New York Boater license law??

[TUnamas]

New York imposed a new requirement that all boaters be "licensed" with a boater safety license. I'm still not clear on whether it applies to Champlain, but my marina believes it does. All of my kids got their licenses long ago, but the change is that it now applies to all. I've yet to see it enforced, but I got licensed yesterday out of an abundance of caution! Does anyone know if NY law will apply, and how they are enforcing it?

[Reelax]

I got it too and spent 3 days on Lake Ontario and about 20 on Champlain since it was mandatory and haven’t been checked. I spend most of my trolling hrs in NY waters.

Figured it was the right thing to do.

[Whitey]

Am I grandfathered in? I’m 81 !

[TUnamas]

No grandfathering, although there are several limited exceptions.

[Dead lake]

It’s a good thing for a 20 -80-year-old who never had a boat buys a 30 footer put it on a lake and there he goes. Do you believe that safe should be a lake driver’s test. Docking, trailering, LAUNCHING etc plus safety.

[TUnamas]

Dead lake - I hope that wasn't directed at me?! I'm a 20-80 year old with a 30 footer on the lake that I've run since 2005. I started this post! I've grown up on boats, waterskieed a lot as a kid, crewed on several off-shore international fishing trips, raced sailboats starting with Hobies in Monterey Bay, CA and moving onto J-Boats. I've owned several prior boats. I have done several 30+ day ocean kayak expeditions in Alaska. In short, I am comfortable on the water around boats. I also understand boater safety. Yet, I just recently received my boating license from the State of Vermont, mindful of the new NY law. As I shared, I don't know if it is required, but it isn't a bad thing. The test includes docking, trailering and launching cues, though no on the water test is required.

[drachma]

so, now that I moved from VT and want to fish Champlain I have to get a NY boaters license prior to coming???
Where do i do that and how?

Michael

[MAMU]

Hello,
Here is my experience with the new law. I was not exactly sure what needed to be done after a lot of online poking around and reading threads here. My son and I took the online course offered through VT F&W/State Police about 10 yrs ago. The cards they issued us did not have the NASBLA symbol on them. I contacted F&W and they put me in contact with an officer in the Boat Safety Division. Unfortunately I did not save her name/number. I’m sure you could get it from F&W. She was very helpful called me right back. We were able to reprint our VT safety training certificates and they now have the NASBLA emblem on them. Here is the link to reprint an existing certificate. I hope this is helpful.

https://anrweb.vt.gov/FWD/FW/BoaterSafe ... icate.aspx

[TUnamas]

so, now that I moved from VT and want to fish Champlain I have to get a NY boaters license prior to coming???
Where do i do that and how?

Michael

I haven't seen the law enforced on Champlain and I'm not sure that it even applies, but I wanted to be safe if fishing on the NY side! Revenue doesn't go to NY, but there are several on-line programs that result in a license. Mine was Ilearntoboat, because it was the quickest. Still, it took about 2 hours.

[Controlled chaos]

I’ve had a nasbla license in NH since 2009 and have never once been asked for it. I have fished from Maine to Minnesota
Great Lakes and have been stopped many times by coast guard, state police and sheriffs. Only people they target frequently are jet skis and pleasure boaters in my humble experience

[Crayfish]

I took my test on Boat US. It was free, but it took about 6hrs to complete.