Boater Education Awareness

The so-called “Golden Age of Boating” traces its roots to the period following the end of World War II when America launched a new age of economic revival. Eager to expand families, develop suburbia and enjoy leisure activities, millions of Americans took to woods, fields, campgrounds, hiking trails and waterways as a means to enjoy outdoors recreation. Boating participation significantly grew during the 1950s and 1960s that helped lead to creation of the Division of Watercraft within ODNR on January 1, 1960 and passage of the Federal Boat Safety Act in 1971.

During the 1960s, the Division’s primary mission was to collect watercraft registration fees and build boat facilities. In the 1970s, passage of the Boat Safety Act created boating enforcement and education programs within the Division of Watercraft. At this same time, boating-related fatalities on Ohio waterways generally averaged in the mid-30s annually with a record high of 73 fatalities recorded in 1973.

Awareness for continued boating safety education grew during the 1980s and 1990s even as related fatalities declined. By remaining actively involved with boating partners such as the U.S. Coast Guard and the National Association of State Boating Law Administrators, ODNR Division of Watercraft has been well-positioned as a national leader in boating safety education awareness that has helped to vastly improve waterway safety and the boating experience.

Citing the need for increased awareness and improving boating education standards in-state, the Division of Watercraft was a key player in getting a mandatory boating education law enacted in Ohio. The state law became effective January 1, 2000 and requires that any person born on or after January 1, 1982 successfully complete an approved boater education safety course if they operate any powered watercraft greater than 10 horsepower. The requirement also applies to supervising persons.

The “Golden Age of Boating” in effect has been redefined in the 21st century as the number of boating-related fatalities has declined from 6.0 per 100,000 Ohio-registered boats in 2000 to 3.8 fatalities per 100,000 registered boats in 2010. Low marks of 1.7 fatalities per 100,000 registered boats (2004), 2.2 fatalities per 100,000 registered boats (2009) and 2.9 fatalities per 100,000 registered boats (2005, 2006) were recorded over the past decade.

Never before have approved boating safety education materials been so attainable, especially today with the presence of the Internet. Approved classroom, online and home-study boating education courses are available to anyone who desires to take a course. Proficiency testing also is an option in Ohio, which allows individuals an added opportunity to get their boating safety education card.