ODNR encourages boaters to “Spring Aboard” and get required training early

This week, the Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR) and the National Association of State Boating Law Administrators (NASBLA) encourage boaters to Spring Aboard by enrolling in a boating education course. Many course providers offer incentives or course discounts for students who enroll in or complete a course during the Spring Aboard campaign.

“We are always seeking opportunities that will keep Ohioans safe on the water, and boating safety courses are a large part of that effort,” said Mike Miller, chief of the ODNR Division of Watercraft. “These courses are critical in ensuring that boaters will enjoy their time on Ohio’s waters safely with their family and friends.”

Ohio’s Boater Education requirement can be met by taking and passing an approved boating education course (classroom, online or home study), or by taking and passing a proficiency exam. Forty-nine states and U.S. territories require proof of completion of a boating education course for operators of some powered vessels. For a summary of Ohio’s regulations and available courses, go to watercraft.ohiodnr.gov.

“The Spring Aboard campaign is a unified effort to remind boaters to complete the course now, in preparation for the boating season,” said NASBLA President Eleanor Mariani. “An informed and knowledgeable boat operator is much more likely to recognize hazardous conditions on the water and avoid a boating mishap.”

The 2013 U.S. Coast Guard statistics indicate that, when the level of operator education was known, 80 percent of boating deaths occurred on boats where the boat operator had never received boating education instruction. Many states require completion of a course verified by NASBLA as meeting the national boating education standard for powerboat rental or operation.

The ODNR Division of Watercraft administers Ohio’s boating and scenic rivers programs. The division oversees watercraft registration and titling operations; provides funding to local communities for education, enforcement and boating access facilities; educates the public; and enforces boating laws on Ohio’s waterways.