Is a Boating Certificate REALLY necessary?

Mr. V · 04-21-2010, 09:23 AM

I visit the lake infrequently, and operate a boat very rarely.

NH law now requires that I have a boater's certificate in order to operate a boat over a certain HP.

Curious as to the penalty for not having such a certificate, I checked and the first offense is a $50 fine, and all subsequent offenses are $250.

No criminal fines or penalties, it would seem, just a fairly nominal civil sanction; seems to be a traffic infraction.

So, I weigh the odds: what are the odds that the MP will actually discover me operating a boat without a certificate?

That is my question: how zealously are they inspecting boats since the law came into effect?

Do they do a lot of random checks, or does the driver typically have to screw up to warrant their attention?

Do they issue warnings?

Seems to me it might be worth the risk to chance it, rather than spent the time needed to take the course, but I will probably take a Coast Guard Auxiliary approved course .

04-21-2010, 09:23 AM	#1
Mr. V Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: the left coast (Portland)and West Alton Posts: 1,326 Thanks: 61 Thanked 235 Times in 159 Posts	Is a Boating Certificate REALLY necessary? I visit the lake infrequently, and operate a boat very rarely. NH law now requires that I have a boater's certificate in order to operate a boat over a certain HP. Curious as to the penalty for not having such a certificate, I checked and the first offense is a $50 fine, and all subsequent offenses are $250. No criminal fines or penalties, it would seem, just a fairly nominal civil sanction; seems to be a traffic infraction. So, I weigh the odds: what are the odds that the MP will actually discover me operating a boat without a certificate? That is my question: how zealously are they inspecting boats since the law came into effect? Do they do a lot of random checks, or does the driver typically have to screw up to warrant their attention? Do they issue warnings? Seems to me it might be worth the risk to chance it, rather than spent the time needed to take the course, but I will probably take a Coast Guard Auxiliary approved course .