Florida Regulations 68D-36.104: Minimum Standards for Boating Safety Courses
Current as of: 2024 | Check for updates
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(1) Each boating safety course taught pursuant to Section 327.395 or 327.731, F.S., must maintain current approval from the National Association of State Boating Law Administrators and the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission.
(2) In addition to minimum course content adopted by the National Association of State Boating Law Administrators, boating safety courses approved for use in the State of Florida shall contain state-specific information covering the following topics.
(a) Personal Watercraft Requirements.
1. Mandatory wear of personal flotation devices.
2. Age restrictions to operate or rent.
3. Hours of operation restrictions.
4. Wake-jumping concerns and reckless operation.
5. Causes and prevention of personal watercraft accidents.
(b) Boating Safety Identification Cards.
1. Age and engine horsepower requirements.
2. Photographic identification required.
(c) Vessel Safety Regulations.
1. Personal flotation devices for children requirements.
2. Florida’s adoption of all federal equipment requirements.
(d) Diving vessels, awareness of divers in the water, divers down warning devices, and the requirements of Florida Statutes § 327.331
(e) Water Ski, Parasail, and Aquaplane Regulations.
1. Participants must wear a personal flotation device.
2. Towing vessels must have either an observer or wide-angle rearview mirror.
3. Hours restrictions.
(f) Boating Restricted Areas, Manatee Protection Zones, and other areas within which boating is prohibited or in which boating speed is regulated. Regulatory markers including Idle Speed, Slow Speed, and mile per hour restrictions and aids to navigation shall also be covered.
(g) Boating Accidents.
1. Requirements for reporting accidents.
2. Remaining on scene/rendering assistance.
(h) Awareness of fish and wildlife with potential impacts to boaters and boating safety, including, but not limited to manatees, whales, dolphins, marine turtles, and sturgeon.
(i) Ecosystem Awareness and potential impacts to boaters and boating safety.
(j) The dangers associated with:
1. A passenger riding on a seat back, gunwale, transom, bow, motor cover, or any other vessel area not designed and designated by the manufacturer for seating.
2. A passenger falling overboard.
3. Operating a vessel with a person in the water near the vessel.
4. Starting a vessel with the engine in gear.
5. Leaving the vessel running when a passenger is boarding or disembarking.
(k) The proper use and lifesaving benefits of an engine cutoff switch for motorboats and personal watercraft.
(l) The requirement to operate at a speed no faster than slow speed minimum wake within 300 feet of an emergency vessel when the vessel’s emergency lights are activated and within 300 feet of a construction vessel or barge displaying an orange flag.
(3) For each course approved for use in Florida, the course provider must use the following:
(a) A boating safety workbook or text, or the electronic equivalent.
(b) A final exam of not fewer than 75 questions, including a minimum of 12 Florida-specific questions, with a minimum passing score of 75 percent.
(c) A syllabus or course outline.
(d) A list of course objectives.
Rulemaking Authority 327.04, 327.395, 327.731 FS. Law Implemented 327.395, 327.731 FS. History-New 6-9-05, Amended 1-31-23.
(2) In addition to minimum course content adopted by the National Association of State Boating Law Administrators, boating safety courses approved for use in the State of Florida shall contain state-specific information covering the following topics.
(a) Personal Watercraft Requirements.
1. Mandatory wear of personal flotation devices.
2. Age restrictions to operate or rent.
3. Hours of operation restrictions.
4. Wake-jumping concerns and reckless operation.
5. Causes and prevention of personal watercraft accidents.
(b) Boating Safety Identification Cards.
1. Age and engine horsepower requirements.
2. Photographic identification required.
(c) Vessel Safety Regulations.
1. Personal flotation devices for children requirements.
2. Florida’s adoption of all federal equipment requirements.
(d) Diving vessels, awareness of divers in the water, divers down warning devices, and the requirements of Florida Statutes § 327.331
(e) Water Ski, Parasail, and Aquaplane Regulations.
1. Participants must wear a personal flotation device.
2. Towing vessels must have either an observer or wide-angle rearview mirror.
3. Hours restrictions.
(f) Boating Restricted Areas, Manatee Protection Zones, and other areas within which boating is prohibited or in which boating speed is regulated. Regulatory markers including Idle Speed, Slow Speed, and mile per hour restrictions and aids to navigation shall also be covered.
(g) Boating Accidents.
1. Requirements for reporting accidents.
2. Remaining on scene/rendering assistance.
(h) Awareness of fish and wildlife with potential impacts to boaters and boating safety, including, but not limited to manatees, whales, dolphins, marine turtles, and sturgeon.
(i) Ecosystem Awareness and potential impacts to boaters and boating safety.
(j) The dangers associated with:
1. A passenger riding on a seat back, gunwale, transom, bow, motor cover, or any other vessel area not designed and designated by the manufacturer for seating.
2. A passenger falling overboard.
3. Operating a vessel with a person in the water near the vessel.
4. Starting a vessel with the engine in gear.
5. Leaving the vessel running when a passenger is boarding or disembarking.
(k) The proper use and lifesaving benefits of an engine cutoff switch for motorboats and personal watercraft.
(l) The requirement to operate at a speed no faster than slow speed minimum wake within 300 feet of an emergency vessel when the vessel’s emergency lights are activated and within 300 feet of a construction vessel or barge displaying an orange flag.
(3) For each course approved for use in Florida, the course provider must use the following:
(a) A boating safety workbook or text, or the electronic equivalent.
(b) A final exam of not fewer than 75 questions, including a minimum of 12 Florida-specific questions, with a minimum passing score of 75 percent.
(c) A syllabus or course outline.
(d) A list of course objectives.
Rulemaking Authority 327.04, 327.395, 327.731 FS. Law Implemented 327.395, 327.731 FS. History-New 6-9-05, Amended 1-31-23.