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...

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...

Sound Signal Devices Sound signals are used to attract the attention of other boaters and to aid with navigation. A sound signalling device can be a whistle, a bell, a horn or a gong. All of these dev...

Back-Fire Flame Control Devices If your boat is gasoline-powered and has an inboard engine that was installed after April 1940, it must have a Back-Fire Flame Arrestor (BFA) mounted to each carburetor...

Life Jackets: Laws for Children The laws regarding children wearing life jackets vary by state. However, federal law requires any child 12 years of age or younger to wear a Coast Guard- approved Type ...

Life Jacket Laws Always have the right safety equipment onboard your boat. It’s one of the most important things you can do for boating safety and it’s the law. Federal law requires that all boats...

Your Boat’s Gross Load Capacity and Horsepower Recommendations You must be aware of the federal regulations for your boat’s engine power (horsepower) and gross load capacity (maximum weight). Acco...