Clarification on NJ boating regulations...

[bulletbob]

Originally Posted by Capt. Frank

You have 1/2 bad info. Frankly I am surprised the Marine Bureau Boating Education Unit answered the call at all. They frown upon any boater call ins and refer everyone back to the course providers or their website.

You must have your home state's NASBLA approved course or equivalent education even if less that 90 days usage in NJ .

As to out of state visitor boaters of less that 90 days . . . SEE NJAC 12:7-61. Section 4b iii "a boat safety certificate issued by the state or country in which the person resides"

I am licensed and teach both NY and NJ. You can take the whole NY NASBLA approved course on line including the exam which NJ prohibits. NY added that in May 2015. Either BoaterExam.com or Boatcourse.com.

And yes it is true that NY is much more PWC hostile than NJ. Geez in NY a course graduate 10 year old can run unlimited horsepower power boat but not a PWC. THAT MAKES NO SENSE.

Capt Frank.. The NY course is not required at all unless you were born after May 1 , 1996. so I am fulfilling the requirements of my home state. its a personal watercraft course, not a boating course, unless something has changed drastically in the past few years. I am not required to have anything at all in my home state.. Also, I was told that the NJ boaters "license" was NOT needed in tidal waters, only inland non tidal waters, including creeks and rivers.. This comes straight from the NJ Marine Police.. Now I am more confused than ever... bob

[bulletbob]

Just went to this NJ. gov website...http://www.nj.gov/dep/fgw/pdf/boat_resource_guide.pdf

It states right in black and white with big arrows pointing to it that the "boating license", is NOT needed in tidal waters at all.. Only non tidal waters,,,
Perhaps NJ is vague about this on purpose so that thousands of salt water anglers with boats will go pay for something that is NOT required... Not sure of anything on this subject anymore, but we will find out what happens if I get boarded I guess... bob

[Rick-D]

You sure you don't have them backwards?

[shrimpman steve]

The "New Jersey license" may be referring to the boat endorsement on your drivers license. I know in nj you must have a boater endorsement on drivers license for non tidal. This may be where the confusion is.

[bulletbob]

Originally Posted by shrimpman steve

The "New Jersey license" may be referring to the boat endorsement on your drivers license. I know in nj you must have a boater endorsement on drivers license for non tidal. This may be where the confusion is.

You are correct Steve, as is Capt. Frank.. Seems the officer I spoke with doesn't know his ass from a stove pipe.

back to square one I guess.. Since I will be on tidal water only and I don't need a "license" I will ask specifically ask if I need a certificate, as I don't need one in NY because we don't have one,, It simply doesn't make sense that NJ would not allow out of state boaters to use their boats[and money] there, but who knows???... bob

[Charlie B]

The boat licence and the safety certificate are two different things. The boat licence is only needed in NJ to run a power boat on non tidal waters. The safety certificate is needed to run a power boat in all NJ waters. For out of state boaters if you have a certificate from your home state that meets certain requirements you can use that for a certain amount of time in NJ. I don't know for sure but there may be some exceptions to the rules like for rental boats but for the most part in NJ you need the certificate for all waters. And in non tidal waters you also need the boat licence which is an endorsement on your regular drivers licence. Which by the way you cannot get without the safety certificate...Charlie

[Capt. Debbie]

Spot on!

NJ wants to see you have some kind of training from somewhere. NASBLA is the country wide standard for content approval.

Even Livery boats are supposed to give training if you have no Certificate whether NJ or NY or not rent to you. Yea I know no one does that YET. They will soon.


NJ had enough clueless idiots on the water with Certificates. NJ it does not needless clueless out of staters adding to our home grown reckless boaters.

Visitors need a Certificate - stay more than 9 days and you need an NJ Boater Safety Certificate.

Originally Posted by Charlie B

The boat licence and the safety certificate are two different things. The boat licence is only needed in NJ to run a power boat on non tidal waters. The safety certificate is needed to run a power boat in all NJ waters. For out of state boaters if you have a certificate from your home state that meets certain requirements you can use that for a certain amount of time in NJ. I don't know for sure but there may be some exceptions to the rules like for rental boats but for the most part in NJ you need the certificate for all waters. And in non tidal waters you also need the boat licence which is an endorsement on your regular drivers licence. Which by the way you cannot get without the safety certificate...Charlie

[Capt. Debbie]

The State Police course is a Boating Safety CERTIFICATE . Not a license. That's the crap endorse later ( if you need it at all).

Originally Posted by bulletbob

Just went to this NJ. gov website...http://www.nj.gov/dep/fgw/pdf/boat_resource_guide.pdf

It states right in black and white with big arrows pointing to it that the "boating license", is NOT needed in tidal waters at all.. Only non tidal waters,,,
Perhaps NJ is vague about this on purpose so that thousands of salt water anglers with boats will go pay for something that is NOT required... Not sure of anything on this subject anymore, but we will find out what happens if I get boarded I guess... bob

[Capt. Debbie]

The NJ law is a Boating Safety course from your home state or elsewhere. Not you comply with the law from your home state. That's the mis read

Originally Posted by bulletbob

Capt Frank.. The NY course is not required at all unless you were born after May 1 , 1996. so I am fulfilling the requirements of my home state. its a personal watercraft course, not a boating course, unless something has changed drastically in the past few years. I am not required to have anything at all in my home state.. Also, I was told that the NJ boaters "license" was NOT needed in tidal waters, only inland non tidal waters, including creeks and rivers.. This comes straight from the NJ Marine Police.. Now I am more confused than ever... bob