Public Education Classes

Public Education is a cornerstone activity (another is a Vessel Safety Check) of the Auxiliary to promote safe boating practices. Members of Flotilla 10-1 conduct boating safety classes in the spring and occasionally in the fall. For more information, please contact our Flotilla Staff Officer, Public Education (FSO-PE):

Boat America
This course is NASBLA-approved¹ for all 50 states. We conduct the class in one 8-hour full session. A 50-question exam follows the class. A laminated certificate card is awarded for a passing grade (learn more). The cost is $45.00 which includes the class booklet, exam, and completion card.

Classes are for adults and youth 12 years of age and older. Family participation is encouraged and has proven to be very rewarding. All graduates in the 12 through 15 year-old age group will be issued a safety certificate allowing them to operate a motorboat without adult supervision, as required by state law. The same is true for 16 and 17 year old youth who wish to operate a personal watercraft. 

All students must complete an additional 10-question Massachusetts Environmental Police (MEP) exam immediately upon completion of the About Boating Safely class. All exam material is discussed in the class. The completed exam will be signed by the Flotilla Commander and submit class completion information to the MEP.

More classes are available across New England and listed in the Auxiliary's District 1NR web site (learn more).

Massachusetts Boating Laws
The state of Massachusetts requires a vessel operator to successfully complete an approved basic boating class under these circumstances (learn more):

• Youth between 12 and 15 years of age must complete the class in order to operate a motorboat without adult supervision. Students must possess their issued "boating safety certificate" when underway.
• Personal watercraft operators who are 16 or 17 years of age must complete a boating course. (Youth less than 16 years of age are not legally permitted to operate personal watercraft.)

Online Specialty Courses
The BoatUS Foundation and the United States Coast Guard Auxiliary (not Flotilla 10-1) present Modern Marine Navigation. Modern Marine Navigation will help improve your navigational skills in the convenience of your home. You will learn the basics of plotting, reading charts, identifying Aids to Navigation (ATONs) and using them to find your way on the water as well as an introduction to electronic navigation all presented online where you can study at your pace.

Topics include: Navigation Charting, Dead Reckoning, Plotting Positions, Electronic Navigation, and Safe Planning Practices. 

¹NASBLA is "a national nonprofit organization that works to develop public policy for recreational boating safety." A NASBLA-approved class is the MINIMUM requirement for 42 of 50 states to operate a recreational boat (learn more).

For more information about Massachusetts boating laws, consult the Massachusetts Environmental Police, Boat and Recreation Vehicle Safety Bureau (learn more).