Boaters Saftey Course- Who on board needs it?

[RidgeRunner]

So last night at a local Anglers Club meeting, someone stated that ANYONE who steers the boat, even for a minute, is required to have the BSC?
Can anyone verify that?

 

[Lazy Daze]

You'd have to check the laws for your state in regards to age - in some states, it depends on age (or birth date). But if it's required, then yes, they must have it. Just like driving a car.

 

[Woody]

So last night at a local Anglers Club meeting, someone stated that ANYONE who steers the boat, even for a minute, is required to have the BSC?
Can anyone verify that?

Not so. The Virginia Watercraft Owners Guide can tell you everything you need to know.

https://www.dgif.virginia.gov/boating/wog/

https://www.dgif.virginia.gov/boating/education/boating-safety-education-requirement/

Operates the motorboat under onboard direct supervision of a person who meets the compliance requirement

Operates a boat not registered in Virginia, temporarily using the waters of Virginia for a period not to exceed 90 days, and meets any applicable boating safety education requirements of the state of residency;

Has assumed operation of the motorboat due to the illness or physical impairment of the initial operator, and is returning the motorboat to shore in order to provide assistance or care for the operator

 

[Lazy Daze]

See the answer above. Much better than mine. :smt001

 

[alnav]

Looks like he is correct, at least for Virginia. I knew there was a requirement but thought there was grandfathering but that expired last year. Here is the site that documents the requirement: https://www.dgif.virginia.gov/boating/education/requirement/.
I boat on the upper Chesapeake from Maryland (which is grandfathered forever for people of a certain age) so it's rare that I go into Virginia waters but did last year and needed to be prepared. I think the online class I took to be compliant in DC waters works but need to verify that. Also, Virginia has several exclusions for military quals like SWO/ESWS/Boat Officer/Coxswain. I have several of those but I guess I will need to carry a copy of my DD-214 in my boating binder henceforward.

 

[fwebster]

What is required and what makes the most sense are different things. I think anyone who is regularly onboard like spouses, girlfriends, children, friends, etc. should take the boating safety course. They are free and they will learn valuable information.

I have a 450DA in Florida and from time to time we have also had waverunners, dinghies, center consoles and outboard skiffs here as well for the kids and grandkids to use. Both of my children have had the Florida state safety certificates since they were 13, my wife has hers and the grand kids both have it as well. The one thing I have noticed is that after taking the course, family members are more involved with what is going on and why which is a good thing. At least 2-3 times a year, we hear a Mayday call on the VHF where some guy has fallen gotten cut or has another medical emergency and nobody on the boat can figure out their location or how to start up and head back to shore. I'm not worried about this happening to me.

 

[Gofirstclass]

I'm with Frank on this one. I had my first boater safety and navigation course in the mid-60's (yes, I'm THAT old) from the USPS. Since then I've taken it four or five more times. My wife took it several years ago with me; it was a requirement of MINE if she wanted to be on the boat. She didn't want to drive it at that time, but she did want to know how in case something happened to me.

To answer the OP's question, WA is another state where anyone can drive the boat if there is one person on board who has a certification. Personally, I don't know why ANY boat owner would not want to take it, and take it in a classroom instead of online. In the classroom setting the exchange of information is invaluable.

 

[Lazy Daze]

In the classroom setting the exchange of information is invaluable.

100% agree with that. There is so much more going on in a classroom setting... questions/answers/discussions... and real, live people to talk to! I also agree that it's so important to have multiple people to be at least familiar with the general operation of the boat. When I met my wife, she had no real boating experience and was happy to let me do everything. But we had a discussion that centered around "what if"... What if I fell and hit my head and was knocked unconscious... What if I fell overboard... What if, well, you get the idea.

Now, she still prefers to just to relax on the port side and take in the scenery, especially if we're in a crowded area. But she is plenty capable of captaining the boat. In fact, she has taken on the role of doing the "boat side" of launching and retrieving. And I'll toot her horn here... she's quite good at it! In fact, we launched and retrieved the 260DA faster than most do an 18-footer. We actually have seen people stop and stare at the coordination and even come up to us in the parking lot to ask questions. I just point at her and say "She's the one with the hard job. I just put the truck in forward gear and drive away."

 

[Jeff Evans]

Simple answer provided by the question "If the skipper is disabled, who will take control of the vessel and secure the safety of not only the skipper but the passengers as well?"

As you answer that question you will realize that many boats leave the dock with only the skipper capable of operating it. Not only is the skipper at risk if incapacitated but they put all aboard at risk as well.

I am the primary operator of our boats (runabouts and a cruiser) but my spouse and kids all took Canadian Power & Sail Squadrons courses on vessel operation. They are also all certified for the use of the VHF radio including operation of the DSC function. Finally they take turns operating the boats over the summer and are competent to handle them in an emergency.

As skipper, it is your responsibility to secure the safety of your passengers.

 

[dutchman]

Call yourselves lucky......... I'm north of the border in Alberta, and sometimes wonder who comes up with our silly rules.. Up here it is mandatory if you operate a boat with a motor. Quote; "a powered watercraft includes any vessel fitted with any size motor - even an electric trolling motor". Online $50, but hey you get free retries until you pass. I'm all for safety and taking a course, but it's all about navigation bouys, ocean currents, how to pass a barge, etc. It has nothing to do with actual boating we do in our inland lakes. Make a course that pertains to the task at hand would be a great start. Getting certified up here means squat, except making you legal to drive. Frick, a lot of people up here can't back the trailer down the ramp, let alone operate the boat.
Sorry, nothing to do with the OP but that's what we deal with.

