Boat America - Safe Boating Certificate Offered

The United States Coast Guard Auxiliary Tri-State Flotilla, Massachusetts will be instructing THE BOAT AMERICA COURSE that meets current state mandated educational requirements offered in a two-night format developed to provide the skills and confidence needed to explore the coast and inland waters by boat. Basic knowledge and skills are needed to have safe and enjoyable boating experiences. This course is perfect for families that have just purchased any type of boat or are planning to in the future, and for the boater keeping up with changes to boating regulations and laws.

The Hanson-Milone Boater Safety Act, signed into Mass. Law, now requires ALL Mass. motorboat operators over 12 years of age to complete an approved Safe Boating Certificate course before April 1, 2026 for anyone born after 1/1/1998, and by April 1, 2028 for boaters born before 1/1/1998. Enforcement of the new law will begin on September 1, 2026. Personal Watercraft / Jet Ski operators are required to be at least 16 years of age also included. A certificate, required to be carried onboard, will be issued by the state to resident motorboaters.

Successful completion of this BA course offered meets this requirement and inclusion into the Mass. Environmental Police Boating Safety Database, Approved by National Association of State Boating Law Administrators (NASBLA) it will also cover the requirements to operate a vessel in most other states & many countries where boating safety education is mandatory including NH, RI and CT. You will receive the additional USCG Auxiliary certification and a possible discount on premiums for most boating insurance companies for successful completion of this course. Some basic marlinespike seamanship (knots etc.) will also be included as part of the course. Participants 16 years old and under must be accompanied, in person, by a registered parent/guardian. SPACE IS LIMITED so register soon:

THE BOAT AMERICA COURSE…October 13 & 12, 2026 from 5:30 till 9 PM

Bay Path Regional Vocational Technical High School

57 Old Muggett Road, Charlton, MA

Register online at via www.baypath.augusoft.net Personal Enrichment – Sports& Leisure – More recommendations - Class ID 43489 or by calling Sheri Dreitlein (508) 248-5971 email sdreitlein@baypath.net You can also contact our Flotilla Commander Kyle Cimochowski (860) 227-7274 or Marc French at (508) 318-7152 for additional information.

To locate these and other USCG Auxiliary courses go to: https://www.cgaux.org/boatinged/class_finder/index.php

The Coast Guard Auxiliary is the uniformed civilian component of the U.S. Coast Guard and supports the Coast Guard in nearly all mission areas. The Auxiliary was created by Congress in 1939. For more information, please visit www.cgaux.org