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Boating Safety Course Requirements in NY & NJ — And Why It Should Be Mandatory Everywhere
  • By Capt. Ben Haddadnia
  • 24 May 2025

Boating Safety Course Requirements in NY & NJ — And Why It Should Be Mandatory Everywhere

If you're boating in New York or New Jersey, there's one thing you can't afford to ignore—boating safety education. Both states have recognized how critical it is to ensure that operators know the rules of the water, how to handle emergencies, and most importantly, how to keep themselves and others safe. At BoatnCrew.com, we strongly support these efforts—and believe it’s time to push for these requirements on all bodies of water, everywhere.

Boating Safety in New York: It’s the Law

New York’s Brianna’s Law, passed in memory of an 11-year-old girl who tragically died in a boating accident, is being phased in to require all motorboat operators, regardless of age, to complete a state-approved boating safety course by 2025.

Key Requirements:

  • As of 2025, all operators of motorized boats in New York must complete a boating safety course.
  • You must carry your boating safety certificate while operating.
  • Courses can be taken in person or online from approved providers.

Boating Safety in New Jersey: Smart and Strict

New Jersey requires anyone born after January 1, 1979 to complete a New Jersey Boating Safety Certificate to operate a power vessel on non-tidal waters (like lakes and rivers).

Key Points:

  • Personal watercraft (like Jet Skis) operators must complete a boating safety course regardless of age.
  • The course includes topics such as navigation rules, emergency procedures, and legal responsibilities.
  • Both classroom and online options are available.

Why This Should Be Mandatory Nationwide — On All Waters

The reality is simple: boating can be dangerous without the right knowledge. We have traffic laws and licensing requirements for the road, yet too often, boating remains loosely regulated—especially on smaller or private waterways.

Here’s why safety courses should be a universal requirement:

  • Accidents are preventable. Most boating accidents involve operator error or lack of awareness about right-of-way and navigation rules.
  • Shared waterways mean shared responsibility. Whether it’s a lake, bay, or river, there are always other people around—swimmers, kayakers, anglers, and other boaters.
  • Confidence saves lives. Knowing how to react to an engine failure, a person overboard, or a sudden weather change makes all the difference.
  • Professionalism matters. If you’re a captain or crew member, showing that you’ve completed safety training builds credibility with employers and clients.

What BoatnCrew.com Recommends

At BoatnCrew.com, we connect captains, crew, and boat owners around the world—and we believe boating safety education is essential for everyone, regardless of location or experience level.

Whether you're cruising the Hudson, working the Jersey Shore, or taking tourists out in the Caribbean, completing a certified boating safety course should be the baseline.

If you haven’t already, get certified. And if you're hiring crew or renting out vessels, make certification a requirement. It's not just about compliance—it's about building a safer, smarter boating community.

Safety courses:

https://uscgboating.org/recreational-boaters/boating-safety-courses.php

Stay safe. Stay smart. And always respect the water.

— The BoatnCrew.com Team