 

[Jeff Evans]

Getting certified up here means squat, except making you legal to drive.

You are right Dutchman. The 3 hour course online for $50 only gets you your PCOC (operator card) to make you legal and does not improve your boating skills. Take a proper boating course from an organization like Power Squadron. Your boating skills will improve and everyone in your family will be safer for it.

 

[JVM225]

I took a power squadron course and a CG Auxiliary course back in the mid 70's when I started boating shortly after getting out of the USN, then took the NYS course about 10 years ago.
Both of my kids took the NYS course as soon as they were old enough to take it.
I haven't been able to get my wife to take a course yet, but I'm working on her. She has absolutely no desire to go anywhere near the helm and stays inside the cabin when docking.
I plan to take the "6 Pack" course with my son in the coming year. Probably next winter.
I'm a proponent of testing and licensing of some sort before being allowed to operate a boat.

 

[66pony]

We are the unlucky ones. in Minnesota, land of 10,000 lakes, the only requirement is that you have a pulse if you are over 17. Many times during the season we have folks competing for the Darwin awards. I tell my wife and daughter, all of us have had the safety course at least once, that we have to be very vigilant when on the water during the weekends. I wish we had a mandatory course and recertification.

 

[Gofirstclass]

I haven't been able to get my wife to take a course yet, but I'm working on her. She has absolutely no desire to go anywhere near the helm and stays inside the cabin when docking.

JVM, my wife used to be like that until one day when she was down below I called her and asked her to come up to the bridge "real quick". She came running up the stairs and I said "I need you to take the helm for a minute so I can go below." She did but said "What do I do?" I said "Just keep it between the buoys", and I went below and stood around in the salon for about 5 minutes then went back up.

Her only comment was that it took me long enough. It wasn't until years later that I let on what I'd done. Now she takes the helm on occasion and has twice backed the boat into the slip, and that's no easy task.

Youthful exuberance will never overcome old age wisdom and treachery!

 

[tdgard]

JVM, my wife used to be like that until one day when she was down below I called her and asked her to come up to the bridge "real quick". She came running up the stairs and I said "I need you to take the helm for a minute so I can go below." She did but said "What do I do?" I said "Just keep it between the buoys", and I went below and stood around in the salon for about 5 minutes then went back up.

Her only comment was that it took me long enough. It wasn't until years later that I let on what I'd done. Now she takes the helm on occasion and has twice backed the boat into the slip, and that's no easy task.

Youthful exuberance will never overcome old age wisdom and treachery!

My wife took one of the MarineMax "Women on the Water" courses. She got to go out with a bunch of gals and was taught some basic safety and handeling skills by someone who was not impatient and argumentative--not their husbands. She doesn't really care to dock or put it back in the slip, but is much more comfortable driving around & now I get to enjoy a little time sitting in the bow.

 

[SolidSnake]

We are the unlucky ones. in Minnesota, land of 10,000 lakes, the only requirement is that you have a pulse if you are over 17. Many times during the season we have folks competing for the Darwin awards. I tell my wife and daughter, all of us have had the safety course at least once, that we have to be very vigilant when on the water during the weekends. I wish we had a mandatory course and recertification.

Same here in Illinois. Nothing is needed unless you are under the age of 17 and want to operate the boat...

Then again there isn't many lakes or rivers in IL. Just a few...

I think its worth it plus you get money off on your insurance if you have a certificate stating you did the course!

 

[JVM225]

JVM, my wife used to be like that until one day when she was down below I called her and asked her to come up to the bridge "real quick". She came running up the stairs and I said "I need you to take the helm for a minute so I can go below." She did but said "What do I do?" I said "Just keep it between the buoys", and I went below and stood around in the salon for about 5 minutes then went back up.

Her only comment was that it took me long enough. It wasn't until years later that I let on what I'd done. Now she takes the helm on occasion and has twice backed the boat into the slip, and that's no easy task.

Youthful exuberance will never overcome old age wisdom and treachery!

I would love it if she would take the helm once in a while and think it would be great if she'd take a few lessons but I don't think it's going to happen. I had my son running my 300 Sundancer when he was 12 and taught him how to dock it when he was 13. He didn't do it regularly but it was nice to know that he could get us back to the dock if something happened to me. He's turning 17 in a few weeks and I plan to get him comfortable handling the 410 as soon as I'm used to it.

 

[CliffA]

both the Admiral and I have taken the class....I suppose I am fortunate in that my wife loves everything about boating and I do also....she really enjoyed the class and loves to take the helm every chance she gets....she gets very excited when she learns something new.....she also wants to take lessons on maneuvering the boat either from me or an instructor.....

she is a keeper.....

cliff

 

[northern]

cliff
Teaching your wife how to land a boat is like teaching your children how to drive but the dints in the boat are bigger than the ones in the car. My wife hired a captain to teach her how to land the boat. Good investment.

 

[CliffA]

cliff
Teaching your wife how to land a boat is like teaching your children how to drive but the dints in the boat are bigger than the ones in the car. My wife hired a captain to teach her how to land the boat. Good investment.

excellent point.....probably the reason I have been reluctant to make the attempt.....

cliff