One of the perks of living near water is the opportunity to go boating. Many of the residents in and around the Port Charlotte, Florida, area are involved in boating. Many more are considering taking the plunge. If you are thinking of this as a pastime, you may be interested in looking at some of the online boat safety courses available.
The National Association of State Boating Law Administrators (NASBLA)
This 501(c)3 nonprofit organization is a national entity involved in creating public policy for recreational boating safety. All 50 states and the U.S. territories are represented by this organization. You can go to the NASBLA site for a variety of resources. They provide training, education publications, and more.
You can tap into a wealth of NASBLA-approved boating courses through their website. These courses meet the guidelines specified by state regulations for boating safety. The courses listed provide you with contact information and list private, public, and online boat safety courses.
BoatUS Foundation
This organization offers state-by-state online boating safety courses. Their mission is “. . . to reduce accidents and fatalities, increase stewardship of our waterways and keep boating a safe and enjoyable pastime.” The BoatUS Foundation provides links to state-approved online safety courses. Most of the online courses are recognized by the U.S. Coast Guard, though not all of them are. The state-approved courses are clearly designated and they have the approval of the state boating license agency and NASBLA. Florida’s online course is listed and it is state-approved and approved by NASBLA.
America’s Boating Course
This online boat safety course provides you with education to learn the skills required for safe boating and you can learn at your own pace. The course is NASBLA-recognized and allows you to take the boating license test for certification. This course teaches about navigation rules and water sports safety. It also provides information regarding other boating safety skills. This online boating course is recognized by the Coast Guard.
Online Boat Safety Through the American Safety Council, Inc.
This course is offered by the American Safety Council, Inc. through FloridaBoatingCourse.com and it is approved by NASBLA, as well as the state of Florida. You can receive both your boater card and your certificate through this program, which allows you to complete it at your own pace.
Whether you take your boating course in person or online, boat safety is important for you and those who are boating with you. Accidents and unnecessary pain can be avoided when you understand how to be safe on the water.
We at Frohlich, Gordon & Beason, P.A. law office want to see our neighbors, friends, and clients in the Port Charlotte, Florida, area enjoy their boating experience without accident or incident. We are the attorneys who care and we want you to be safe. When there is a problem, contact us for legal assistance. We’re on your side and here to help.