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USPS® Education
  Frequently
Asked Questions
New Hampshire State Boating
Laws
Prepared by:
Lee R. Chasse (P)
Cdr Portsmouth Power Squadron
Updated: January 10th 2008
Question:
I am a current Maine Licensed Commercial Fisherman .
Do I need the Safe Boating Certificate If I Go Into New Hampshire
Waters?
Answer:
The following should cover all questions of this type
1. If a person has a New Hampshire Commercial
Fisherman License he or she is exempt.
2. If a person has an
unexpired Coast Guard Captains License, he or she
is exempt
whether he or she is operating their commercial vessel, any other
commercial vessel, or their own private vessel.
3. If the persons U.S. Coast Guard Captains License
is NOT current and up to date (renewable every 5 years)
they are NOT exempt, and must comply with the law.
4. If his/her Commercial Fisherman License is issued
by Maine and he does not have a New Hampshire Commercial License, he
is NOT exempt. There is no
reciprocity between NH and Maine as far as the Commercial Licenses are
concerned.
5. If the certificate/license is not on-board, the
individual has 48 hours to
present it to the NH Safety officials.
Question:
I took the USPS Boating course many years ago, but I can
not locate my certificate. How do I obtain my New Hampshire
certificate?
Answer:
If you know the name of the squadron with which you took
the course, contact USPS headquarters 1-888-367-8777, extension 230 and
they may be able to provide a duplicate USPS completion certificate at a
slight fee. If
you do not know the name of the squadron, but know the year in which you
took the course, they may be able to locate your record. In some
instances they may be able to locate you by your Social Security
number. Records have been kept since 1970 or so. Earlier
records may not be available and you will have to take another course to
be certified.
The Portsmouth Sail & Power Squadron maintains computer
records immediately accessible from 1992 to the present date.
Question:
I took a boating safety course with the Coast Guard
Auxiliary, but cannot locate my certificate.
Answer:
Contact the Coast Guard Auxiliary
http://nws.cgaux.org/index.html
In talking with the CG Aux in New Hampshire, normally
they do not retain records past one year.
Question:
I am 15 year old, can I get a Safe Boater Certificate?
Answer:
In accordance with USPS Portsmouth current procedures,
anyone under the age of 16 can attend the Portsmouth Safe Boating Course
without charge, to gain knowledge about boating safety but due to
NH State regulations, the Portsmouth Sail & Power Squadron cannot
test and certify individuals under the age of 16.
Question:
When do I have to complete a boating safety course?
Answer:
Effective January 1, 2008 ALL boaters operating any
vessel with more than 25hp must have a Safe Boaters Certificate on their
person while operataing a vessel.
Question:
I plan to operate a jet
ski. Do I need to take a course?
Answer:
A 'Ski Craft' (vessel
less than 13 ft. long that is capable of exceeding 20 miles per hour and
has the capacity to carry no more than an operator and one other person)
may be operated only persons who are 16 years old or older and who have
a valid Safe Boater Education Certificate as required by the same
schedule by birthday for the state of New Hampshire.
Question:
I heard that an
“experienced boater” may not have to take a course but merely pass an
exam is this true?
Answer:
The 'Experienced Boater' or Challenge test will not be implemented with the
Portsmouth Sail & Power Squadron in New
Hampshire and all questions for this subject should be directed to the
N.H. Safety Office.
Question:
How old do you have to
be to obtain a State certificate?
Answer:
Persons 16 years of age
and older can take a course, such as the USPS course, and upon
successfully passing the exam
they will be issued a USPS certificate of completion. An additional form
is completed and the individual can send that form to the state with a
$10.00 payment and receive a State of New Hampshire Safe Boating Card.
Question:
Who may operate a vessel
legally?
Answer:
A vessel powered by an
engine less than 25
horsepower may be operated by a person of any age and
does not require a Safe Boater Certificate.
A vessel powered by more
than 25 horsepower (other than a ski craft) may be operated by:
-
A person under 16
years of age only if he or she is accompanied by a
person 18 years old or older who has a valid Safe Boater Education
Certificate. The accompanying person is responsible for any injury
or damage caused during operation of the vessel.
-
Certificates must be
awarded by a boating safety course or equivalency exam approved by
the New Hampshire Marine Patrol or a National Association of State
Boating Law Administrators approved course from another state.
-
Safe Boating
Certificate must be
carried on board.
Question:
Can a person from
another state, Maine, Vermont, New York or Connecticut for instance,
operate a boat in NH waters without taking a NH approved course?
Answer:
A person who is 16 years
of age or older who has in his possession a certificate proving that the
person has taken a comparable Safe Boating Course in another state
may operate a vessel in NH waters with that certificate in their
possession. New Hampshire requirement for a Safe
Boaters Certificate applies to anyone boating in New Hampshire waters.
Question:
Can I take the course
online?
Answer:
The state boating test
which was on-line has been withdrawn. The material is present for
practice but no Safe Boating Certificate is available from the State of
New Hampshire via the internet at this time.
Question:
Do you have to take a
course with classroom study or can I just self-study?
Answer:
Self Study is only
available with the USPS HQ offered ABC (America's Boating Course) at this time.
When a student is ready, our Squadron can schedule a proctored test to
include the state of New Hampshire 10 additional questions.
80% score on both the ABC Test and 80% score on the NH questions is
mandatory. USPS Portsmouth Safe Boating Courses are scheduled multiple times in a
year and consist of 2 hours a night, one night a week for 8 weeks. A new
course which is 4 hours a day on two following Saturdays is now available
also. See the Education Page
Question:
Can a person who owns a
boat registered in another state operate in New Hampshire waters?
Answer:
With the appropriate
Safe Boating Certificate as required by N.H. law, visitors may operate
in N.H. waters.
Question:
Is the USPS boating
course approved by New Hampshire?.
Answer:
1. Yes, upon completion of
the USPS Safe Boating Course, the individual is given a signed and dated
certificate of completion, recognized nation wide as a proctored test
under NASBLA law.
2. After completion of
the USPS Safe Boating Course, a signed and dated New Hampshire state form is completed by
certified instructors and submitted to the State of New Hampshire.
The individual is given two forms, one is a temporary 45 day certificate
and if a fee of $10.00 is submitted along with the appropriate form,
the state of NH will
issue their own Safe Boater Certificate ID Type card.
Question:
I am 16 years old and
have a Safe Boater Certificate. My Dad does not have a certificate and
he is 40, and my Grandfather is 64, can I let them operate the boat in
New Hampshire.
Answer:
No, your Dad is over 16
and MUST have his own Safe Boating Certificate and cannot operate under
your guidance. Your Grandfather is legal to operate without a license
due to his age until 1 January 2008 when everyone must comply with the
law.
Sign Up For
The Safe Boating Course Now !!! Click Here
For information on the USPS public boating course closest to you, call 1-888-FOR-USPS.
In Canada, for the CPS course, call 1-888-CPS-BOAT.
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