When boating in florida who has the primary responsibility for the safety of all persons aboard

I was born on or after Jan. 1, 1988, and want to operate a boat in Florida.  Do I need a license?

In order to operate a motorboat of ten (10) horsepower or greater, Florida law requires anyone who was born on or after Jan. 1, 1988 to successfully complete an approved boating safety course and obtain a Boating Safety Education Identification Card issued by the FWC.

Florida does not have a "boating license." The Boating Safety Education Identification Card is proof of successful completion of the educational requirements and is valid for life.

I've heard there were some changes in the law regarding the requirements to operate a boat in Florida. What were the changes?

Effective Jan. 1, 2010, boat operators who were born on or after Jan. 1, 1988, must have a Florida Boating Safety Education Identification Card to operate a motorboat with 10 horsepower or more. The requirement to take an approved boating safety course and to obtain an FWC-issued identification card did not change, but the age threshold for the educational requirements is now be based on whether or not you were born on or after Jan. 1, 1988.

• The new law also created an exemption from the educational requirements for an operator if he or she is operating  a vessel within 90 days after the purchase of that vessel and has available for inspection aboard that vessel a bill of sale meeting all the requirements as established in Chapter 328.46(1), Florida Statutes.

Are some people who were born on or after Jan. 1, 1988 exempt from these boating safety educational requirements?

Yes, there are some exemptions. Below is a list of those exemptions.

• A person licensed by the U.S. Coast Guard as a master of a vessel.
• A person operating on a private lake or pond.
• An operator who is accompanied onboard by a person who is least 18 years old and possesses the required Boating Safety Education Identification Card, provided that person is attendant to and responsible for the safe operation of the vessel.
• An operator who is accompanied onboard by a person who is exempt from the educational requirements, provided that person is attendant to and responsible for the safe operation of the vessel.
• A nonresident who has in his or her possession proof that he or she has completed a NASBLA-approved boater safety course or equivalency examination from another state.
• A person is operating a vessel within 90 days after the purchase of that vessel and has available for inspection aboard that vessel a bill of sale meeting all the requirements as established in Chapter 328.46(1), Florida Statutes.
• A person operating a vessel within 90 days after completing an approved boating safety course, as required in Chapter 327.395(1), and has a photographic I.D. and a boater education course completion certificate showing proof of having completed the required boating safety education course. The course completion certificate must provide the student's first and last name, date of birth, and the date the course was successfully completed.  (Effective Oct. 1, 2011.)

I will be visiting Florida from another state and I want to rent a personal watercraft. How will these boating safety educational requirements apply to me?

As a nonresident, you must comply with the boating safety education requirements.  However, if you have proof in your possession that you have completed a boater safety course or equivalency exam that meets or exceeds Florida's requirements (usually in the form of a certificate or card), you would not need to have a Florida Boating Safety Education Identification Card. In addition, you would also be exempt if you met any of the other conditions for exemptions listed in the previous question.

I am an 18-year-old boater who just passed an approved online boating safety course and received a printed certificate of course completion. Do I still need to get a boating safety card?

Yes. In addition to the requirement to successfully complete an approved boating safety course, you must also have an FWC-issued Boating Safety Education Identification Card - along with a photo ID - in your possession to operate a motorboat of 10 horsepower or more. Effective Oct. 1, 2011, a course completion certificate for an approved course - along with a photo ID - can be used for up to 90 days from date of issue to operate a motorboat of 10 horsepower or more. (See the last frequently asked question for more details on requirements for certificate.)

I am 26 years of age and will be visiting Florida for a few days, but I don't have a Boating Safety Education Identification Card. How can I rent a boat?

If you are visiting from another state and you do not meet any of the conditions to be exempt from the boating safety education requirements, you can get a temporary certificate in order to rent a boat. These certificates are issued by vendors around the state. The temporary certificate is valid for 90 days and is not intended to be a permanent replacement for the Boating Safety Education Identification Card.

I received a temporary certificate from an FWC contractor. Can I send my Temporary Certificate to your office and exchange it for a Boating Safety Education Identification Card?

No. The Temporary Certificate is a certificate that allows an individual to temporarily meet Florida's boating education requirements. It is not a substitute for a Boating Safety Education Identification Card and is only valid for 90 days from the date it is issued.

If I am required to have a boating safety ID card to operate my boat and I just completed an approved boating safety course, can I operate my boat while I am waiting to receive my card?

