CLARITY: As of January 1, 2022, all recreational boaters, age 45 and younger, must now obtain a California Boater Card.
This law does not apply to operators of paddle boats, row boats and sail boats. It also does not apply if you are only renting the motorized vessel.
However, owners of personal watercraft such as Jet Skis and Sea Doos must now carry a card.
California has been phasing in this requirement for several years. The ‘phase-in’ plan is as follows:
January 1, 2018 – Persons 20 years of age or younger
January 1, 2019 – Persons 25 years of age or younger
January 1, 2020 – Persons 35 years of age or younger
January 1, 2021 – Persons 40 years of age or younger
January 1, 2022 – Persons 45 years of age or younger
January 1, 2023 – Persons 50 years of age or younger
January 1, 2024 – Persons 60 years of age or younger
January 1, 2025 – All persons regardless of age
Those required to receive the card must first pass an eight-hour Boat America safety course.
The course is run by the U.S. Coast Guard and is approved by the State of California and the National Association of State Boating Law Administrators.
The course covers introduction to boating, boating law, safety equipment, safe boating practices, navigation, common problems, towing, storing and protecting your boat, and guidelines for fishing, water skiing and river boating.
The course costs $25, which includes a textbook and your certificate.
Some have expressed concern about how to physically carry the card in, and around, the water. The cards are often placed in water-tight plastic pouches and hung around the neck.
As of January 2022, if you are over 45, you do not need a card.
For the time being, the cards do not expire and you do not have to pay to have it renewed.
What are you thoughts about the California Boating Card? Leave a comment below.
