Boating Safety: Part Five

If you have never owned a boat before, enrolling in a boat safety course before hitting the water is advisable—and many states now require you to complete one anyhow. States have varying names for their certifications, but they all indicate the completion of a boating course. These courses can typically be completed online and will cover a wide spectrum of safety information, incldungin transporting, launching and driving your boat. However, you’ll want to spend some time to learn basic maintenance procedures—such as refilling the Evinrude XD100—on your own.

Once obtained, most boating certificates and licenses are good for life. And even if your state doesn’t require it, taking a qualified safety course is never a bad idea.