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Boat Safety- Boating Licenses and Certificates
When it comes to owning a boat, you need to license your
vessel before you can set sail. You need to contact the boating and watercraft
department in whichever state you’re registering your boat in. as for
licensing yourself and having the necessary certification to operate a boat, the
requirements vary from one state to the next. You might be required to obtain an
actual boating license, but very few states actually require that level of
expertise and legality. Most states simply require you to take a boating course
and pass a written test, at which point you are given a certificate stating that
you passed the test so that you can legally operate your boat.
You should NEVER operate a boat without certification,
because you never know when an accident might happen or you might get checked on
by the coast guard or other water authorities. Additionally, many insurance
companies won’t even insure your boat unless you can produce the certification
that you took the necessary class, because that makes it a really high risk when
an uncertified driver is operating a boat. It’s a liability to them, but
it’s also a liability to you; take the time to take the class, and you’ll be
wiser for it.
What types of boating licensure and certificates you have
might even lower your insurance rates to some extent. For example, if you take
classes on various types of boats and boat information above and beyond what is
required by the law, you’ll show that you’re a lower risk because you’re
more prepared and informed. This will help you to get lower insurance rates with
many boat insurance companies. You need to take care of your personal licensing
and education before you actually buy a boat, so that you’re ready to set sail
once you get your boat. Once you purchase the boat, the dealer will usually
provide you with a temporary registration, just like if you were buying a car.
You need to get this temporary registration replaced as soon as you possibly can, so that you’re able to enjoy your boat without worrying about the technicalities and legalities of boat ownership. By being an informed and prepared boat owner, you can have a much better boating experience than many people who don’t take the time to learn what they need to know.
Submitted by: michelle
Hits: 0
Added: Wed Nov 26 2008