Yes. If you are required to have an FWC-issued Boating Safety Education ID card in order to operate a boat and you have completed an approved boating safety course, the course completion certificate (along with a photo ID) can be used as proof of meeting the educational requirement.

To meet the legal requirement, the course completion certificate must have your first and last name, your date of birth and the date you successfully completed the course. You must have the certificate with you (along with a photo ID) while operating the boat. The course completion certificate can be used for up to 90 days and it is not a permanent replacement for the Boating Safety Education ID Card.

Questions and Answers for the Boater Test

1. Two boats are operating in the same general area. Who is responsible for avoiding a collision?

D.  the operator of the smaller vessel

2. What is the best way to avoid overloading your boat?

C. Don't exceed the limits listed on the capacity plate.

3. When you see red flag or buoy with a white diagonal stripe (divers-down symbol), you must:

D. Both A and C

4. Florida law requires a person born on or after January 1, 1988, who is operating a boat powered by a motor of 10 horsepower or greater on Florida waters to:

A. Successfully complete an approved boating safety course and to obtaining have on board a Florida Boating Safety Education ID Card and Photographic ID card.

5. What piece of equipment on a boat is most important in preventing propeller strike injuries?

B. Engine cut-off switch lanyard

6. A passenger on your boat falls overboard. What should you do FIRST?

A. Reduce speed, and throw the victim a PFD

7. What three ingredients are required to ignite a fire?

A. Oxygen, fuel, and heat

8. If you see a dead or distressed manatee, or one that is being harassed, you should:

A. report it to FWC Law Enforcement on VHF vChannel 16 or by phone at 1-888-404-3922

9. You see a buoy with both red and green bands. What does this buoy mark?

A. The junction of two channels

10. You see a white buoy with an orange square and black lettering. What does this buoy tell you?

A. Keep out

Which side of a boat has a red light at night?

A. Port (left)

11. Two boats are operating near each other. One of these boats must take early and substantial action to keep well away from the other boat. Which is the boat that must take action?

B. The give-way vessel

 12. When boating in Florida, who has the primary responsibility for the safety of all persons aboard a recreational boat?

A. Boat Operator

13. According to Florida law, PFD's (life jackets) on your vessel should be sized for which person on board?

D. its intended wearer

14. Which PFD's would be considered readily accessible?

A. PFD's located within easy reach of everyone on board

15. Which of these is a factor that determines if a speed is safe for your boat?

D. Hazard in the water

16. A PWC must be operated in a reasonable and prudent manner. It is illegal to:

D. All of the above

17. Under Florida law, which persons on board a PWC must wear a PFD (life jacket)?

A. Everyone on board

18. In Florida, which of the following is one of the legal requirements while operating a PWC?

C. Have a driver's license 

19. What is the most important thing to remember about steering a PWC?

D. You lose all steering control when the engine is idling or shut off

20. You are operating a PWC. What will happen if you shut off the engine?

D. You will keep going in the same directions with no steering control.

21. A PWC capsizes. What is the best way to roll the PWC to turn it upright?

Roll the PWC according to the decal on the craft.

22. Which of these is the most common cause of fatal boating accidents in Florida?

bad weather

 23. It is illegal to operate which of the following while impaired due to alcohol and/or drugs?

 D. All of the above

 24. Two boats are operating in the same general area. Who is responsible for avoiding a collision?

 D. the operator of the smaller boat

25. What is the important safety information found on a boat's capacity plate?

 D. maximum weight and/or number of people the boat can carry safely

26. When you see a red flag or buoy with a white diagonal stripe (divers-down symbol), you must:

D. both a and c

27. Operators required to have a Boating Safety Education ID Card must carry it along with a _____ on board.

B. photographic identification card

28. What piece of equipment on a boat is most important in preventing propeller strike injuries?

B. engine cut-off switch lanyard

29. Your boat gets swamped far from shore. What should you do?

A. Stay with the boat, and signal for help.

30. What should you do if the motor on your boat catches fire?

D. Shut off the fuel supply if possible.

31. Destruction of seagrass in aquatic preserves is a violation of Florida law and carries a penalty of up to _____.

D. 1000

32. You are traveling upstream on a river at dusk. You see a buoy with the number 5 and a flashing green light. What should you do?

