The U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary will offer a boating safety course Saturday just in time for the summer season.
Boat TN is an all-day class. People who pass the exam receive a boating license. A license is required to operate a boat, jet ski, or any watercraft with an engine over eight horsepower. The Auxiliary’s John Whelan said boating confidence and safety is very important.
“Your attention span needs to be there,” Whelan said. “Operator inattention, improper lookout, operator inexperience, excessive speed, those are the leading causes of accidents, as well as alcohol contribution.”
Whelan said there were some 344 boating accidents and 564 boating related deaths nationwide in 2023.
Whelan said anyone over 11 years is eligible for a boating certificate, and licenses are valid for life. Whelan said the class is meant for anyone from hunters and fishermen to recreational boaters.
“”It allows you to be more in tune to your environment,” Whelan said. “It’s a whole different environment on the lake. There’s no traffic signals on the lake or on the river.”
Whelan said the class long, but the content is easy since the course is designed with young boaters in mind.
“It is new material,” Whelan said. ” Just like taking a driving course, you’re learning all kinds of new things that you’re not growing up used to. With the curriculum and everything, and the way we have it structured, it shouldn’t be any problem for anyone to pass.”
The Boat TN Class is Saturday from 8am to 4pm at the DeKalb County Community Center in Smithville. The class is offered free of charge.
