rtaylor

Is there any mandatory license or safety course one must have to operate a boat in florida? About 8 years ago i got pulled over on my way back to a dock after my navigation light burnt out and the cop said that if i didnt take a safety course and ever got pulled over again in florida i cold get into trouble. i never did bother looking into it, but since im thinking of moving to florida i thought id throw this out there.

thanks

randy

Iggy

There's no law in Florida that, except for PWCs, requires a person to take a boating course.
Children above the age of 13 have to take a certified safe boating course and carry a certificate to operate a PWC.
There was at one time a proposal to have all boaters take and pass the boating course before the state would renew your registration. I don't think it went anywhere.

tanner

If you are over 70 and driving in the intracoastal, you just need to stay in the LEFT side of the water so the manatees' can pass you on the right

CigDaze

The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission currently has a mandatory boater education requirement that has been law since October 1, 1996 requiring all boaters 21 years old and younger to have the Florida boating license on board when the vessel is underway to satisfy the Florida boating regulations.

Anyone 21 yrs of age or under, operating a PWC* or a power boat of 10 hp or more is required to have passed an approved boater education course.

The minimum age when one is legally permitted to operate a PWC or powered motorboat 10hp and over is 14 yrs old.

Once an operator of a vessel reaches 22 years of age, there are no more restrictions, and they are no longer required to have the card.

http://www.boaterexam.com/usa/florida/regulations.aspx

Oh Deere

Great response Tanner!