Boat Safety - Online Links

[cbadmin]

From: Cheers Sent: 12/11/2002 1:11 PM

The following links provide On-Line Boating Safety Training/Testing which is being required by many states. Some of these sites provide Certificates upon successful completion that can be used as evidence of compliance.

http://www.boat-ed.com/index.htm

http://www.boatus.org/onlinecourse/

http://www.nationalsafeboatingtest.com/

http://www.boatsafe.com/nauticalknowhow/boating/index.htm

http://www.boater101.com/

http://www.boatclarkcounty.org/

These links were verified as valid as of this date.

From: Joni Lynn Sent: 1/16/2003 1:50 PM
Hi All,
I don't know how many of you folks are aware of it (I just learned about it yesterday), but the new CG Regs. (Jan 03) now require that all boaters must wear a life jacket while afloat on the Missouri and Mississippi Rivers. Just having them available for every member on board is no longer sufficient; The life jackets MUST BE WORN. Obviously this has it's greatest impact on those of us bordering those rivers, but some of you during your travels, may have an occasion to plop your CD in those rivers and it would be a shame if you got popped. Word has it that the maximum fine is $1100.00 That's a pretty hefty chunk of change...... why, it would buy a brand new Furuno 1622 Radar !!
Paul aboard the Joni Lynn

From: Joni Lynn Sent: 1/16/2003 2:25 PM
Hi All C Brats,
I hang my head in embarrassment; I stand corrected. After posting the last message about the new CG Regs, I did some further investigating, i.e. I talked directly with the Coast Guard. They told me the news stations (3 of them) that reported this change had done so incorrectly. The news items were only partially correct. The new Regs. now state that every person aboard 13 YEARS AND UNDER must be wearing a life jacket at all times. I'll try to report more accurately next time.
Paul

From: Mike Sent: 1/16/2003 2:25 PM
Paul -

That is interesting. Why the new requirement on those particular rivers? Are they inherently more dangerous than other waterways, or is there a greater frequency of mishaps than on similar waterways?

It makes one wonder if that is an up-and-coming thing for the CG. It would not surprise me to see them select the Columbia bar section as another candidate for mandatory PFD's. I don't think it would bother me too much if they did, other than my permanent distaste for excessive regulations.

Thanks for letting us know, and please fill us in when you get more details.

Mike

From: Joni Lynn Sent: 1/16/2003 2:51 PM
Hi Mike,
As you see, my earlier message clarifies the life jacket issue a bit in that the new CG Regs apply to persons 13 years of age and under. However, when talking with the CG here, I only asked about the Miss and Mo rivers, only because they were in the news and are closest to our boating environment. But your question has me thinking more about it; I'm wondering if this new reg. applies only to the Miss and Mo rivers, or to ALL federal waters. Now I'm curious. Anyone out there know already?
Paul


From: Mike Sent: 1/16/2003 3:12 PM
Hi Paul -

It looks like your second and my first messages passed each other in cyberspace. It has long been a law in Oregon that any child (I think under 14) is required to wear a PFD on board. It's a good rule, and does not bother me in the least. Sometimes adults need encouragement in watching after the little ones. Usually the boaters (or drivers, for that matter) who are lax in safety concerns for kids are lax in other areas of safety, too. Therefore, the needs of the kids to be protected outweigh the rights of the parents to do as they please. (That's about as political as I care to get on here.)

My grandkids know that the rule is they put on the life jacket before they walk onto the dock, and leave it on until they are back off the dock. They would prefer not, but they never squabble. Sometimes laws make things easier for grandparents who are both worrisome and soft-hearted.

Thanks for getting back to us.

Mike

From: Chuck S Sent: 1/16/2003 5:46 PM
The rule will ONLY apply where there is no state law regarding PFDs and children. Around St Louis that's only Iowa. Won't have any effect on the Mississippi River other than Iowa and Minnesota or more than half a dozen states. If state law says children under 1 year old have to wear PFDs, then that's what USGC will look for. In Ohio it's age 10.

See http://www.uscgboating.org/news/boatingview.aspx?id=47

Why the radio or TV stations even mentioned it is beyond my unless they have a large Iowa audience. Good old TV news!

-- Chuck

From: Chuck S Sent: 1/16/2003 5:53 PM
Boating safety test for Ohio is at:

http://www.boat-ed.com/oh/oh_internet.htm

"The law prohibits any person born on or after January 1, 1982, from operating a vessel powered by more than 10 horsepower unless the person has successfully completed either a boating education course approved by the National Association of State Boating Law Administrators or a proficiency examination approved by ODNR Division of Watercraft.

Anyone born on or after January 1, 1982, who is operating a vessel powered by more than 10 horsepower and is stopped by a law enforcement officer on Ohio waters must produce a certificate of completion of either an approved course or proficiency test not later than 72 hours after being stopped. Proof that the person holds such a certificate may also be provided within the 72-hour period instead of the actual certificate. Failure of the person to present the certificate or proof of holding a certificate within the 72-hour period is prima-facie evidence of a violation of the prohibition described in the preceding paragraph."

The practice test is a good review for anyone and is free of charge. You can review your wrong answers at the end of the exam. Note Ohio treats the USGC capacity plate as a requirement, not a recommendation.

There are links to other state tests on the bottom of the page.

-- Chuck

From: shiawassee Sent: 1/16/2003 6:30 PM
Here is a link http://www.boatered.com/forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=35866 to a PFD thread on another forum. The new rule affects all Federal waters, but as the link will show, there is much confusion about the exact way State rules mesh with the CG rule.

By the way, I find Boatered forums really helpful on general boating subjects.

Joe B.