Boating Laws for New York and New Jersey

New York State Motor Boaters: New Law Effective May 1st 2014: All individuals born on or after 5/1/96 are now required to successfully complete an approved course in boater education in order to operate a motorboat. Approved courses include those offered by NYS Parks, the USCG Auxiliary or the US Power Squadron. See http://parks.ny.gov/.

New Jersey Motor Boaters: All powerboat operators in NJ waters need a Boating Safety Certificate from an accredited organization such as the USCG Auxiliary. New Jersey residents must have a NJ Boating Safety Certificate. For details visit http://njsp.org/ and click on MSI Boating Safety.

                      No Public Boating Classes for now                      

Emerson High School Pubic Boating Course

 All powerboat operators in NJ waters and all NY powerboat operators born after
May 1, 1996 need a Boating Safety Certificate from an accredited organization
such as the USCG Auxiliary. New Jersey residents must have a NJ Boating Safety
Certificate in NJ waters. For details visit www.njsp.org and click on MSI Boating
Safety and in NY www.nysparks.com/recreation/boating. For additional USCG
Auxiliary boating courses visit www.cga.org and click on boating courses, or contact
the instructor, Dan McGlynn, at mcglynndf@gmail.com.

E180 ABOUT BOATING SAFETY* Fee: $40

 7:00 - 9:00 PM HS Room: 116

ABS is a beginner boating class that will give graduates a USCGA and a New Jersey Boating
Safety Certificate. An eight-hour, seven-chapter course designed to meet the requirements of
USCG, National Association of State Boating Law Administrators and the NJ State Police.
Additional materials fees of approximately $20 are paid at the first class. No class 3/29.

INSTRUCTOR: US Coast Guard Auxiliary.

This beginner boating class will give you the knowledge needed to obtain a boat license or safety certification in many states. Many boat insurance companies will offer discounts on boating insurance to boaters who successfully complete About Boating Safely.

TOPICS INCLUDE

Introduction to Boating – Types of power boats; sailboats; outboards; paddle boats; houseboats; different uses of boats; various power boating engines; jet drives; family boating basics.

Boating Law – Boat registration; boating regulation; hull identification number; required boat safety equipment; operating safely and reporting accidents; protecting the marine environment; Federal boat law; state boating laws; personal watercraft requirements.

Boat Safety Equipment –Personal flotation devices ("life jackets"); fire extinguishers; sound-producing devices; visual-distress signals; dock lines and rope; first aid kit; anchors and anchor lines; other boating safety equipment.

Safe Boating – Bow riding; alcohol and drug abuse; entering, loading, and trimming a boat; fueling portable and permanent tanks; steering with a tiller and a wheel; docking, undocking and mooring; knots; filing a float plan; checking equipment, fuel, weather and tides; using charts; choosing and using an anchor; safe PWC handling; general water safety.

Navigation – The U.S. Aids to Navigation system; types of buoys and beacons; navigation rules (sometimes referred to as right-of-way rules); avoiding collisions; sound signals; PWC "tunnel vision."

Boating Problems – Hypothermia; boating accidents and rescues; man overboard recovery; capsizing; running aground; river hazards; strainers: emergency radio calls; engine problems; equipment failures; carbon monoxide (CO); other boating and PWC problems.

Trailering, Storing and Protecting Your Boat – Types of trailers; trailer brakes, lights, hitches, tires, and bearings; loading, balancing, and towing a trailer; towing (and backing) a trailer; boat launching and retrieving; boat storage and theft protection; launching, retrieving and storing a PWC.

Hunting and Fishing, Water-skiing and River Boating – Carrying hunting gear and weapons in a boat; fishing from a boat; water-skiing safety guidelines and hand signals; water-skiing with a PWC; navigating rivers, and other boating tips.