Boaters, this class is for you

COEUR d'ALENE — Idaho is one of five states that doesn’t require boating safety courses for general watercraft owners, but with the number of registered vessels climbing locally, officials encourage participation. 

During a Monday meeting, Kootenai County Commissioner Bill Brooks put a spotlight on recreational boating courses in the area. It wouldn’t be mandatory, but he argued that it should be highly recommended. 

Kootenai County is the largest boating community in Idaho, with more than 44,000 navigable acres of water serving over 20,000 registered boaters every year.

With the wave of new residents and tourists in the area, Brooks — in comparing boating to driving a car — said it would be helpful for people to know “what side of the road to drive on” and have an understanding of basic operating procedures.

“Right now, we’ve got people out there in the evenings and youngsters driving those boats who go quite quickly,” he said. “When you’re in a boating accident, you really don’t walk away from it. They are more serious, especially with small things like jet skis.” 

Every third Saturday of the month, the Kootenai County Sheriff'S Office marine program provides free certified boating education courses to the public, but few ever come. 

“We’re trying to get our number up, but usually we can’t get more than 15 people to show up for a class,” KCSO Recreation Safety Supervisor Sgt. Ryan Miller said. “If the weather’s nice, they don’t show up generally. So we’re trying to find ways to incentivize that because right now, there’s nothing mandated.” 

Boating safety courses are required for a select few in Idaho:

• People renting a personal watercraft

• Boat operators convicted of operating under the influence (OUI)

• Repeat offenders of boating laws

Though boat renters are supposed to take a course before hitting the water, Miller said those recreationists are the least educated and fastest-growing population. 

He said that completing the course earns a participant a boater safety card that is mandatory — and accepted — for recreating in other states.

In addition, the class details Idaho boating laws, general boating information, safety, and boat operator responsibilities. The course also covers rules for paddleboarding, kayaks and other watercraft. 

Much of the KCSO Marine Division’s time is spent educating vessel operators, Miller said, like explaining the meaning of buoys, wake rules, checking for life jackets, OUI stops, and invasive species inspections. 

“Education, the proper equipment and alcohol,” Miller said. “Those three things are really big for us.” 

While the county isn't interested in mandating boaters take the class, commissioners agreed that encouraging the public to become involved in the course would be beneficial.

“Maybe we can put some sort of a blitz behind it, so more and more people take advantage,” Commissioner Chris Fillios said. “I found it extremely useful when I took it because there were things I learned that I didn’t have a clue about.” 

The next free KCSO-led boating education course is July 17 at the Kootenai County Volunteer Search and Rescue Building, 10865 N. Ramsey Road in Hayden. 

Contact: marine@kcgov.us