Chapter 4: The Legal Requirements of Boating
Who May Operate a Vessel
A vessel powered by 25 horsepower or less does
not require the operator to have a Safe Boater Education Certificate.
A “ski craft” (motorized vessel
less than 13 feet long that is capable of exceeding 20 miles per
hour and has the capacity to carry no more than an operator and
one other person) may be operated only by persons who are 16 years
old or older and who have a valid Safe Boater Education Certificate.
A vessel powered by more than 25 horsepower (other than
a “ski craft”) may be operated by:
- A person under 16 years of age only if he
or she is accompanied by a person 18 years old or older who has
a valid Safe Boater Education Certificate. The accompanying person
is responsible for any injury or damage caused during operation
of the vessel.
- A person 16 years of age or older only if he
or she has obtained a Safe Boater Education Certificate.
A Safe Boater Education Certificate may be obtained
by persons 16 years of age or older only and must
be carried on board.
- Effective January 1, 2007, persons will be eligible to apply
for a Safe Boater Education Certificate only by
successfully passing one of the following:
- A proctored examination administered as part of a classroom
boating safety course approved by the New Hampshire Marine
Patrol
- A proctored equivalency examination approved by the New
Hampshire Marine Patrol
- The home-study and Internet courses will still be available
after January 1, 2007. The course completion certificate that
you obtain by passing one of these courses will admit you to
the proctored equivalency examination.
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