Safety is the #1 priority for you and your crew while you’re out on the water, and getting a head start before your trip is now easier than ever. To help you prepare for your voyage, we offer the $50 Safe Boating Discount* to houseboat captains who have completed a state approved, NASBLA certified, boating safety course.
Depending on which state you live in, you might need a Boater Education Card before you head out onto the water. Various states have different laws and parameters regarding this. If you’re unsure, click the link below to check your state’s regulations.
Bring your state issued Safe Boating Course ID card to the marina when you check in and you will receive a $50 discount on your houseboat rental. There is only one $50 discount allowed per houseboat rental and the card holder must be the contract signer. (Captain!)
If you have not completed a safe boating course yet, it’s not too late. You can either complete an in-person or online course from your state of residence (see links below), or you have the option to complete a classroom course from the United States Coast Guard Auxiliary or United States Power Squadron.
Many captains also find it handy to have their crew review a safety course before their voyage. These courses are a great way to get everyone to start thinking about the trip in advance and you will find that they make for safer boating as well. Many of the online courses are free to review, easy to read, include interesting illustrations and videos, and even offer practice tests free of charge.
Check out your state’s website for certification details:
ARIZONA
Arizona Game and Fish Department
Arizona online class: boat-ed.com
NEVADA
Note: “Boaters born on or after January 1, 1983 must complete a boater education course approved by the National Association of State Boating Law Administrators to operate a boat with more than a 15-horsepower motor on Nevada’s interstate waters, including Lake Tahoe, Lake Mead, Lake Mohave and Topaz Lake.”
Nevada online class: boaterexam.com
Nevada online class: boat-ed.com
UTAH
Utah State Parks boating education info page
Utah online class: boaterexam.com
Utah online class: boat-ed.com
CALIFORNIA
California Department of Boating and Waterways
The California course cannot be taken online.
(See the CDBW site for details.)
MISSOURI
Note: “Anyone born after January 1, 1984 must successfully complete a boating safety education course to legally operate any vessel on the lakes of Missouri, including personal watercraft.”
To receive the $50 discount, the full boating safety course must be completed and certification card presented at check in.
Missouri online class link: boated.com
TEXAS
Texas Parks and Wildlife Department
Texas online class link: boat-ed.com
United States Coast Guard Auxiliary
Check out these other fun sites for more water safety tips:
National Water Safety Congress
The United States Coast Guard – boating safety page
*$50 discount only valid for houseboat rentals at marinas with houseboat rentals. Discount not applicable to other small watercraft rentals (ski boats, PWCs, fishing boats, etc.).
Safe Boating & Orientation Videos
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GPS Longitude -114° -43.3200′