COLUMBUS, OH - Winter and early spring offer an excellent time before boating season begins for Ohioans to take an approved boater education course, according to the Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR).
Boating education courses are available in all 88 Ohio counties, said Jeff Hoedt, chief of the ODNR Division of Watercraft. And for those unable to fit one of these classes into their busy schedule, we also offer at-home and Internet course options.
Boaters interested in a refresher course or to fulfill the states mandatory education law for those born on or after January 1, 1982, can check out course availability for their county on ODNRs web site at www.ohiodnr.com. The site also lists information for online classes and home-study boating courses.
The Internet provides a great outlet for offering convenient boating education services to Ohio boaters. These courses help Ohio boaters better understand safety techniques and laws, which provides all boaters a more enjoyable time on the water, said Hoedt.
Classes are offered by the ODNR Division of Watercraft, the U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary, U.S. Power Squadrons and Boat/US Foundation and are approved by the National Association of State Boating Law Administrators (NASBLA).
Ohio ranked eighth nationally last year with 417,204 registered watercraft and has 164 certified Ohio boating education course instructors. Additional instructors and boating safety programs are certified through the U.S. Power Squadrons, U.S. Coast Guard, and U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary.
For Further Information Contact:
John Wisse, ODNR Division of Watercraft
(614) 265-6695
-or-
Andy Ware, ODNR Media Relations
(614) 265-6882