The Utah Division of Outdoor Recreation recently launched the state’s first approved free online boating safety course.
Created in partnership with the BoatUS Foundation for Boating Safety, the course has been approved by the department’s boating program, the National Association of State Boating Law Administrators, and the Coast Guard. It is a good option for boating enthusiasts to meet national boating safety education requirements wherever they travel. Once someone completes an approved boating safety course like this one, most other states will accept it.
The course also serves as a convenient way for boaters to brush up on their safety skills before recreating on the water. U.S. Coast Guard statistics indicate that most boating-related fatalities involve operators who did not receive boating safety instruction, and many insurance providers offer discounts to boaters who have completed a safety course. The course has also been approved to meet Utah’s requirement for all youth ages 12 to 17 to complete a safety course before operating any motorized personal watercraft.
This new boating safety program typically takes four to eight hours to complete. It consists of six online lessons with quizzes and a final knowledge test. Users can start, pause and resume whenever they choose. Upon successful completion, participants can print their Utah boating safety certificate for free.
More than 2.5 million students nationwide have taken advantage of the BoatUS Foundation’s free online boating safety education courses like this one. These courses have been approved in 38 states, including Utah.
“The Utah Division of Outdoor Recreation is committed to providing boaters with the resources they need to recreate responsibly and safely,” said Ty Hunter, boating program manager. “This free online course is an excellent opportunity for Utahns to gain critical boating safety knowledge from the comfort of their own home, helping to ensure a safe and enjoyable experience on Utah’s waters.”
Founded in 2022 by the Utah State Legislature, the Utah Division of Outdoor Recreation is a part of the Utah Department of Natural Resources and encompasses the state’s Office of Outdoor Recreation, Boating Program, Off-Highway Vehicle Program and recreation law enforcement officers.
Recognizing the outdoors’ importance to Utah’s economic prosperity and quality of life, the Division of Outdoor Recreation promotes health, safety, enjoyment, and economic benefit by building opportunities for outdoor recreation for the state’s residents and visitors. Priorities include recreational access, environmental stewardship, sustainable visitation, economic growth, and outdoor safety and education.
For more information on the Division and its work, visit recreation.utah.gov. To enroll in the boating safety course, visit recreation.utah.gov/boating.
Author: Emily Walters
Photo courtesy of Karen Smith
Editor: Chevy Blackburn
outdoors@suunews.net
