The state's NASBLA approved boating course runs a minimum seven hours, and it includes a one-hour segment on personal watercraft. The state will also recognize any other NASBLA-approved course, whether taken on-line or in another state, or from groups including the U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary or United States Power Squadron.
For more information on West Virginia boating laws go to the West Virginia State Specific Section. http://boatsafe.com/West_Virginia
Kansas
After four consecutive years of trying, Kansas lawmakers have finally passed a mandatory boater education bill that was signed into law in early April by Governor Bill Graves.
Boating Law Administrator Cheri Swayne said the law takes effect Jan. 1, 2001 and requires anyone born on or after Jan. 1, 1989 to have completed an approved boating safety course before being able to operate a motorboat or sailboat. The new law does not affect existing Kansas legislation that requires juveniles ages 12-15 to take a safe boating course before being permitted to operate a personal watercraft on their own.
Under the new law, youngsters may operate a boat if they are accompanied by, and under the direct and audible supervision of, a person over 17 years of age who either possesses a certificate of completion from a boater education course or is legally exempt.
Kansas Wildlife and Parks Sectretary Steve Williams now has the authority to "prescribe an approved ... course" that involves at least eight hours of instruction. The legislation recognizes boater certificates issued by other states, "whether by government agency or by a public or private association or club. The State of Kansas supports the Nautical Know How Basic Boating Safety Course online and makes it available at no charge for its residents.
How many youths will be affected by this legislation is not immediately known, Swayne acknowledged. The most recent data available shows 102,424 registered boats in Kansas. Swayne estimated that boaters log about five million user-days on the water annually.
For more information on Kansas state boating laws go to the Kansas State Specific Section. http://boatsafe.com/Kansas
New Hampshire
With a stroke of the pen, Governor Jeanne Shaheen made it official: Granite State boaters will henceforth be required to take a boater education course to legally operate their recreational vessels on state waters.
This new law does not "grandfather" anyone into the system. All state boaters will be gradually brought into compliance between now and Jan. 1, 2008, starting with the youngest boaters first. Under the law, all boaters born on or after Jan. 1, 1983 must have their certificates by Jan. 1, 2002. One year later, that requirement extends to anyone born on or after Jan. 1, 1977. Each successive Jan. 1, the law expands to boaters born on or after Jan. 1, 1973 (2004); 1967 (2005); 1963 (2006); 1957 (2007) and everyone else by 2008.
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