Boat Georgia course a wise investment of time for those who love the water

“There is no such thing as an accident; it is fate misnamed.” ‒ Napoleon Bonaparte

ALBANY ‒ When it comes to boating accidents, Eric White and Tabareyon Jones, Game Wardens with the Law Enforcement Division of the Georgia Department of Natural Resources agree.

“Most of the incidents we deal with are associated with safety issues and operator inexperience, or boating under the influence,” White said.

In an effort to make boating on Georgia waters safer, any person born on or after Jan. 1, 1998, is required by law to complete a boater safety course and to carry the associated boater education card when operating a motorized watercraft. In an effort to simplify this requirement, the Georgia Department of Driver Services and DNR have partnered to help boaters show they successfully completed the course. DNR will notify DDS when the course is completed, and Driver Services will place a small anchor on the front of a Georgia Driver’s license or ID card when the license is renewed.

“Boater education is very important in keeping our waterways safe,” Col. Mike England, director of Georgia DNR’s Law Enforcement Division, said. “I believe if we can provide boaters with a basic knowledge of boating laws and how to safely operate a vessel, we are on our way to reducing water-related deaths and injuries in Georgia.”

England was instrumental in getting the mandatory boater education law passed in 2013. Coast Guard and DNR data indicate the law is having a positive impact on boater safety in Georgia.

But officials say there is still a need for continued educational efforts. Coast Guard data show that in 2023, there were 3,844 boating incidents, 4,408 injuries, with 564 of those fatal. During the same period, Georgia saw 53 drownings, 275 BUIs, 119 boating incidents, 56 injuries and 16 fatalities.

For those of us that grew up on the waters of southwest Georgia, such regulatory efforts might seem Draconian. However, today’s waterways are far more crowded than they were decades ago. Not surprisingly, lakes near large population centers have higher numbers of boaters and therefore have a higher percentage of boating incidents. This is illustrated by the fact that more than 50% of Georgia’s reported boating incidents occur on Lake Lanier.

Back in the day, a boat with an engine of 100 horsepower or more was an oddity. Today’s boaters have the opportunity to purchase and operate boats approaching 1,000 horsepower with no limit other than the price tag. Today, jet skis commonly exceed 60 miles an hour, and with modifications can exceed triple digits. Horsepower and speed combined with the fact that most watercraft have no braking capability add to increased need for operator education and experience.

A key factor in the majority of boating incidents and fatalities continues to be boating under the influence, as indicated by the 275 BUI charges on Georgia waterways last year. As a result, the “Jake and Griffin Prince BUI Law” honoring two brothers killed when a drunken boater collided with their family’s pontoon boat lowered the legal intoxication limit for Georgia boaters 21 years of age or older to a blood alcohol level of 0.08% making it the same as that for operating a motor vehicle on the state’s roadways. It is illegal for anyone under the age of 21 years of age to operate a boat with a level of 0.02% or more.

Trust me on this: DNR has zero tolerance for operating a boat under the influence of alcohol or drugs. I had a friend who was arrested and charged while paddling his canoe on the Creek within yards of his home.

In preparation for writing this article, I thought it only fair to take the free online Boat Georgia Course by logging in at. www.boatsmartexam.com/us/georgia/. Taking the course, I learned a number of things, including the fact that I was not exactly the safest boater in the world, regardless of my accumulated time on the water.

The online course takes about six hours to complete. However, individuals may progress at their own pace with the ability to stop and save completed chapters. The course does much more than outline and explain the laws and regulations related to legally operating a boat in Georgia. It provides information relating to boat design, performance and carrying capacity. Other chapters address safe trailering, navigation, operation and preparation. The course also provides basic information related to sailing, operating personal watercraft and skiing. Most importantly, a clear understanding of the importance of personal flotation devices and how to match them to both the boater and environmental conditions is part of the course.

Today, boaters have responsibilities beyond boat safety, including environmental-related concerns and the spread of invasive species. The course details the importance and methods of dealing with the discharge of sewage, waste and trash into Georgia waterways as well as stopping the spread of invasive species.

Interestingly, the majority of boating incidents occur on calm clear days. Equipment failure is responsible for 10% of these incidents. Environmental factors, including weather, waves, and current account for 15%. Human error is the leading factor and is responsible for 75% of all boating incidents.

Regardless of your age or state requirements, taking a few hours for the Boat Georgia course might be one of the best investments of time you can make.