What the heck were you waiting for? You knew this day would come and if you weren’t aware that you must have a N.Y.S. Boating Certificate by now…. Well, it’s time to take an axe and stave your boat’s hull now. Why? Because you are not aware enough to operate anything more than in-line roller skates! And let me remind you that they only work on land.
I am surprised this has taken so long to come to pass. There have been so many deadly boating accidents over the last four decades. In addition, boats have become faster, larger, and frankly uglier in recent times. Newbie boaters purchase boats and then jump right on them by loading on their entire family back in past four generations and then tear down the canal and rip across the bay, other boaters be damned.
As of JANUARY 1, 2025, every boater must have a BOATING SAFETY CERTIFICATE ON THEM when operating a motor-powered boat or jet ski. No if and buts! No exceptions! No “What certificate? Nobody told me.” Without it, bay constables, marine police, and the coast guards can halt your vessel (That’s a different word for boat.) and they can give you a summons with a hefty fine and can order you to put the boat right into the nearest shore, secure it, abandon the boat and there you are with all your relatives shouting at you that they’ve are getting devoured by green flies and mosquitoes while your elderly grandfather is swinging the 17 ft. boat hook (the one with three interchangeable heads, hook, brush, and gaff )at your head. You never saw him move so fast! By the way, I never understood those interchangeable brush heads. Hey! Gary, grab the boat hook, I have a fish on. Change it to the gaff head, it’s somewhere in the cabin. Hey, Gary, get the brush head-on to clean the fish scum off the deck before a clumsy rod slips. It’s in the cooler with the sandwiches. Hey! Gary, quick! Snap the boat hook back on, we’re almost home and I can’t get into the slip without the hook! He still hasn’t learned to control this boat, so I need it. What? It just fell overboard? Damn!
Sorry, I digress but I have Attention Deficit Disorder and I can go off on tangents once in a while.
Let’s get focused here! So how do you get said certificate? You must take the Boating Safety Certification Course given by The Coast Guard Auxiliary, New York State Parks, and other certified teachers.
You can Google the courses online and you can even take the course and test online. As an adult, once you pass and get your certification you can operate a power boat or jet ski. A certified 14-year-old can do the same. Children under 10 must be accompanied by an adult with a certification.
That’s it! Do it now or get out of boating because you are much too irresponsible to operate a boat or jet ski. It’s about time.
By the way, if you passed a time ago and lost your certificate you can obtain a fresh copy from – support@ilostmycard.com for a fee of just $10. A real bargain today when eggs cost $123 per dozen and all your expenses keep rising.
Be Safe.
Captain Eddy Smith
Copyright 2025 By Mark C. Nuccio, All rights reserved.
Contact Captain Eddie Smith – mark@designedge.net
(The Captain lives in Mark C. (Sea) Nuccio’s boat house)