Saratoga County Sheriff’s Office: All Recreational Boaters Now Required to Have Safety Certificate

SARATOGA COUNTY — The Saratoga County Sheriff’s Office issued a statement regarding changes in New York State’s boating law.

As of Jan. 1, 2025, all recreational boaters, including personal watercraft (PWC), are required to have a boating safety certificate. 

Operators of non-motorized boats such as kayaks and canoes, are not required to have a boating safety certificate at this time. 

The sheriff’s office points out that while people may have operated a fishing boat or family recreational boat for several years, a New York State Boater Safety Certificate/Operator Card is now required. Boat operators are required to carry their safety certificate whenever they go on the water. Optionally, an anchor icon may be added to a New York State driver’s license. 

The New York Safe Boating Course teaches basic boating skills and encourages common sense and courtesy on the water. Boaters can earn their certificate by taking a classroom course with certified New York state instructors or through approved online courses. 

Certificates are issued by the United States Coast Guard Auxiliary, a volunteer organization that supports the Coast Guard in all its nonmilitary, and non-law enforcement missions, America’s Boating Club, a national organization dedicated to boating safety and education, and US Powerboating, a national authority for powerboat training and education. Note, a National Association of State Boating Law Administrator-certified course from another state is recognized in New York.

BoatUS Foundation at https://www.boatus.org/newyork provides a certified online course that is free and recognized by New York. Other sources for the course include Drive-A-Boat-USA; their $59.95 fee includes the course, exam, and boating safety certificate, including unlimited attempts to complete the exam. There are a variety of options for online boating safety courses, such as Boat-Ed and Ace Boater for $39.95, BOAT smart and BOATERexam for $34.95, and the New York Quick Boater Course is available for $34.95 at newyorkboatingcard.com.