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We have a podcast for that. Visit podbean.com
to learn more about who needs the card, how to get your card, and why being an educated boater is good for all boaters.

Hi,

I just gave the pod a listen. The speaker in towards the beginning said that this year all residents 45 years and under must have the boater card. If I read this website below correctly it is all residents 50 and under this year needs a boater card, right?

https://californiaboatercard.com/about-the-card/

The California Boater Card shows that its holder has successfully taken and passed a NASBLA*/state-approved boater safety education examination. The California Boater Card program is phased-in by age for operators of motorized boats on state waterways (see phase-in schedule below). As of January 1, 2022, the card is required for operators 45 years of age or younger. START YOUR APPLICATION HERE.

By 2025, all persons who operate on California waters will be required to have one. The lifetime card fee is $10. The lost card replacement fee is $5.

The card is issued by the California State Parks Division of Boating and Waterways (DBW). Once DBW has received your application, proof of education and payment, you will receive a 90-day temporary boater card by email. You should receive your official boater card by mail within 30 days from the time the application was approved.

California Harbors and Navigation Code Section 678.11(b) contains the following phase-in schedule based on operator age:

January 1, 2018 – Persons 20 years of age or younger
January 1, 2019 – Persons 25 years of age or younger
January 1, 2020 – Persons 35 years of age or younger
January 1, 2021 – Persons 40 years of age or younger
January 1, 2022 – Persons 45 years of age or younger
January 1, 2023 – Persons 50 years of age or younger
January 1, 2024 – Persons 60 years of age or younger
January 1, 2025 – All persons regardless of age


+California age restrictions for operating a motorized vessel: According to California Harbors and Navigation Code Section 658.5, NO person under 16 years of age may operate a boat with a motor of more than 15 horsepower, except for a sailboat that does not exceed 30 feet in length or a dinghy used directly between a moored boat and the shore (or between two moored boats).

*National Association of State Boating Law Administrators (NASBLA)

The following boating safety course providers are the only ones approved by the State of California and the National Association of State Boating Law Administrators. Click on the provider name for course details.

Successfully completing a course from one of the providers below, and passing the exam, meets the qualifications to apply for a California Boater Card.
https://californiaboatercard.com/courses/

Sign up for California Boater Card Courses

https://californiaboatercard.com/course ... am-america


Courses information
The following boating safety courses are the only courses approved by the State of California and the National Association of State Boating Law Administrators. The fee charged is determined solely at the discretion of the course provider. The Division of Boating and Waterways does not receive any money from course fees charged. Some online courses are free and others have a fee.

Successfully completing a course from one of the providers below, and passing the exam, meets the qualifications to apply for a California Boater Card.

Ace Boater
Name of course: Safe Boating Course
Course Type: Online
Course Cost: $29.95
Customer Service: 1.800.607.2329
Certified through 2023


America’s Boating Club/U.S. Power Squadrons
Name of course: America’s Boating Course
Course Type: Classroom/Online
Course Cost: Varies
Customer Service: 1.888.367.8777
Certified through 2024

Boat Ed
Name of course: Boat California Course
Course Type: Online
Course Cost: $39.95
Customer Service: 1.800.830.2268
Certified through 2024
Boater Exam America

Name of course: California Boater Education Course
Course Type: Online
Course Cost: $34.95
Customer Service: 1.866.764.2628
Certified through 2023

BOATsmart!
Name of course: BOATsmart! Boating Course
Course Type: Online
Course Cost: $34.95
Customer Service: 1.877.655.7778
Certified through 2024

BoatTests101
Name of course: California Boater Education
Course Type: Online (English & Spanish)
Course Cost: $24.00
Customer Service: 1.888.885.8830
Certified through 2023

BoatU.S. Foundation
Name of course: BoatU.S. Online Boating Safety Course
Course Type: Online
Course Cost: None
Customer Service: 1.800.245.2628
Certified through 2025

California Division of Boating and Waterways
Name of course: California Course for Safe Boating
Course Type: Home study/Ebook
Course cost: None
Customer Service: 1.888.362.2822
Certified through 2024

ilearntoboat
Name of course: Boat California Interactive Course
Course Type: Online/Interactive
Course Cost: $54.95
Customer Service: 1.800.830.2268
Certified through 2022

Safe2Boat
Name of course: Fastest Boat Course Allowed
Course Type: Online
Course Cost: $27.95
Customer Service: 1.800.810.3446
Certified through 2025

U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary
Name of course: Boat America: A Course on Responsible Boating
Course Type: Classroom
Course Cost: Varies
Customer Service: 1.877.875.6296
Certified through 2023

Name of course: Boating Skills and Seamanship
Course Type: Classroom
Course Cost: Varies
Customer Service: 1.877.875.6296
Certified through 2023

US Sailing/US Powerboating
Name of course: Basic Powerboat Cruising
Course Type: Classroom/On-the-water
Course Cost: Varies
Customer Service 1.401.683.0800
Certified through 2022

Name of course: Safe Powerboat Handling
Course Type: Classroom/On-the-water
Course Cost: Varies
Customer service: 1.401.683.0800
Certified through 2022

The exceptions to the card make no sense. You don’t need a card if you rent a boat and you don’t need one if there’s someone else in the boat who has one and is supervising you. Why not
let someone drive a rental car with no license or drive your car with no license, as long as you’re in the car.

It is definitely silly business, these cards. I am due at the end 2024. But I took advice from another old guy and tried the thing online. I used the Boat US course, it was $27. While sipping bourbon in my lazy boy, I took the course, did the quizzes then passed the final test in one evening. My little blue card arrived within a week.

If we go down several years and find boating fatalities are down, then maybe the thing did something good. We will see.

But I was disappointed there was not much in the course about actual safe boat operation. Most of the stuff was about life jacket types, jet ski regulations, fueling on the water and marker bouy identification. There was a little bit about quartering waves when you are caught on the big ones at Clear Lake and other places. But nothing about chine walking, proposing, or tacking in big water, or not driving between the angler fishing and the shore.

After over 40 years of safe boating in all tournament situations, and all weathers, I am now certified "safe" but the State of California. Very comforting.

What is the penalty for not having this card? Infraction? Misdemeanor? FELONY??
Who shall enforce this nonsense?

is the card plastic or paper thanks happy new year

GEORGE D. wrote: ↑Thu Dec 28, 2023 11:00 pm is the card plastic or paper thanks happy new year

Plastic

Nothing against this program but I would love to hear if anyone has been asked to present this card to a Peace Officer during a contact while boating. Wildlife Officer, Sheriff's Deputy, State Park Ranger, etc?

MT wrote: ↑Thu Dec 28, 2023 5:48 pm What is the penalty for not having this card? Infraction? Misdemeanor? FELONY??
Who shall enforce this nonsense?

Apparently it's an infraction. Fines listed for first 3 "offenses". $100, $250, and $500 in that order. Each time you shall be ordered to complete the course and obtain your card. Wonder what they do the fourth time they catch ya.

MT wrote: ↑Tue Jan 02, 2024 2:06 pm Nothing against this program but I would love to hear if anyone has been asked to present this card to a Peace Officer during a contact while boating. Wildlife Officer, Sheriff's Deputy, State Park Ranger, etc?

Last Memorial Day at Lake Almanor, DFG and park rangers were checking boater cards and kids life jackets.

Just another BS Calif. chain yank

Emailed the state. They sent me the test in the mail. Took about an hour. 5 bucks for boater card and done.