Boater Safety Course

May 11, 2024 at 9 am

At Porter Township Hall, 88040 M-40 Lawton

The Bankson Lake Association Activity Committee has set up a FREE Boater Safety Certificate Course. The Van Buren County Sherriff Marine Division will be running the course and distributing certificates to the participants.

Below you will find the public link to the Boater Safety Class at the Porter Township Hall.  Please keep in mind when registering that each person taking the class has to register with their own email address regardless of age.  Instructors are required by the state to upload and post scores for the class by individual.  The reasoning for the individual email address is because a parent cannot register their child with their email address.  Please click the link below to register for the May 11th class.

https://michigan.storefront.kalkomey.com/em/events/6339

If you are unsure if you or someone in your family wants or needs this certification, the information below is from the Michigan DNR website:

WHO MAY OPERATE A BOAT

Those less than 12 years of age :

  • may legally operate a boat powered by a motor of no more than 6 horsepower (hp) without restrictions.
  • may legally operate a boat powered by a motor of more than 6 hp, but no more than 35 hp, only if they:
    • have been issued a boating safety certificate and have it on board; and
    • are directly supervised on board by a person at least 16 years of age.
  • may not legally operate a boat powered by a motor of more than 35 hp legally under any conditions.

Those born on or after July 1, 1996 may legally operate a boat only if they have been issued a boating safety certificate and have it on board.

Those born before July 1, 1996 may legally operate a boat without restrictions.

WHO MAY OPERATE A PERSONAL WATERCRAFT 

Those less than 14 years of age may not legally operate a personal watercraft (PWC) (ie. jet ski, wave runner).

Those 14 and 15 years of age may legally operate a PWC if they have obtained a boating safety certificate; and is

  • accompanied on board by their parent, legal guardian or by a person who has been designated by the parent or legal guardian and is at least 21 years of age; or
  • operating or riding the PWC at a distance of not more than 100 feet from their parent, legal guardian or by a person who has been designated by the parent or legal guardian and is at least 21 years of age.

Those at least 16 years of age and born after Dec. 31, 1978 may legally operate a PWC only if they have obtained a boating safety certificate.

Those born on or before December 31, 1978 may operate a PWC legally without restrictions.