Living in or visiting the East End, there’s no denying the attraction of the water all around us. Ocean, Sound, bays, creeks, inlets. All of it. You can sit shore or deck or dockside and appreciate it, certainly — but there’s nothing like getting yourself on a boat and on the water.
According to the United States Coast Guard Auxiliary, there are somewhere around 428,445 registered recreational water-bound vessels in New York State, and about 14% of those are in Suffolk County. Add to that number the kayaks, paddle boards, jet skis and canoes that motor and sailboats also share the waters with, and you’ve got quite a crowded landscape of things that float — and that means potential for injuries, or worse. And the most common injuries result in collisions between two or more vessels.
The United States Coast Guard Auxiliary’s Eastern Long Island division is here to help.
Over the coming weeks, the U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary Moriches Flotilla is giving you an early start boater safety with its popular Boating Safety Education classes, where boaters learn and earn boater safety certification. This year, though, the classes are starting much earlier — well before you’ll be itching to hop on a boat — so boaters can get certified in safety before their vessels are even out of dry dock, which is required by New York State law for all boaters ages 10 and up.
Why so young? Unfortunately, that stipulation was borne of a horrible accident in 2005, where an 11-year-old kid was killed and her family gravely injured while out on the water when another boater careened into them.
Brianna’s Law, named for the little girl who perished in that terrible, avoidable accident, came into effect in 2019, requiring all motorized boat operators over the age of 10 years to take a boater safety course — and it’s had a phenomenally positive outcome on water safety. Since 2019, the number of state-wide accidents has declined by 45%.
“Public education has had an impact. Since enactment of the law there has been a downward trend in accidents between motorized boats,” says Andrew Tarantino, division commander for the United States Coast Guard Auxiliary, Northeast District Southern Region. Still, he notes, there is more work to do. “Accidents involving paddle craft is increasing. While the navigation laws require paddle boards, jet skis, kayaks and canoes to follow the same laws as a motorized vessel, the current boating course is only required of operators of motorized vessels. It is time for our legislatures to recognize this and not wait for someone to die before expanding Brianna’s Law to include the operators of non-motorizedvessels.”
Boater, sailor, paddle boarder — whatever your favorite way to be one with the waves is, the Boater Safety Course is an excellent way to get up to speed on safety (for you, your loved ones and everyone else out there on the water). The course runs 8 hours and is given either in one full day, or over consecutive days.
Note that it’s not a “license,” but instead it offers proof that you received U.S. Coast Guard-approved basic instructions on boating laws and safety routines. Still, getting on the water without it can run you a fine of up to $200.
Over the day or days, you’ll learn both federal and New York State boating laws, the effects of alcohol while boating, proper use of fire extinguishers, the use of life jackets, and how to call for help.
Early spring boater safety classes are being offered by the United States Coast Guard Auxiliary at a cost of $50 at the following eastern Long Island spots:
Quogue Library, April 11 from 10 a.m.-6 p.m., 90 Quogue St., Quogue
Westhampton Library, April 18 & 19 from 11:00 a.m.-3:30 p.m. (both days required), 7 Library Ave., Westhampton
Cutchogue-New Suffolk Free Library, May 2 from 8 a.m.-5 p.m. at 27550 Main Road, Cutchogue
Hampton Bays Library, May 2 from 9:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m. or June 6 from 9:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m. at 52 Ponquogue Ave., Hampton Bays
Patchogue-Medford Library, May 9 from 10 a.m.-5:00 p.m. at 54-60 E. Main St, Patchogue, NY 11772
Hampton Watercraft, May 16 from 9:30 a.m.-5:30 p.m. at 44 Newtown Road, Hampton Bays
To learn more, reach out to [email protected].
Additional North Fork boating safety classes, which also meet all requirements under Brianna’s Law for PWC and powerboats, are offered by Safe Boating America at a cost of $85 and can be found at the following locations:
Strong’s Marine, April 11 from 9 a.m.-5 p.m. at 2400 Camp Mineola Road, Mattituck
Riverhead Free Library, May 9 from 9:30 a.m.-5:30 p.m. at 330 Court Street, Riverhead
Strong’s Marine, May 16 from 9 a.m.-5 p.m. at 2400 Camp Mineola Road, Mattituck
Safe Boating America also has a NYS Private Boating Certification course you can schedule for a group of your own, which costs $1,250 for NYC and Eastern Suffolk locations and $995 for Queens, Nassau and Western Suffolk locations.
Courses must be scheduled two weeks in advance and held in a non-residential facility. The course can be held in one-day or multi-evening formats for groups of 6-10 people.
To learn more and to book, check Safe Boating America’s website.
