• Boating safety classes are available throughout New York State.outboard motor boat image by Wimbledon from Fotolia.com
  
  The United States Coast Guard states that during 2007, 688 people died in boating accidents (see Reference 4). New York State law requires all people over age 14 to have a safety certificate if they operate a personal watercraft. Everyone between age 10 and age 18 must have a certificate to operate any boat. Anyone operating a watercraft without the required certificate may be fined or imprisoned for up to seven days. Courses in New York are approved by the National Association of State Boating Law Administrators (NASBLA). NASBLA-approved certificates are legally valid in all other states and Canada (see Reference 3, FAQ).
  
  

New York Boating Safety

• New York Boating Safety operates classes in Nassau and Suffolk counties, as well as in Brooklyn, Queens and Manhattan. Private classes are also available at student homes or offices. Students earn a New York State Safe Boater certificate upon completion of the course. Instructors are New York State and U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary certified. Topics include general boating knowledge, how to handle accidents, navigation, registration and safety issues and repairs.
  
  New York Boating Safety
  
  321 Arthur Street
  
  Freeport, NY 11520
  
  516-909-0784
  
  nyboatingsafety.com (see Reference 1)
  
  

The New York Safe Boating Course

• The New York State Office of Parks, Recreation & Historic Preservation sponsors boating safety courses throughout the state. Many of the classes are free. Students pay a fee to obtain their safety certificate upon completion of the course. Students must complete eight hours of classroom study.
  
  New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation
  
  Empire State Plaza
  
  Agency Building 1
  
  Albany, NY 12238
  
  518-474-0445
  
  nysparks.state.ny.us (See Reference 2)
  
  

Empire Boating Safety

• Empire Boating Safety conducts classes in Brooklyn, the Bronx, Manhattan, Queens and Staten Island, as well as Nassau and Suffolk counties. Students can take an eight-hour course or split the course into two sessions of four hours. Empire Boating Safety operates semi-private classes at its facility and will also teach private classes in the home. Public courses are also available. Students receive the New York State Boating and Jet Ski Safety Certificate upon completion of the class.
  
  Empire Boating Safety
  
  2618 Jerusalem Avenue
  
  Bellmoe, NY 11710
  
  516-713-1099
  
  empireboatingsafety.com (see Reference 3)