California Boaters License

[50onRED]

So I’ve heard people are getting checked when on the California side and in California waterways. Has anyone bit the bullet and taken the course just to get it over with? If so what provider did you use to take the test? The California website lists 10 or 15 different providers. Who should I use?

Sincerely,
Trapped in California…

 

[77charger]

az reg az resident f that ca boater course.

You can also say you rented the boat lol since a renter with no experience needs the card to drive a boat in ca

 

[50onRED]

az reg az resident f that ca boater course.

You can also say you rented the boat lol since a renter with no experience needs the card to drive a boat in ca

My sentiments exactly regarding CA. As for the rental idea, kinda difficult when the registration is in my name.

 

[Icky]

I used boatus

 

[svlperry]

Boatus u get a free year of towing when u go thru them

 

[brgrcru]

Boatus

 

[Bigbore500r]

I’ll pay the $100 fine before i jump thru any more bullshit hoops.

 

[50onRED]

I’ll pay the $100 fine before i jump thru any more bullshit hoops.

License cost $10. Not worth the hassle.

 

[Bigbore500r]

License cost $10. Not worth the hassle.

No voter Id……no boater Id

 

[stephenkatsea]

Knowing the rules and regs is not a bad thing. . . . Paying for recreational use of those rules and regs SUX.

 

[NicPaus]

I’ll pay the $100 fine before i jump thru any more bullshit hoops.

I heard it's $350

 

[50onRED]

Knowing the rules and regs is not a bad thing. . . . Paying for recreational use of those rules and regs SUX.

I 100% agree, I’ve been boating my entire life. Maybe Cali should focus on the retards out renting 80 mph Ski-Doos

 

[Fun Times]

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 and while though not required nor felt much pressure to do so, the only thing they asked was if you are able to Donate any amount you'd like other than the free option to click on too, they'd appreciate it was all while filling out the credit card payment segment while signing up.​

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.

www.boatus.org

 

[CoolCruzin]

But i

My sentiments exactly regarding CA. As for the rental idea, kinda difficult when the registration is in my name.

But if the boat has a loan on it the bank owns it . Sort of . …. So it a rental

 

[Boatymcboatface]

Heard they are cracking down on the boat ramps in San Diego friend said mission bay has a lot less boats. People getting boats impounded at the ramp.
Haven’t been back to lake perris this year but the website says they are checking all boaters as of the 1st of this year.

I’ve got the card so not really worried about it.

 

[SOCALCRICKETT]

Heard they are cracking down on the boat ramps in San Diego friend said mission bay has a lot less boats. People getting boats impounded at the ramp.
Haven’t been back to lake perris this year but the website says they are checking all boaters as of the 1st of this year.

I’ve got the card so not really worried about it.

Impound a boat for not having a boaters license???

But yet, with all the goofy PRCS laws you can steal a car, and walk with a citation??


Glad I moved out of that backwards state!!

 

[Echo Lodge]

Boatus

I used this too back in 2018. I did the test for everyone in my family. Put all the cards in my boat and emailed pics of the cards to myself so I can pull them up if ever requested. Lame!

 

[dribble]

Heard they are cracking down on the boat ramps in San Diego friend said mission bay has a lot less boats. People getting boats impounded at the ramp.
Haven’t been back to lake perris this year but the website says they are checking all boaters as of the 1st of this year.

I’ve got the card so not really worried about it.

And you actually believed that? If they were impounding boats it would be all over the news.

 

[Taboma]

And you actually believed that? If they were impounding boats it would be all over the news.

CBS Ran a story prior to Memorial Weekend back in 2022 and here's a quote from the San Diego Lifeguard Sargent being interviewed.

"More often than not, he says people don't know the rules. Starting this year, everyone 45 years old and younger must have a California Boater Card. Getting caught without one can be expensive
"If you're pulled over and you don't have a boater card your vessel will be impounded," Strobel said.
Sergeant Strobel said a boat impounded on Sunday wouldn't be allowed to be picked up until Tuesday and fees would end up costing more than $500. "

 

[Havasu blue label]

WWW. Californiaboatercard.com

 

[Lumpy]

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 and while though not required nor felt much pressure to do so, the only thing they asked was if you are able to Donate any amount you'd like other than the free option to click on too, they'd appreciate it was all while filling out the credit card payment segment while signing up.​

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.

www.boatus.org

This is what I did…pretty strait forward. I skipped to the test and passed but it still makes you go through the entire course. I heard the same thing about them enforcing it this year…Im gonna tell them its rental first and see what the reaction is. Really is the dumbest thing ever…boat owners should have been grandfathered in prior to this stupid shit not to mention the renters should be the ones that require the card in the first place.

