Clarification on NJ boating regulations...

[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

[bulletbob]

So bottom line, In my state NY, the legal requirement has been met simply by my age.. I have no need to carry a certificate in Sandy Hook, Raritan Bay or along the entire coastline of NJ if I launch out of Great Kills, or anywhere along the NY/LI coastline.. I am 100% in compliance unless I launch at Leonardo or AH in NJ, and then I instantly become a criminal I guess... According to the officer I spoke with at the Carteret State Marine Police office I am fine using a boat as a visitor to NJ as I have met the requirements in my own state.. Someone somewhere must have a definitive answer to this question.. I was convinced I was ok by the NJ State Marine Police.. Now I am no longer sure... I was told by this officer that visitors with boats were welcome to boat in NJ as long as they met the requirements of their home state.
It makes no sense that NJ would not allow visitors with boats to use the water resources of NJ... I'll look into this further before bringing my boats down ... bob

[Charlie B]

I don't think it matters where you launch the boat. If you are in NJ waters you are under NJ laws. Now your chances of being boarded are kind of slim and even if you are so long as every thing else is in order they may let you slide. Do you want to take the chance? It's up to you...Charlie

[Capt. Debbie]

Hopefully this trooper is the one who boards you. LOL Perhaps we can test this theory of law... when you going out next in NJ and what's the boat registration? LMAO

Or maybe just go to the NJSP Marine Bureau website and see what it says...

What State Police Marine Bureau Barracks in Cartaret? The Sea Bright NJSP marine bureau guys come out of Newark Bay.

Originally Posted by bulletbob

So bottom line, In my state NY, the legal requirement has been met simply by my age.. I have no need to carry a certificate in Sandy Hook, Raritan Bay or along the entire coastline of NJ if I launch out of Great Kills, or anywhere along the NY/LI coastline.. I am 100% in compliance unless I launch at Leonardo or AH in NJ, and then I instantly become a criminal I guess... According to the officer I spoke with at the Carteret State Marine Police office I am fine using a boat as a visitor to NJ as I have met the requirements in my own state.. Someone somewhere must have a definitive answer to this question.. I was convinced I was ok by the NJ State Marine Police.. Now I am no longer sure... I was told by this officer that visitors with boats were welcome to boat in NJ as long as they met the requirements of their home state.
It makes no sense that NJ would not allow visitors with boats to use the water resources of NJ... I'll look into this further before bringing my boats down ... bob

[bulletbob]

Spoke to the NJSMP again today.. .. Kind of ambiguous answers, but the officer was as helpful as he could be, and I talked to him at length .. He said that out of state boaters are allowed to use NJ waters and would "most likely" be ok, "if it were a "one time thing", but they really want everyone to show a certification from their home state, even if their home state doesn't require it like NY.
Basically said if your state doesn't require it, get a certificate from a state that does if you want to be on the safe side.
From what I gather, they probably won't ticket a non resident on vacation or something, but he said something to this effect..
"If you fish here once and enjoy it, you will probably want to do it again"..
Thats where the problem lies..

He said If I took the NY test NJ would honor it, so I guess thats what I will have to do, because if ever boarded I MIGHT get a nice understanding marine cop that lets me go on my way suggesting I get a certificate, but I might also get a prick that wants to show me I am not welcome in NJ waters without certification... whatever... bob

[Capt. Debbie]

Bob,

You know, unlike NJ, NY allows you to take the entire NYS course and exam online. It's only 76% to pass versus NJ's 80%. And NY allows infinite re-testing, while Jersey only allows 2 shots.

Can you give NYS Boater Safety Course Internet course Provider recommendations if you'd like?

Originally Posted by bulletbob

Spoke to the NJSMP again today.. .. Kind of ambiguous answers, but the officer was as helpful as he could be, and I talked to him at length .. He said that out of state boaters are allowed to use NJ waters and would "most likely" be ok, "if it were a "one time thing", but they really want everyone to show a certification from their home state, even if their home state doesn't require it like NY.
Basically said if your state doesn't require it, get a certificate from a state that does if you want to be on the safe side.
From what I gather, they probably won't ticket a non resident on vacation or something, but he said something to this effect..
"If you fish here once and enjoy it, you will probably want to do it again"..
Thats where the problem lies..

He said If I took the NY test NJ would honor it, so I guess thats what I will have to do, because if ever boarded I MIGHT get a nice understanding marine cop that lets me go on my way suggesting I get a certificate, but I might also get a prick that wants to show me I am not welcome in NJ waters without certification... whatever... bob