California Boaters cards

[svlperry]

Who’s got them.

 

[4Waters]

 

[Singleton]

Broke down and did that last year

 

[SKIDMARC]

Yup

 

[dread Pirate]

My 16 and 19yr old boys. Guess my wife needs to get hers? I believe I'm too old.

 

[WildHorses24]

Broke down and did that last year

FYI... send the certificate to State Farm... should qualify you for a boater safety discount on your boat insurance

 

[4Waters]

FYI... send the certificate to State Farm... should qualify you for a boater safety discount on your boat insurance

It did for AAA

 

[Singleton]

FYI... send the certificate to State Farm... should qualify you for a boater safety discount on your boat insurance

It does. I took a online course when I got my boat back in 2007 - nice discount

 

[Ultra...Good]

is this a hallmark thing? oops, Missed CA. just another tax scam. carry on.

 

[BingerFang]

is this a hallmark thing? oops, Missed CA. just another tax scam. carry on.

Need one in Florida as well. Coming to a state near you

 

[Ultra...Good]

Need one in Florida as well. Coming to a state near you

they have it in my state, just decades after I was born. what is learned from these classes are just like most of the rest; you can learn just as much by checking a book out from that book hav-in and borrowin place.

 

[Mikes56]

I’ve got one, I’m 61 years old.

 

[DWC]

Anyone ever been asked for one?

 

[Icky]

My wife and I have ours

 

[Bullet28]

I have mine but no boat for now.

 

[Desert Whaler]

I took the Power Squadron Class in 2004 . . . . it says if you have that card you don't need to take the CA test.
I lost the card over the years, so I reached out to the Power Squadron for a replacement . . . . and of course they have no record of it.
Fack . . .

 

[rrrr]

I got mine in 1994. I always have to laugh at those that criticize and deny the need for these classes. I'd bet 90% of the people that take the class don't know shit about the rules of navigation, anchor rode scope, and other relevant topics.

 

[RIVERBORN]

Got one, knee surgery 2 years ago. Seemed like a good time.
Hope I never get asked for it.
And yea, coming to a state near you. I imagine one day it will be asked for at the launch ramp. In all reality, it should be. And no I’m not a crazy Karen that hates boaters having fun, lol. The speed of these boats, and the ignorance of new owners is crazy.
Fire away…..mind the fact I’ve probably been in more trouble doing dumb stuff then most.

 

[Lumpy]

Got it three years ago….If ya need one go here…Follow the InStRuCtIoNs toooo0000ooooo ThE T

California Boating Safety Course

The BoatUS Foundation's Online Course is the only FREE Online Boating Safety Course approved by the California State Parks Division of Boating and Waterways.

boatus.org

 

[Wedgy]

Drivers Ed for Boaters lol. Maybe they should teach that in all the High Schools. Like Driver's Ed. After all they never gave us any money back for when they quit teaching Driver's Training. Right?

Then, after they cancel football, Dad's could pick up the slack, and start fishing teams. But by then it will probably be too late. Fishing will be banned. Waay too much toxic masculinity.

 

[DWC]

is this a hallmark thing? oops, Missed CA. just another tax scam. carry on.

Apparently it’s very important. . I’m waiting for the California Bicycle license to come out as well. I’ll knock them out the same day.

PS. They’re so critical that you can rent a boat without one.

 

[samsah33]

I got one with my teen daughter a few years back when she asked to learn to drive the boat. Did the free course, it was a good father/daughter project. I used it once to rent a boat in FL on vacation...

 

[DarkHorseRacing]

I only got it when it finally became mandatory for my age group.

While there were some nuggets in there that helped provide background to what I already knew (but didn’t know why), so much of it isn’t applicable to day time small lake boating. Stuff about ocean boating, sailboats etc were all info I’ll never use.

I wish rather than having to learn the entire scope, they could cut that down to Lakes Only Boaters Card or something.

 

[Singleton]

Anyone ever been asked for one?

Jinx if you answer this question.

 

[blueflaminhot]

I have one but not sure why tbh

 

[Bajastu]

I’ve had one since 2022 because I was under the 45 yo age group who was required to get one. Living in Canyon Lake, CA, I am forced to get one even though my boat is register to my house in AZ.

CA sucks balls.

 

[Bajastu]

Anyone ever been asked for one?

To register my boat in Canyon Lake, CA I had to present my card for registration. It was part of the boat safety inspection.

 

[The Capt]

I don’t need one, licensed capt.. Wife has one. But don’t worry you can rent boats and jet ski’s with out one.

 

[DarkHorseRacing]

So I’ll add that I boat on Havasu, which shouldn’t matter unless I get pulled over by CA LEO. I’d probably take my chances if I just boated there.

But where I also boat, Lake Arrowhead, they require you to show it as part of boat registration and there’s no getting around it. As a private lake they can set any rule they want.

Note also that Lake Arrowhead also requires its own boating license which covers the specific rules of this lake. So essentially I have to have two additional cards beyond a CA drivers license.

It’s nuts.

 

[svlperry]

Apparently you can take the course and fail the final and still get your card. It just happened to me.

 

[svlperry]

So I’ll add that I boat on Havasu, which shouldn’t matter unless I get pulled over by CA LEO. I’d probably take my chances if I just boated there.

But where I also boat, Lake Arrowhead, they require you to show it as part of boat registration and there’s no getting around it. As a private lake they can set any rule they want.

Note also that Lake Arrowhead also requires its own boating license which covers the specific rules of this lake. So essentially I have to have two additional cards beyond a CA drivers license.

