MOUNT VERNON — It’s said that living in Washington and not owning a boat could be considered a crime.

While it’s not, those ages 12 to 25 who operate a boat without a Boater Education Card are violating the law.

To keep folks on the straight and narrow, U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary Flotilla 17 in Anacortes is offering a boating safety and seamanship class for those who need to meet state boater education requirements.

Eight core classes are scheduled Mondays and Thursdays from Sept. 21 through Oct. 15 at the Anacortes Senior Center. Each two-hour session provides knowledge for safe boat handling.

Five bonus classes are available free to those in the class who wish to learn more.

Cost for the course is $45. It includes the Boating Skills & Seamanship textbook.

The classes are open to all ages. Many insurance companies offer discounts to those who successfully complete the course.

For more information, contact Greg DeVault at 206-300-3681 or send an e-mail to . A course outline is available at http://ciwa.us/.

“We (Flotilla 17) offer different classes on a regular basis, with the goal of educating people on proper boating and safety,” said David Martens, auxiliary public affairs officer. “The class is designed to get people their Boater Education Card. It’s all about improving boaters’ knowledge out on the water.

“Then we offer other classes for those wanting to learn even more about boating, such as a navigation class in the spring.”

This is the only boating safety and seamanship class offered in 2009.

“We offer it every September after the busy boating season,” said Martens. “Folks are coming off the water after having all these fun experiences and they want to learn more.”

The Washington State Mandatory Boating Safety Education law went into effect Jan. 1, 2008. Currently, the law requires boaters 12 to 25 to pass a boating safety course or an equivalent exam, and obtain a Boater Education Card before operating a motorized vessel of 15 horsepower or more.

The boating fatality rate increased from 5.3 per 100,000 registered recreational boats in 2007 to 5.6 in 2008. During that time, the Coast Guard recorded 709 deaths, 3,331 injuries and approximately $54 million dollars in damage, stemming from 4,789 recreational boating accidents.

Operator inattention, careless or reckless operation, no proper lookout, operator inexperience and passenger or skier behavior rank as the top five contributing factors to recreational boating accidents.

Alcohol consumption continues to be a major concern in fatal boating accidents, and is listed as the leading factor in 17 percent of boating deaths.
Operating a boat requires more than throttling up or setting sail and getting under way. There are navigation rules, weather considerations, knowing how to react to a person overboard and how to place a distress call.

“The 2008 report shows a clear link between safety and boating education by highlighting that only 10 percent of deaths occurred on boats where the operator had received boating safety education,” said Rear Adm. Kevin Cook, the Coast Guard’s director of prevention policy. “This statistic indicates that boaters who have taken a boating safety course are less likely to be involved in an accident. In addition, two-thirds of all fatal boating accident victims drowned. And of those, 90 percent were not wearing a life jacket. The Coast Guard urges all boaters, whether as an operator or passenger, to take a boating safety course and to always wear your life jacket.”

There are a number of ways for boaters to get their Boater Education Card. Besides the class, the card can be earned online or through a home study course. Boaters with experience may take an equivalency exam.

“Sure, a lot of people go online,” said Martens. “It’s an open-book test and as long as they are conscientious about reading it, they can pass the test. But at the same time, it’s a solo experience. They don’t get the benefit of taking the course with others and learning from them.

“These classes aren’t just the auxiliary instructor standing in front of the class and talking, but everyone in the class having input. There is a lot of local boating knowledge at these classes, and getting that out is really an integral part of the class. There are folks sitting there with years and years of boating experience in Puget Sound. With all that experience in the classroom, we want a lot of talking.”

The Anacortes auxiliary, which recently celebrated its 50th anniversary, has been offering boater safety classes for 20 years.

The textbook is now in its 12th edition.

“Nowadays, these classes are about getting people together and talking about boating, and the right and wrong ways to go about it,” said Martens. “ I am teaching the first class. The topic is ‘Which Boat is Right for You?’

“We fill the teaching assignments with people who have a lot of knowledge on the particular topic and who also have a particular interest in that skill set.”

Classroom topics besides choosing the right boat will include Equipment For Your Boat, Trailering Your Boat, Handling Your Boat, Your Highway Signs, The Rules You Must Follow, Inland Boating, The Rest of Our Story, Introduction To Navigation, Powering Your Boat, Lines & Knots For Your Boat, Weather And Boating, and Your Boat’s Radio.

Students will learn about power boating and sailing.

Flotilla 17 has about 50 members, 12 of whom are instructors. There are members from the Navy and Coast Guard. However, Martens said there are plenty of recreational boaters who are interested in volunteering their time in the classroom, doing safety checks and conducting water patrols.

“People tend to enjoy the class so much,” said Martens, “they leave wanting to learn more. So some end up joining the auxiliary.”

Coast Guard auxiliaries do more than teach classes. Flotilla 17 spent three days during Seafair helping patrol the waters of Lake Washington. Flotilla members were joined by three active Coast Guard members, who, said Martens, gave them plenty of authority.

“We do free vessel safety checks,” said Martens. “We will actually come out and check your boat. If the vessel passes, then it gets a decal. If it doesn’t, there isn’t any penalty. It’s just another outreach for us to contact other boaters.

“One can have a great deal of fun out on the water if you play it safe. And around here, there are so many beautiful places to go, like the San Juans. It’s awesome.”

It all comes down to safety. The top safety priority for boaters is the simplest — wear a life jacket, particularly in bad weather.

“We want everyone to be safe and have a good time out on the water,” said Martens. “We really enjoy these classes because we get to talk about something we really enjoy.”

Vince Richardson can be reached at 360-416-2181 or by e-mail at .