In order to legally operate a motorized boat in the state of Alaska, you must obtain a Certificate of Number and validation decals (boat registration). The state of Alaska does not title boats. A Cert...

Serviceable Life Jackets and Personal Flotation Devices For your life jacket to be ‘serviceable’ it must meet the following requirements: It must be Coast Guard-approved. It must be free of tears...

Assisting Other Boaters If you encounter, or are involved in, a boat accident or if another boater is in distress, you are required to provide them with assistance, so long as helping them does not pl...

Hunters and Anglers as Boaters Hunters and anglers face a variety of safety rules and regulations. However, participants of these sports must remember that when they’re hunting or fishing from a boa...

Fighting a Boat Fire Boat fire emergencies can be caused by a number of factors, including: Engine malfunctions; A fire in the galley; Or, the insufficient ventilation of an enclosed engine compartmen...

Diving and Snorkeling With the diverse water ‘playgrounds’ that each state has to offer, exploring the underwater world is a fantastic experience! Just remember, whether you’re diving in a river...

The Navigation Rules: Disclaimer The navigation rules contained in this course summarize basic navigation rules for which a boat operator is responsible on inland waterways. Additional and much more i...

The Boat Operator’s Ultimate Responsibilities As the boat operator, you are completely responsible for: The operation of the boat. The safety of every passenger on board the boat. Any activities tha...

Boating and Alcohol Laws Unfortunately, boating under the influence (BUI) is a significant issue on American waterways. In fact, boating under the influence of alcohol or drugs is a factor in approxim...

Responsible boaters understand that every time they place a boat in the water, they risk polluting the marine environment. Keep the waters clean by following both the federal and state laws that are i...