Many residents and visitors will be flocking to Florida’s beaches and waterways during the spring and summer.
The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) wants boaters to “Spring Aboard” and get educated, before the summer boating season starts, to make the most of their time on the water.
Florida boating accident statistics indicated that in 2021, 83% of boating deaths occurred on boats where the boat operator had never received educational instruction, according to an FWC news release.
Although not currently required, owners of human-powered watercraft, such as paddleboards and kayaks, also are encouraged to take a boating education class, so they are aware of critical boating knowledge that anyone who gets out on the water should have, and to be better prepared for the risks they might face.
“In Florida, boaters who were born on or after Jan. 1, 1988 are required to complete and pass a boater safety education class. But everyone interested in boating should take a course,” said Maj. Rob Beaton, FWC’s Boating and Waterways section leader, in the release.
There are many ways boaters can educate themselves, from classroom courses offered by the Coast Guard Auxiliary and United States Power Squadrons, to online offerings available any time day or night.
To learn more about boater safety education, visit MyFWC.com/boating and click on “Boating Safety and Education.”
Published April 13, 2022