FAQ. Who is exempt from needing the Boatere Card?

According to California law the following persons are not required to have a boater card to operate a motorized vessel on California waterways:

• A person operating a rental vessel.
• A person operating a vessel while under the direct supervision of a person 18 years of age or older who is in possession of a California Boater Card.
• A person who is a resident of a state other than California who is temporarily operating a vessel in California for less than 60 days and meets the boating requirements, if any, of his/her state.
• A person who is a resident of a country other than the United States who is temporarily operating a vessel in California for less than 90 days and meets the boating requirements, if any, of his/her country.
• A person operating a vessel in an organized regatta or vessel race, or water ski race.
• A person who is in possession of a current commercial fishing license.
• A person who is in possession of a valid marine operator license, for the waters upon which the licensee is operating, issued by the United States Coast Guard, or who is in possession of a valid certificate issued pursuant to the International Convention on Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping for Seafarers, 1978, as amended.
• A person who has successfully completed a boating course approved by the Commission on Peace Officer Standards and Training Post.

 

[satellitemike]

Here is your answer.
A person operating a vessel in an organized regatta or vessel race, or water ski race.
Everyone is racing someone else in one form or another!

 

[Bpracing1127]

What’s a CA boater card? Is it free gas? Lmao kidding of course. Fuck that state!!!

When I lived there I didn’t have one nor was I going to get one. I’ve been driving boats for 30 years I don’t need a card to tell me if I am safe or not.

 

[HALLETT BOY]

I wonder if the people coming into So Cal from Mexico in those Pachanga ( sp ) boats have their boater cards ?

 

[HNL2LHC]

I guess it is finally paying off that my wife owns EVERYTHING. Then add in the fact that i give her my paycheck. So technically i am renting the bed I sleep in, car I drive and boat that I take out in the water. Only concern is…does that mean O am renting her and what do I call that?

 

[dribble]

CBS Ran a story prior to Memorial Weekend back in 2022 and here's a quote from the San Diego Lifeguard Sargent being interviewed.

"More often than not, he says people don't know the rules. Starting this year, everyone 45 years old and younger must have a California Boater Card. Getting caught without one can be expensive
"If you're pulled over and you don't have a boater card your vessel will be impounded," Strobel said.
Sergeant Strobel said a boat impounded on Sunday wouldn't be allowed to be picked up until Tuesday and fees would end up costing more than $500. "

He's a lying sack of shit or doesn't know WTF he's talking about. Operating without a CA Boaters Card is an infraction. It's not legal to seize someone's property for an infraction. From the CA Division Boating and Waterways website.

• Infraction, Not Impoundment:
  Operating a motorized vessel without a CBC constitutes an infraction, not a crime that would lead to impoundment.
  
  

 

[brgrcru]

I used this too back in 2018. I did the test for everyone in my family. Put all the cards in my boat and emailed pics of the cards to myself so I can pull them up if ever requested. Lame!

Need it to get on local lakes

 

[Lumpy]

https://californiaboatercard.com/faqs-2/

 

[Boatymcboatface]

And you actually believed that? If they were impounding boats it would be all over the news.

Yes

 

[hallett21]

Boat cannot be impounded for not having a boater card solely. There must’ve been a DUI or reckless operation involved.

 

[Taboma]

He's a lying sack of shit or doesn't know WTF he's talking about. Operating without a CA Boaters Card is an infraction. It's not legal to seize someone's property for an infraction. From the CA Division Boating and Waterways website.

• Infraction, Not Impoundment:
  Operating a motorized vessel without a CBC constitutes an infraction, not a crime that would lead to impoundment.
  
  

I agree, guess it's now a stepped infraction, not more than 1st = $ 100, 2nd = $ 250, 3rd = $ 500.
But this CBS piece and subsequent SD Lifeguard enforcement on Mission Bay over that Memorial Weekend, could be the source of the "Impounding" rumors.
From my many years having my Sportsfisher slipped in Mission Bay, I can attest to the SD Lifeguards being a bit overzealous, but when it comes to the back bay area, for damned good reason --- it's a mad house, especially on any holiday.

 

[Boatymcboatface]

Boat cannot be impounded for not having a boater card solely. There must’ve been a DUI or reckless operation involved.

Exactly! But it’s the reason the stop was initiated! I bet you could count on one hand the number of sober boaters in the bay on any given weekend especially during spring break when the alleged impounds took place.

