Public Education and Boating Safety

The United States Coast Guard Auxiliary offers courses on boating safety, boating skills, and navigation. Some of these courses will qualify you for a PWC (Personal Water Craft or Jet Ski) license as well as a Motor boat Operators License.  A Safe Boating certificate from the NJ State Department of Law and Public Safety is required for operating a PWC on non-tidal waters in NJ and NY.  It is NOT the same as a motor boat operators license that you get from the State Division of Motor Vehicle Services. Here is the statement from the NJ DMV web site:

Note: NJ now requires a Boating Safety Certificate in addition to a boat operators license for all persons operating any power driven vessel in the state of NJ.

New York has similar rules regarding taking and passing a safe boating course for operation of a personal water craft (PWC, jet ski).

For some frequently asked questions about boating law in the state of New Jersey.  Visit the NJ State Police FAQ page at this link

For the complete information on New Jersey's Boating Laws.  Visit the NJ State Police Maritime Division site at this link.

NOAA’s 1,000-plus U.S. coastal and Great Lakes nautical charts are viewable here on-line.   Each chart is up-to-date with the most recent Notices to Mariners corrections.  https://nauticalcharts.noaa.gov/

DSC Radio Tutorial Available

The BoatU.S. interactive tutorial on DSC Radio is a great asset for all boaters, including Auxiliarists and the general public. This online tutorial reveals much information about Rescue 21 and the proper use of Digital Selective Calling (DSC) radios.

See https://www.boatus.org/study-guide/equipment/communication/