greater motor as of July 1, 2016 must take and pass the safety course and have their card or certificate with them on the boat.

 

All motorboat operators need to take the approved safety boating education classes as outlined by the Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries.

 

Jet-ski operators of all ages are required to take and pass the course, too.

 

You can take it in a class or on-line but you have to have your documentation on your person when you are operating a watercraft or a jet-ski on Virginia waters.

[FishinBuck07]

Had to take the course while in college.  Who knew someone going for a wildlife management degree needed to know how to run a boat properly?  haha

[Jig Man]

It is mandatory here im MO as well for a certain age group.  

[MN Fisher]

1 minute ago, Jig Man said:

It is mandatory here im MO as well for a certain age group.  

Same in Minnesota under certain circumstances...age, horsepower of the boat, etc.

[gim]

How to properly and timely unload and load a boat at the access point would be useful to add in this boater's course too IMO

[Jigfishn10]

15 hours ago, haggard said:

I took it through boat-ed when I got my "big" boat (still small by most people's standard) - main reason was to learn what I needed for safely navigating salt water inshore. Well worth it. I review the course each year before the season starts, since it's easy to forget some things.

 

 

Exactly why I'm doing it. ?

15 hours ago, Bolar said:

I took a course while I waited for my boat to be built.  There is a lot of good to know information there.  I felt it was especially heavy on PWC . 

 

My insurance offers a discount.  Although not too expensive, I'll take what I can get.  Interestingly my state doesn't require insurance.  If you do have to get it, it's probably because the bank requires it.  

This course was too, but I found the information very beneficial. ?

13 hours ago, Junk Fisherman said:

I'm taking a Coast Guard Auxiliary boater safety course at the end of this month.  2 Saturdays at 4 hours per day for $30.  And it's on Zoom so I don't have to leave my house.  My insurance has already said that my rates will go down $23 a year for completing the course.  So in the long run, I'll end up saving.  I took the class a while ago but lost the paperwork.  This will act as a refresher.  

I'm going back over a few things that need refreshing already. ?

 

9 hours ago, They call me “Gaiter Salad” said:

Imagine if automobile drivers were just handed keys like boaters?  It would be mayhem. 
 

No system is perfect.  But the example above me is a scooch extreme. 
 

Gun safety. Yes. Hell, I took a chainsaw safety course when I bought my tool.  I get a boat, I’m buying into the safety course.  The lower insurance should be “the carrot”.. 

 

now if there was a mandatory parenting course....hehe, I’m joking.  

You're far more polite than I would have been. ?

 

7 hours ago, Sam said:

Boating safety course is mandatory in Virginia as of 2007 and applies to all operators of motorboats registered  in Virginia with a 10 horsepower or greater outboard motor.

 

Anyone operating a motorboat with a 10 horsepower or greater motor as of July 1, 2016 must take and pass the safety course and have their card or certificate with them on the boat.

 

All motorboat operators need to take the approved safety boating education classes as outlined by the Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries.

 

Jet-ski operators of all ages are required to take and pass the course, too.

 

You can take it in a class or on-line but you have to have your documentation on your person when you are operating a watercraft or a jet-ski on Virginia waters.

Here as well. ?

 

1 hour ago, Jig Man said:

It is mandatory here im MO as well for a certain age group.  

I think it really should be. ?

42 minutes ago, gimruis said:

How to properly and timely unload and load a boat at the access point would be useful to add in this boater's course too IMO

Believe it or not, that was covered as it should be.?

[GaryH]

17 hours ago, Jigfishn10 said:

Any of you boat owners ever take a safety course? I just finished up a course through Boat-Ed.com. Just wondering if you saved on boater's insurance? 

My boat is being shipped up from Florida later this month and I'm planning on getting insurance for it. In all honesty, I really don't care if I get a discount on insurance for the safety course, I was taking the course either way. ?

good choice 

[Jigfishn10]

10 minutes ago, GaryH said:

good choice 

This will be our first "new" boat and my family will all be taking the course so that they can drive it as well. Plus, it's a good way to keep us all accountable on the water. Thanks bud.

[Junk Fisherman]

14 hours ago, mcipinkie said:

While I am certainly concerned about the number of idiots out there that know nothing about handling a boat, I do not want any more government mandated anything.

 

Look how well automotive driver's licensing works at preventing accidents.

 

So you take an on line course in basic boat operation, get your certificate, go out side and jump in a Bass Cat Eyra and run 80 MPH down the lake, without ever having paddled a canoe.  The safety course card is more "feel good" stuff.

 

I don't know the answer as to how we prevent some of these dumb - ass wrecks.  A bunch of on-line lawyer courses isn't it.

 

 

 

So you're basically stating people cannot learn from an online course?  No, you will not eliminate all people from acting stupid and irresponsible by taking a course but increasing safety awareness will decrease the odds of accidents.  And what would happen if people didn't take a driver's education course?  

[Jigfishn10]

2 hours ago, mcipinkie said:

I do not want any more government mandated anything. 

First of all, I respect your post, please don't misconstrue the following as an attack.

 

Not sure what's going on your waters and why they have a lot of boating accidents, but I've been ocean boating on Maine's coast for close to 20 years and have yet to see any accidents. The closet I saw a damaged boat was when one washed up on an island because the chain to the mooring rusted thru and let go of the boat. I can honestly say that I have really never met anyone obnoxious on the water. Just very friendly people.

 

Now if you don't want any more government mandated rules then the boating accidents on your inland waters really need to be curbed. Otherwise, expect more intervention. Bad behavior will certainly breed new rules.

[J Francho]

It's amazing to me how a thread about boating safety can inspire so many off topic posts.  Stay on topic.

 

In my experience, insurance has only ever gone up, year after year, no matter what safety courses, first responder training, CPR, etc. training I have received.  I do these things in order to be prepared should someone else need help.  Heaven forbid we think of someone else for a change.

[Choporoz]

36 minutes ago, J Francho said:

It's amazing to me how a thread about boating safety can inspire so many off topic posts.  

Really?   Lol....you should get out more

[Glenn]

23 hours ago, Jigfishn10 said:

Any of you boat owners ever take a safety course? I just finished up a course through Boat-Ed.com. Just wondering if you saved on boater's insurance? 

My boat is being shipped up from Florida later this month and I'm planning on getting insurance for it. In all honesty, I really don't care if I get a discount on insurance for the safety course, I was taking the course either way.

Yep, and yep, and yep.

 

Yes, I've taken a boater safety course. So has my wife.

Yes we received discounts on insurance.

Yes, the real incentive was to be a more responsible boater on the water.

 

On a side note, it's now required in my state.  All boaters (and PWC operators) must have a boater safety card.  But I got mine before it was required, simply because it was the right thing to do.

[Jigfishn10]

I feel like I struck a nerve, my apologies for posting this topic. 

I'll be done with it.

[Glenn]

9 minutes ago, Jigfishn10 said:

I feel like I struck a nerve

Nope, you didn't.  One person tried to steer it into politics, and as you know, that's not allowed here.

 

We're back on track now.  No worries.

[Meowmicks]

A boater safety course is something I've been looking into.

Recently got my 1st boat and here in MA no certification is required. However if i want to go fishing in NH, CT, or VT I'd need a certification to operate my boat there.

 

I wonder are the online tests good for all states that require a certification?