Boaters may soon need license

The water has long been a place to escape — from the land, from stress, and in some cases even from the rules. But California boaters may not have that much longer to escape regulation altogether, say local residents with an eye on the legislative process. If you own or rent a big enough boat, it may only be a matter of time before you need a license.

“This certainly looks like it’s in the works,” said Newport Beach Harbor Commissioner Ralph Rodheim, who is also president of Balboa Beach Rentals.

The California Department of Boating and Waterways has posted on its website a draft of recommendations for mandatory boater education rules. The department says it drafted them after several hearings held last year with groups that include boating advocates, business owners and law enforcement officials.

If proposed and passed into law, the recommendations would require a boater-education card for operators of sailboats longer than 30 feet or powerboats with a more-than 15-horsepower motor. Getting the card would require boaters to take a state-approved course and then pass an exam. Residents of other states would have a 60-day exemption from the obligation if they met their home state’s requirement. Renters would be partially exempt — they could get a 30-day card if they watched a safety presentation and passed an abbreviated exam.

The Harbor Commission had not taken a position on any specific proposal, but the commission sent a letter to the Department of Boating and Waterways supporting water safety improvement, Rodheim said. He added that it was likely that the agency will ask for a detailed study of the proposed rules at its next meeting.

The issues of such a wide and varied set of activities as boating are hard to get right in one set of regulations, he said.

“The word ‘mandatory’ is somewhat troubling,” Rodheim said. “It is such a complex issue because … are we talking about kayaking, or waterskiing, or sailing, or jet skis, or on the ocean, or what?”

Fellow Commissioner John Corrough said the commission had not taken a formal position. Personally, however, he said studies showed a recent influx of first-time boaters to the water. Those novices don’t always have enough experience to stay safe, he said.

“It’s as if you bought a car without ever having had any driver’s training,” he said. “People are just not familiar with boats.”

Newport Beach is safer than most places in the state, Corrough said. The waterfront tradition of the area means more people know what they’re doing, rental companies are strict about screening renters, and many who own vessels hire professional captains. Still, even old hands might benefit from refresher courses, he said.

“It always helps to relearn any skill,” he said. “Even old guys like me are going to have to pass the same test. I’m just hoping I haven’t forgotten some critical stuff — that could be embarrassing.”