A. Keep the buoy on your port (left) side.

33. You see a white buoy with orange markings and black lettering. What type of buoy is this?

D. regulatory marker

34. In addition to an all-round white light, which light or lights must power-driven vessels less than 65.6 feet (20 meters) long exhibit when underway between sunset and sunrise?

B. red and green sidelights

35. What should you do if you are operating a motorboat that is being overtaken by a sailboat?

C. Maintain present course and speed.

36. What should the operator of a stand-on vessel do when encountering a give-way vessel?

D. Maintain course and speed unless the give-way vessel does not take action.

37. Florida regulates boat speeds/operation in certain areas to:

D. All of the above

38. According to Florida law, which agency must approve PFDs (life jackets)?

C. United States Coast Guard

39. Where is the best place to put PFDs while you are out on your boat?

D. in an open bin near the passenger seats

40. Two boats are operating in the same general area. Who is responsible for maintaining a sharp lookout?

D. the operator of the smaller boat

41. Which of the following is legal when operating a PWC?

C. attaching the lanyard of a lanyard-type engine cut-off switch to the operator's PFD

42. Under Florida law, which persons on board a PWC must wear a PFD (life jacket)?

A. everyone on board

43. Florida law prohibits anyone under the age of _____ from operating a personal watercraft (PWC):

C. 14

44. What is needed for steering control on a PWC?

D. power to the jet drive

45. What happens when a PWC's steering control is turned to the right?

B. The back of the PWC is pushed to the left, and the PWC turns right.

46. Boaters under 21 years of age who are found with a measurable breath alcohol level of _____ or higher are in violation of Florida law.

0.02

47. The Florida Boater Education Temporary Certificate is valid for _____ months from the date of completion, is non-transferable, and cannot be exchanged for the Florida Boating Safety Education ID Card.

12 Months

48. What is the main function of an engine cut-off switch?

A. to shut off the engine if the operator is thrown overboard

49. What should you do to reduce the risk of capsizing or swamping your boat in rough water?

Anchor from the stern.

50. What three ingredients are required to ignite a fire?

A. oxygen, fuel, and heat

51. Harassing, hunting, capturing, or killing any marine mammal, such as a manatee, is a violation of Florida law and punishable by up to:

52. You are traveling upstream on a river at dusk. You see a buoy with the number 4 and a flashing red light. What should you do?

Keep the buoy on your starboard (right) side.

53. One type of marker is used to warn boaters not to pass between the marker and the shore. What color is this marker?

white with black vertical stripes

54. What color is a boat's sternlight?

C. white

55. A motorboat is approaching a sailboat head-on. What should the motorboat do?

A. Take early action to keep well away from the sailboat.

56. You encounter another boat. You assess the situation and determine that you are the give-way vessel. What must you do?

B. Take early and substantial action to keep well away. 

57. You encounter another boat. You assess the situation and determine that you are the give-way vessel. What must you do?

B. Take early and substantial action to keep well away.

58. According to Florida regulations regarding obstructions to navigation, it is illegal to attach your vessel to which of the following?

A. a lateral buoy or non-lateral marker

 59. According to Florida law, PFDs (life jackets) on your vessel should be sized for which person on board?

D. its intended wearer

60. Where is the best place to put PFDs while you are out on your boat?

D. in an open bin near the passenger seats

61. What is your primary responsibility when other boats are in your area?

D. to keep a proper lookout and avoid a collision

62. Which of the following is legal when operating a PWC?

C. attaching the lanyard of a lanyard-type engine cut-off switch to the operator's PFD

 63. In Florida, which is these is NOT legal on a PWC?

B. wearing an inflatable PFD

 64. In Florida, what is the minimum legal age required to sign a contract to rent a personal watercraft (PWC)?

D. 18

 65. What is the most important thing to remember about steering a PWC?

D. You lose all steering control when the engine is idling or shut off.

 66. You are operating a PWC. You are heading straight toward a dock. You turn the engine off and then turn the steering control hard right. Which way will the PWC go?

A. It will continue straight toward the dock.

 67. Which part of a PWC is dangerous to your hands, feet, and hair?

A. drive shaft

By law in the State of Florida, anyone born on or after January 1, 1988,who operates a vessel powered by 10 horsepower or more must pass an approved boater safety course and have in his/her possession photographic identification and a boating safety education identification card issued by the FWC or a Florida boater education temporary certificate issued by an authorized vendor.