Course Descriptions

NYS Boating & PWC Safety Course - This is the NYS Approved 8 hour classroom Course that you can earn your Boating and Mandatory Personal Watercraft certificate. Study Material Included.-

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Private Classes - This is a Private NYS Approved 8 Hour Course is given at your Location, Business, Office, Marina, School, Church, Library, etc. Must be Held at a public accessible location. (Cannot be held at a private home). 14 day advance notice needed. Minimum 6 students - Price determined on amount of students and Travel time.-

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Hands On At The Helm on the Water - This on water private course on your boat custom to your boat. From pre-departure to securing the last line at arrival. Different courses available depending on your needs such as Docking & Close Quarter control to Open Water and Navigation.-

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FOR MORE INFO PLEASE CALL CAPTAIN RICK 718-956-5000

OR EMAIL INFO@USBOATSCHOOL.COM

Hands On Training

CQ101 Close Quarter Maneuvering and Precise Docking 6-12 hours

This course is a hands on behind the helm powerboat handling course designed specifically for those who wish to improve their close quarters maneuvering and precise docking skills. This 12 hour program is conducted onboard your vessel or one of US Boat School’s training vessels, up to 36’. It is taught by professional, US Coast Guard licensed Master captains who are also certified Instructors in close quarter maneuvering and docking. We use the progressive method of teaching. The skills learned in this class are fundamental requirements for the competent boater. It is designed as a stand alone program. Successful completion of CQ 101 earns the student certification on either a twin or single inboard vessel or an outboard/stern drive vessel. This valuable program is highly regarded by both experienced and novice boaters alike. Prerequisites - None

Course Description

The course is conducted over 2 days and includes 12 hours of underway instruction on either a: Single or twin inboard vessel Outboard or I/O. Your course begins with a dockside vessel orientation and pre-departure inspection followed by close quarters maneuvering practice including:

Docking and undocking in a protected slip bow and stern first
360 degree turns in tight Quarters
Coming alongside a facing pier (such as a fuel dock) both port and starboard
Backing down 100 yards in a narrow channel
Docking bow and stern first with only one engine operable
Docking and undocking using spring lines.

Instructors will also cover:

Vessel refueling safety Procedures
Proper use of a VHF marine
Understanding and using Navigational Aids
Basic Rules of the Road

Admission Persons attending this program must be at least 15 years of age, submit a properly completed and signed Registration Form and have an official photo ID on the first day of class. Each class requires a minimum of three (3) stu-dents. Should you be the only student in the class requesting a particular vessel type, such as I/O, you will receive private, hands-on underway instruction on a six hour schedule.

OW101— Open water and Anchoring 3 hours

Course Description:

Seamanship & Safety Includes seamanship under power
Rules of the Road — boating laws and regulations, operating your boat safely
Basic Knots and line handling
Navigation - includes aids to navigation, basic chart navigation
Electronics - Brief review on how to use a marine VHF radio depth sounder and GPS unit.
Procedures for conducting a pre-departure vessel check out and an overview of routine preventive vessel maintenance

Training includes classroom and underway boat handling. This intensive 12 hour course may be taken as a stand alone program or as part of the CB 101 training and certification course.

Legal Requirements & Regulations:

Boat Registration Hull Identification Safety Equipment Getting Underway Preparation Float Plan
Leaving the dock or pier Skipper’s responsibility Operating Your Boat
Basic Rules of the Road Vessel Right of Way Aids to Navigation On the Water Skills
Boat handling practice at the Helm Anchoring Choosing location Selecting anchors Special Topics Marlinspike (knots & lines)
Weather Hypothermia Ski signals Environmental Issues

The program will include 8 hours of class time and 4 hours of on-the -water skills practice.

FAQ - Frequently Asked Questions

No. You would have 120 days in which to complete a course if you are required to have a certificate.

No. If you are at least 18 years old, you may rent without completing a course. The livery should demonstrate how to properly use the boat before renting it however. Persons under the age of 18 may only rent a motorboat if they hold a safety certificate.

Private courses can only be set up with a mandatory fourteen day notice at public locations such as office - business - marina - school - church – hall, etc. For more info Call 718-956-5000 or send a request online. Private Course Inquiry

Yes. Because the New York Safe Boating Course is NASBLA approved it is accepted in other states and Canada.

Please complete and print the Application for Replacement NY Safe Boating Certificate and mail it to the address indicated on the form with a check or money order for $10. Please allow three to four weeks for processing. If you lost your temporary certificate you will have to wait until your permanent certificate is issued. Temporary certificates cannot be replaced.

After completing the program your instructor should have given you two sheets; a white temporary certificate that you should carry while waiting for your permanent certificate and a yellow copy as well. The yellow copy should be sent to State Parks along with your $10 fee for processing your permanent certificate. State Parks cannot issue a permanent certificate to you until we receive the yellow copy and your fee. If you are less than 18 years old, your instructor should have only given you the white temporary certificate. The instructor is responsible for mailing the yellow copies for those students under the age of 18 to State Parks. In all cases, the permanent certificate will be issued by State Parks.

Yes, provided you still have a copy of your original certificate, and you were under the age of 18 at the time. Records do not exist for courses taught prior to the early 1990's.

If convicted of a first violation you can be fined not less than $100 or no more than $250, or by imprisonment for not more than seven days, or by both fine and imprisonment. For a second conviction, fines and imprisonment terms increase.

New Law Effective May 1st 2014
All individuals born on or after 5/1/96 are now required to successfully complete an approved course in boater education in order to operate a motorboat.

Operators may not operate a Personal Watercraft (JetSki, SeaDoo, etc.) unless they are at least 14 years of age and hold a boater safety certificate issued by State Parks, the USCG Auxiliary or the US Power Squadron for having completed a an 8-hour classroom based course of instruction. A person without a safety certificate may operate a PWC when accompanied by someone over 18 years of age who is the holder of a boater safety certificate. For the purposes of this section, "accompanied" shall mean upon the same PWC.

There is no boating “license” in NYS. Unlike a license, a certificate is good for life. It does not need to be renewed regularly, as does a license. It is a NASBLA approved Course that is acceptable by most states. However, for an additional fee you can add your boating safety course completion seal to your driver’s license.

All operators of personal watercraft must have a Boating Safety Education Certificate in their possession to operate a personal watercraft.

A personal watercraft is a boat less than 16 feet in length that uses an internal combustion motor powering a water jet pump as its primary source of propulsion. It is designed to be operated by a person sitting, standing, or kneeling rather than in the conventional manner of boat operation. Personal watercraft are better known to the public by brand names that include Jet Ski®, Sea Doo®, Wave Runner®, Tiger Shark®, Wet Jet®, etc.

You need to successfully complete an 8 hour class by a NYS Certified Instructor or NASBLA approved boating course and accompanying examination. Schedules and course descriptions are listed on our course schedule and location page.

Boating course fees taught by USBOATSCHOOL.COM vary from location to location, a fee is often required. Fees are listed on the course schedule and location page. A separate fee of $10 is required for all candidates over 18 for NYS to send you a Boater Safety Card. Although Children 10-18 have to pay for the course, there is no fee for the NYS card. If you would like to add the boating safety course seal to your license then you have to send an additional $12.50.

Yes, Click on this link for NYS Textbook