Don't know how much this is being publicized, or if area dealers are informing their sales customers of it. As of next year, everybody of any age will need a NY State Boating Safety or special PWC Operators certificate, in order to legally ride a PWC in the state. It was inched in slowly over the last few years, like at first, it was only people of certain age groups, the age got higher and higher and now it's going to be EVERYBODY. You can get the certificate through a free, 8-hour U.S. Power Squadron Basic Boating Safety course (I'm taking it now and they give both the general and if you want it the pwc test at the end of the course), or through similar courses from the Coast Guard auxiliary. Be warned! I'm sure people will be getting ticketed and stuff for this next summer ('04).

richforman

Where are you taking the course Rich, I want to get it done this year too.

Hey Mario,

I am taking the course right near where I live in Smithtown, there is a Power Squadron chapter here. There are many on Long Island, you should be able to get info about the chapters and the courses at www.usps.org, although I wasn't able to get to their web site just now when I tried.

richforman

I'll probalby end up going to the same place, I'm not that far from Smithtown.

THE USCG AUX. has classes you can take..

i give the curse in the marina last saturday & tomorrow get like others 8 peoples & i make other course soon

This is where I took a course a few years ago, since I live in NJ, and it's been a requirement for a while:
http://www.boatsafety.org/