It is now law that boat operators in MA obtain a boater safety certificate by passing a boater safety test. The certificate must be present on the boat being operated.
The new legislation provides exemptions for merchant mariners, qualifies members of the armed forces, or students of a secondary or maritime school or college who operate motorboats as part of instruction. There are also inclusions for reciprocity for boaters with NASBLA-approved certificates from other states or MA boaters who already have a boater safety certificate. The timeline for implementation is:
— Guidance will be published by officials by 10/1/25
— Anyone born after 1/1/89 has until 4/1/26 to obtain their certificate, but no penalties will be enforced until 9/1/26.
— Anyone born on or before 1/1/89 must have a certificate by 4/1/28.
For more details on the Safe Boating Act, please visit Amendment S.3011