Is the Boating Exam Really Necessary?
If you have yet to take the boating exam you might find that you don’t really see the point. Yet, the examination itself is one that can reduce insurance expenses, keep your crew safe, and literally save your life. There are rules and regulations on the water that simply must be followed and you need to be proficient at understanding those rules.
There are some technical matters that the boating course offers as well. You will learn all kinds of various elements that are designed to help keep you safe while you’re having fun. The reduction in boating accidents and drowning incidents has been notable since the inception of the boat test.
Of course, the information that is passed along to obtain your boat licence is information that will help you become a much more informed and respectful boater. It’s difficult to be a respectful boater if you’re unaware that you’re in violation of any of the rules or regulations.
We must also point out that the operator card is now essential. Those who use pleasure craft and are residents of Canada are required by law to have the PCOC license as proof that they have taken and passed the boating exam. While laws like this have actually failed to be enforced in the US because they were based solely on the operator’s date of birth, Canada is taking this quite seriously to help clean up the waterways and create a safe environment for everyone.
Any pleasure craft operator caught without an operator card can face an array of different consequences from fines to eventual confiscation of the boat. It’s easy to gain access to the boat test since you can now study for it and then take it online. With online access there really isn’t any reason to push it off.
There really isn’t much of a legitimate reason to forgo the exam. A pleasure craft operator card is not a testimony of experience nor is it a test to see how good of a sailor you are. It’s about keeping you safe on the water and keeping those around you safe. Those who do not understand regulations are twice as likely to cause a serious accident on the waterways than those who are knowledgeable in operating conditions. Thus, there is nothing competitive about the boating test. It is simply a course in safety skills.
A boating license is not really that complicated to get. It is simply a function of taking the course and understanding the way the rules of operation are laid out. This is designed to help you be a self sufficient boater as well, keeping you, your craft, and your crew out of harm’s way by understanding what you need to do as a boater to remain safe.
To drive a car you must get a license. The signs along the roadway and the structure provided make driving a car easier than navigating the waterways. Without structure and without much in the way of signs, the waterways can easily become an open field of danger for those who are not knowledgeable in the basic regulations. Gaining your operator card by taking the boating exam is one of the new necessities of operating a pleasure craft.
Author Bio: Getting a boating license is now quick and easy, simply register for boating course, sit the online boater exam and away you go.
Category: Recreation
Keywords: boating exam, boat licence, boat test,boating course, leisure, recreation, hobby, lifestyle, family,