It’s nuts.

Same here spring valley lake

 

[4Waters]

Anyone ever been asked for one?

Yup, told them I don't need it yet because I was born in '76, this was a few years ago.

 

[Mototrig]

I have mine CA

 

[outboard_256]

I did it when it first came out. Get it out of the way. Was pretty easy for a boat guy. Hardest part was learning the flags and such. But if you don't know your port from aft then it might be a little challenging.

 

[4Waters]

I did it when it first came out. Get it out of the way. Was pretty easy for a boat guy. Hardest part was learning the flags and such. But if you don't know your port from aft then it might be a little challenging.

Flags? I only remember them asking what the Diver Down flag was when I took it, now my course asked a lot of questions about Intracoastal Waterways and their markers, that was difficult for me

 

[DarkHorseRacing]

Flags? I only remember them asking what the Diver Down flag was when I took it, now my course asked a lot of questions about Intracoastal Waterways and their markers, that was difficult for me

Did you miss the entire section on semaphore??

Please tell me you didn’t skip the section on Morse code, and how to make an SOS out of palm fronds on the deserted island you wind up shipwrecked on!

 

[Wedgy]

IDK, they say knowledge is power. How about, red right returning.

Missing the channel marker, and plowing through the mud, luckily recognizing your mistake. the only way you saved it was slowing down to the 25 mph beforehand, having read the chart, knowing just where in TF you were, realizing "I'm a dumbass," trimming TF UP stat, and making for the channel adding throttle like there was no tomorrow. Sweetwater River into Chula Vista Marina. Big Whoop. On the water, Shit gets' real. Fast. Bet most on here have rescued people more than once.

Try it on Mojave, Havasu, at dusk not warm, distress call comes over the radio, if you even have one, vessel sinking.
Whaddaya gonna do...

 

[4Waters]

Did you miss the entire section on semaphore??

Please tell me you didn’t skip the section on Morse code, and how to make an SOS out of palm fronds on the deserted island you wind up shipwrecked on!

Well, I got my card so if I skipped a section it wasn't necessary

 

[78Southwind]

I don't need one, I only boat on the Arizona side of the river.

 

[Hardly Satisfied]

wife and I just got ours

 

[Fun Times]

Yup, told them I don't need it yet because I was born in '76, this was a few years ago.

Which lake?
Was it before going out at the launch ramp or while boating?

 

[707dog]

yes... my 16 yr old is in the process of taking his now

 

[4Waters]

Which lake?
Was it before going out at the launch ramp or while boating?

Castiac, at the gate

 

[Mikes56]

I’ll probably get lambasted for this, but I think it’s a good idea that you must have one in CA.

Before I retired I was a Deputy Sheriff on the patrol boat at Castaic and Pyramid Lakes. You wouldn’t believe the idiots that showed up there and didn’t have a clue on how to operate a boat or PWC, or know the lake rules as far as direction of travel, gotta have a life vest on when you’re operating your PWC, etc. There were family’s of 10 people that would show up with one PWC and create havoc. Pyramid specifically because the jet skis were mixed in with the boats. The lake would be at full capacity with 150 vessels on the water and many of the PWC operators didn’t speak English so there was no way to explain the rules of the road to them. The Boater Safety Card requirement enabled us to terminate their voyage and make them remove their vessel from the water before they killed someone or themselves.

I see boating stupidity at Lake Havasu too, but it’s not so critical because it’s a huge lake and a lot of room for error.

This may seem harsh but when you’ve handled a few fatal boating accidents and seen family‘s go home without their boat and a couple family members, you look at things differently.

 

[4Waters]

I’ll probably get lambasted for this, but I think it’s a good idea that you must have one in CA.

Before I retired I was a Deputy Sheriff on the patrol boat at Castaic and Pyramid Lakes. You wouldn’t believe the idiots that showed up there and didn’t have a clue on how to operate a boat or PWC, or know the lake rules as far as direction of travel, gotta have a life vest on when you’re operating your PWC, etc. There were family’s of 10 people that would show up with one PWC and create havoc. Pyramid specifically because the jet skis were mixed in with the boats. The lake would be at full capacity with 150 vessels on the water and many of the PWC operators didn’t speak English so there was no way to explain the rules of the road to them. The Boater Safety Card requirement enabled us to terminate their voyage and make them remove their vessel from the water before they killed someone or themselves.

I see boating stupidity at Lake Havasu too, but it’s not so critical because it’s a huge lake and a lot of room for error.

This may seem harsh but when you’ve handled a few fatal boating accidents and seen family‘s go home without their boat and a couple family members, you look at things differently.

I see it all the time as well and agree with you but unfortunately they are still idiots even with their card, however renters should be required to have it as well. All the card does is takes away the I didn't know excuse, if you have your card then you should know

 

[Desert Whaler]

If you live in SoCal and your work is weather dependent . . . . this week may be a good time to take the online test since I guess it takes a few hours.

 

[LazyLavey]

Need one in Florida as well. Coming to a state near you

my Cali card was accepted in Fl last year. Required for rental..

 

[LazyLavey]

Flags? I only remember them asking what the Diver Down flag was when I took it, now my course asked a lot of questions about Intracoastal Waterways and their markers, that was difficult for me

I had to screen shot a few of the pages for "future reference"

 

[charred1]

I got mine a couple years ago. Wasn’t happy about it, but I learned a few things.

 

[Albert]

Yup got it now I know everything about kayaks