Boaters safety course

[wyldkat49766]

How old do kids need to be before they can take this course?
Thanks

[bigcountrysg]

Well the people I know that are instructors of this class. Like to have the kids around 10 years old. But there really is no minimum age requirement for this class. At least to my knowledge. But state law requires anyone born in 1978 or after to have this certification.

The link below will give you more info on this subject.

http://www.boat-ed.com/mi/course/p4-3_whomayoperate.htm

[Bassman Dan]

But state law requires anyone born in 1978 or after to have this certification.

Only if they plan on operating a PWC. Anyone over 16 can operate any boat in MI waters.

[bigcountrysg]

I understand that Bassman Dan, Listed below is the requirements from the Michigan Boaters hand Book.

Chapter 4: The Legal Requirements of Boating
Who May Operate a Boat and Who May Operate a PWC
Who May Operate a Boat
Those less than 12 years of age:

May operate a boat powered by a motor of no more than 6 horsepower (hp) legally without restrictions.
May operate a boat powered by a motor of more than 6 hp but no more than 35 hp legally only if they are directly supervised on board by a person at least 16 years of age.
May not operate a boat powered by a motor of more than 35 hp legally under any conditions.
Those 12 to 15 years of age:

May operate a boat powered by a motor of no more than 6 hp legally without restrictions.
May operate a boat powered by a motor of more than 6 hp legally only if they:
Have passed a boating safety course approved by the Department of Natural Resources and have on board their boating safety certificate or ...
Are accompanied on board by a person at least 16 years of age.
Those 16 years of age or older may operate any boat on the waters of Michigan. Note: See Who May Operate a Personal Watercraft (PWC) below.



Who May Operate a Personal Watercraft (PWC)
Those less than 12 years of age:

No one under the age of 12 years may operate a PWC legally.
Those 12 and 13 years of age may operate a PWC legally only if:

He or she obtained a boating safety certificate prior to January 1, 1999, or ...
All of the following conditions are satisfied:
The operator is accompanied solely by his or her parent or legal guardian and ...
Both the operator and the parent or legal guardian have obtained a boating safety certificate and ...
The PWC is equipped with a lanyard-type ignition safety switch and the parent or legal guardian has the lanyard attached to his or her person, clothing, or PFD and ...
The PWC is designed to carry at least two persons.
Those 14 years of age or older:

A person born after December 31, 1978, may operate a PWC legally only if he or she has obtained a boating safety certificate.
Those born December 31, 1978, or earlier may operate a PWC legally without restrictions.

[Bassman Dan]

I understand that Bassman Dan but it is always good to have this education.

I agree.:)

[spiritofthewild_06]

Don't they still give this course in school? I remember way back when we took it in middle school...during the school day.

[bigcountrysg]

When did you Graduate School. I graduated in 1996 and they did not teach this in any class.

[spiritofthewild_06]

When did you Graduate School. I graduated in 1996 and they did not teach this in any class.

1998, we had it in like 6th grade. I believe the montcalm co. sheriffs dept. came in and gave it to us.

[bigcountrysg]

must have been your school. Because down where I went to school in Lenawee County they did not do anything like that.

[spiritofthewild_06]

We also had hunter safety as an after school deal.

[Bassman Dan]

1998, we had it in like 6th grade. I believe the montcalm co. sheriffs dept. came in and gave it to us.

We had the course in our school also. Sometimes a refresher course is good though, especialy since it was around the 6th grade.

[spiritofthewild_06]

We had the course in our school also. Sometimes a refresher course is good though, especialy since it was around the 6th grade.

You can get the boaters safety handbook online I believe at www.michigan.gov/dnr (http://www.michigan.gov/dnr). If that doesnt work next time your out and about run into your local sheriffs dept. and see if they have any laying around.

[bigcountrysg]

The link I posted is the michigan boaters hand book.

[wyldkat49766]

Thanks guys. It would NOT be for a PWC. He will have to be 18 before I let him on one of those. This would just be so that he could steer a small fishing boat with his dad nearby. That and to give him some more boat instruction. He listens better to non parents when being taught some things. < shrug >
Oh and he just turned 9 a month ago.