NJ Boat Safety Class

Anthony A

Anthony A

Well-known member
I took the all-day class on Saturday in Paramus and it wasn't half as bad as I thought it was going to be. I learned a lot. I was told at the DMV last year that it was mandatory for everyone when I asked about registering my (then planned) home-built boat.

I'm just wondering if other states have similar requirements of their boat owners and if all the Jersey folks on the site have done the class themselves. We were told that the State Marine Police will be extra vigilant this year, as it is the first real boating season with the new requirement. They specifically talked about Barnegat Bay in the sumemr time - I've only lived in NJ for ten years, but I did not know it was such a party place (on the water)! I only saw it from Nov - Jan during hunting season :) not many others out there except for hunters and fishermen
 
Anthony, I took the class several years ago. I was told back then that it was mandatory.

Ocean City's and Sea Isle City's back bays are hopping with party boats in the summer........................Kevin
 
Is this class required to register a boat in NJ, or is it required to operate a boat in NJ waters? What about the out of staters that bring out of state registeed boats into the NJ waters?

Dave
 
I passed that test when I was 10 years old. Back then the license expired when you turned 16 so when they passed the new law I had to find my old card and thankfully they just issued me a new one.

All you need is to have to run any of the bays on a Saturday in the summer to know that course doesn't teach a darn thing. Coming back in from fishing on a Saturday in the summer is much scarier than running in the dark in the dead of winter in my sneakbox...
 
Is this class required to register a boat in NJ, or is it required to operate a boat in NJ waters? What about the out of staters that bring out of state registeed boats into the NJ waters?

Dave
Click to expand...


Dave, the guy said the state marine police will recognize equivalent certification for people from out of state to operate a boat in NJ waters.

They mentioned some pretty scary accidents, dumb choices and particularly bad places, like the Pt. Pleasant Canal entryway to the ocean (?). It sounded bad... lots of ouch moments and sad shaking of heads at some of the stories. Lots of accidents/deaths in this state it seems.

Two of the guys in the class received warnings this past fall and were told to take the class. One guy was from NY who keeps his boat in NJ, and it was easier for him to come to the NJ class.
 
Im in the same boat . I was born, raised in NJ. Now living in Virginia, under the new law based on age I'm required to obtain a boaters license by 2012. I'll have to print that up so when I sneak around back home I'll have no problems

Bill V
 
Dave,

I was unclear as to this myself. So... I took the PA coarse online to make sure I had a certification. It sounded to me as though they would follow the rule from where the boat is registered. So... in my PA reg. boat I would be fine with no cert. But... in my inlaws boat I would need a certification. Good idea to have anyway.

On another note: I witnessed a fatality a few years ago on Barnegat Bay in the summer. NOT something I ever want to be around again. Makes my stomach sick just sitting here reliving it. It is all of our responsibilities to make sure these things don't happen.

Gene
 
I just researched the VA requirements. It is being phased in through 2016. Looks like I will need it by 2014, based on age. The local classroom class is next week, so I will likely do the on-line class. Maybe by the pool while on vacation in a couple weeks!

Researching what it will take to register the Sneakbox with the Commonwealth of VA. What a PITA, they make it difficult to do anything. I have to either have the seller (lives in NJ, maybe I can find them again?) sign an affidavit, or I have to register it as homebuilt, then I have to have a notary witness my affidavit that I built it? Why can't I simply say, I bought an old boat off a guy, spent many, many hours and dollars rebuilding it, and now want to use it!

Dave
 
I don't know if there is a federal law behind it but every state seems to have mandatory boating education cards/eduction requirements now. Most are being phased in by age. There seems to also be reciprocal agreements among states. I think its a great idea since there are a bunch of people out there who don't have a clue.

I think the folks on jetskis or personal watercraft as they are now called should have to take the class drunk and sober and pass an IQ test with a score higher than their shoe size.
 
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