Boater cards required for ages 25 and under

All persons 25 years of age and younger who operate any motorized recreational vessel on state waterways, including powered sailboats and paddlecrafts, are required to carry a boater card issued by the California Department of Boating and Waterways.

Each year a new age group is added to those required to possess this card. By 2025, all persons who operate on California waters will be required to have a boater card. The card, issued by the California State Parks Division of Boating and Waterways, shows that its holder has successfully taken and passed a NASBLA/state-approved boater safety education examination.

The lifetime card fee is $10; replacement cards cost $5.

California Harbors and Navigation Code Section 678.11(b) contains the following phase-in schedule based on operator age:

January 1, 2019: Persons 25 years of age or younger

January 1, 2020: Persons 35 years of age or younger

January 1, 2021: Persons 40 years of age or younger

January 1, 2022: Persons 45 years of age or younger

January 1, 2023: Persons 50 years of age or younger

January 1, 2024: Persons 60 years of age or younger

January 1, 2025: All persons regardless of age

Instructions on how to apply for a California Boater Card can be found at californiaboatercard.com/applynow. A list of approved courses can be found at californiaboatercard.com/courses. Approved online courses run a minimum of three hours to complete. Classroom and home study courses vary in length, with most classes no more than eight hours.

As of Jan. 1, 2019, the Department of Boating and Waterways will only accept proof of passing approved boater education courses taken since Jan. 1, 2018. Older courses may not include recent state or national changes to navigation law.

Once the Department of Boating and Waterways receives the application, proof of education and payment, a 90-day temporary boater card will be issued by email. The official boater card will be issued by mail in approximately 60 days.

What are the benefits of taking a boater safety course? Not only is mandatory education the law, the California Boater Card Program also promotes boating safety on waterways. U.S. Coast Guard accident data show that states with some form of boating safety education have fewer accidents and fatalities than states without any boater education requirements.

In 2016, more than 800 California recreational vessels were involved in reported accidents, resulting in 50 deaths. More than 266 were injured in severity beyond first aid treatment. Only one of the boat operators involved in fatal accidents had taken an approved boating safety course. Increased numbers of boaters taking approved safety courses will benefit all California boaters.

The following persons are not required to have a boater card to operate a motorized vessel on California waterways:

A person operating a rental vessel.

A person operating a vessel while under the direct supervision of a person 18 years of age or older who is in possession of a California Boater Card.

A person who is a resident of a state other than California who is temporarily operating a vessel in California for less than 60 days and meets the boating requirements, if any, of his/her state.

A person who is a resident of a country other than the United States who is temporarily operating a vessel in California for less than 90 days and meets the boating requirements, if any, of his/her country.

A person operating a vessel in an organized regatta or vessel race, or water ski race.

A person who is in possession of a current commercial fishing license.

A person who is in possession of a valid marine operator license, for the waters upon which the licensee is operating, issued by the United States Coast Guard, or who is in possession of a valid certificate issued pursuant to the International Convention on Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping for Seafarers, 1978, as amended.

A person who has successfully completed a boating course approved by the Commission on Peace Officer Standards and Training Post.

According to California Harbors and Navigation Code Section 658.5, no person under 16 years of age may operate a boat with a motor of more than 15 horsepower, except for a sailboat that does not exceed 30 feet in length or a dinghy used directly between a moored boat and the shore (or between two moored boats).

The law allows children 12-15 years of age to operate boats with a motor of more than 15 horsepower or sailboats over 30 feet if supervised on board by an adult at least 18 years of age. Violating these provisions constitutes an infraction.