There is nothing, absolutely
nothing,
half so much worth doing
as simply messing about in
boats.
From: The Wind in the Willows by Kenneth Graham
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Becoming confident, skilled and responsible, on your own boat. |
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For you, your whole household "crew", including older children. |
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Learning, with your own nautical "personal trainer". |
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An excellent resource for skippers "moving up". |
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Compliments USCG Auxilliary and US Power Squadron classroom instruction with actual on-the-water training and experience. |
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Affordable, and qualifies for boat insurance and discounts. |
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Vessel delivery services covering Puget Sound, San Juan Islands, Lower Vancouver Island, and the Canadian Gulf Islands an added feature. |
Be sure to visit CruiseMasters Boating: The Blog for ongoing comment on cruising in the Northwest and boating generally, plus random thoughts
About Washington State's mandatory Boater Safety Education Card program.
This program requires that operators of motorboats with 15 horsepower or greater take a boater safety education course in order to operate a boat in Washington state. This can be an education course in a classroom, online or at home. Once the course is completed and test passed, boaters then send a completed application for their card. If boaters already have taken an approved boating class, they only need to send in their application with supporting documents to get a Boater Safety Education Card. The state’s program requires a knowledge of both International as well as Inland waters rules and regulations. This makes sense, as many recreational boaters are on Washington’s rivers and lakes, as well as on salt water.
CruiseMasters, however, focuses exclusively on International waters, which include not only Puget Sound and adjacent waters and the straits, but also Lake Union, Lake Washington, and all tributaries. (although boathandling skills are skills one can use in any waters!). Because of this, we have chosen not to increase our program to accommodate Inland requirements, opting instead to let boaters chose their own certification avenues. We recommend the free BoatUS on-line course.
The phased-in requirement for the Boater Safety Education Card are:
Year Age Group 2008 12 years to 20 year old 2009 25 years old and younger 2010 30 years old and younger 2011 35 years old and younger 2012 40 years old and younger 2013 2014 59 years old and younger 2015 and after Any person born after January 1, 1955 A person born before Jan. 1, 1955, is exempt from needing a Boater Safety Education Card in Washington
A word of caution. If you cruise in Canada for more than 45 days you will need a Card regardless of the born before Jan. 1, 1955 exemption (above). Canada does not accept Washington State’s age exemption. Oregon state does not accept the exemption, either.
