September 7, 2006
Fall Back To Classroom Time For Boater Education
It’s time to head back to class and for many thousands of school-age children, high school and college students, this means that Ohio classrooms are filling with eager minds hoping to absorb knowledge on a variety of subjects.
One of the subjects rarely covered in such classroom settings is boating safety education. To that end, the Division of Watercraft, along with the U.S. Power Squadrons, U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary and other boating partners, is prepared to host new groups of students young and old who want to become safer boaters.
What many school students and their parents unfortunately overlook is that while recreational boating remains a very popular activity, in Ohio, the majority of these students who are under age 25 are required by state law to successfully complete an approved boating safety education class if they are going to operate a boat with a motor greater than ten horsepower.
This would include all of your JetSki and Waverunner-type jet-propelled personal watercraft, ski boats and many other types of powered watercraft. About half of the estimated 12,000 Ohioans who complete boater safety education classes now are doing so because of the state mandatory boater education law that was enacted six years ago.
Anyone born on or after January 1, 1982 is required to be able to show proof they have completed an approved boater safety education class if they operate watercraft over 10-horsepower. There are some additional requirements that are outlined on the Division of Watercraft web page along with information on boater education classes and other boating programs.
To make it even easier for Ohioans to complete a boater education program, the Division of Watercraft offers an at-home study program and proficiency testing. Approved online courses offered through the Internet also qualify as an acceptable option to complete the boater education requirement.
The Division of Watercraft reports that 78% of boat operators who were involved in a boating accident in 2005 had not completed a boater safety education program. It stands to reason that if more people were to take boater education courses, their boating knowledge and confidence on the water would be significantly enhanced, which would lead to even safer waterways statewide.
With the emphasis on quality education, continuing education, distance learning opportunities, independent study programs, online education and the like, the smart choice before leaving the dock should include taking a boater education course in addition to ensuring you properly wear a life jacket anytime while boating.
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