 

[Bigbore500r]

I heard it's $350

That's the 3rd offense. I only plan on stopping once. - after that im escaping at 54mph ,deep into the reeds on the AZ side...

 

[mash on it]

That's the 3rd offense. I only plan on stopping once. - after that im escaping at 54mph ,deep into the reeds on the AZ side...

Spinning out?

Dan'l

 

[Tank]

Since my 16 year old runs our 17’ whaler out here in the ocean a I’m gonna have him to the boat us course. Can’t hurt. Good education I’m sure that will go over right of way, red right return and things like that. Can’t hurt. I’ll take it too. Whatever. even though the cig is documented out of az.

 

[aka619er]

I bit the bullet years ago when it came out. Was simple and free.

 

[Bigbore500r]

Spinning out?

Dan'l

That's a DCB thing....I'm not so lucky!

 

[PlanB]

I took the class and test and it's not hard but time consuming. The easy way is to get through the class as quickly as possible and just google the answers when taking the test. Every single answer will come up. I did not figure this out until later unfortunately.

 

[RVRKID]

Do you all have your placards mounted?
"All boats 26 ft or more in length must have garbage and oil discharge placards prominently posted to remind you and your crew what can be thrown overboard and what can’t. The placards must be permanently attached, made of durable material, and at least 5 by 9 inches in size."

 

[adam909]

I always find it funny when people get upset that they need a simple license. Its not that big of a deal and its for the good of boating. Imagine if all drivers of cars didnt need a license to drive. It would be a shit show. Does it make the waterways safe? No but im sure it helps if people have a understanding of how everything works.

 

[PlanB]

I always find it funny when people get upset that they need a simple license. Its not that big of a deal and its for the good of boating. Imagine if all drivers of cars didnt need a license to drive. It would be a shit show. Does it make the waterways safe? No but im sure it helps if people have a understanding of how everything works.

When you exclude people renting watercraft it makes the entire requirement a joke.

 

[adam909]

When you exclude people renting watercraft it makes the entire requirement a joke.

That would be true.

 

[Desert Whaler]

Boat US Foundation.
It's simple . . . get it over with & never have to sweat it again.
I'm often prowling around fishing areas that are 'grey areas' . . . plus I'm a 'shit magnet' . . . so I'm not giving them any more reason to F with Me.

 

[50onRED]

I guess it is finally paying off that my wife owns EVERYTHING. Then add in the fact that i give her my paycheck. So technically i am renting the bed I sleep in, car I drive and boat that I take out in the water. Only concern is…does that mean O am renting her and what do I call that?

well basically youre paying her to be with you so.... prostitution?

 

[Flatsix66]

I took the Boat US test in Ca, NV and AZ just for fun! Much of it is the same for each state.

My Favorite:

When power-driven vessels are in sight of one another and meeting or crossing at a distance within half a mile of each other, each vessel must use sound signals. What do two short horn blasts from another vessel mean in a meeting situation?
a. They intend to pass starboard side to starboard side
b. They intend to pass port side to port side
c. They intend to maintain course and speed
d. They intend to immediately stop and reverse engines

 

[dribble]

I always find it funny when people get upset that they need a simple license. Its not that big of a deal and its for the good of boating. Imagine if all drivers of cars didnt need a license to drive. It would be a shit show. Does it make the waterways safe? No but im sure it helps if people have a understanding of how everything works.

This license will do absolutely nothing to make boating safer. The test consists of questions concerning what year PFD"s became required and other stupid shit like that. Just another example of a lame government passing a feel good law that accomplishes nothing except being a pain in all our asses.

 

[yz450mm]

This license will do absolutely nothing to make boating safer. The test consists of questions concerning what year PFD"s became required and other stupid shit like that. Just another example of a lame government passing a feel good law that accomplishes nothing except being a pain in all our asses.

Some of the snowbirds in their tin-can toons on Havasu yesterday and today sure could use some education about which direction traffic is supposed to flow on the lake.

Instead, they motor along at 7 mph going the wrong direction and trying to blame everyone else for being in the wrong.

 

[4Waters]

I always find it funny when people get upset that they need a simple license. Its not that big of a deal and its for the good of boating. Imagine if all drivers of cars didnt need a license to drive. It would be a shit show. Does it make the waterways safe? No but im sure it helps if people have a understanding of how everything works.

They have driver's licenses and it is a shit show

 

[BoatCop]

I got my Arizona Card. Notice the issue date?

 

[Bigbore500r]

So you don’t need it, if you’re racing or part of a regatta . This shit is amazing!