I realize that we beat this subject to death but I have to take a chance on
starting it up again to report something that might help. I had my Power
Squadron certificate from 1972 on board the boat. I mailed a copy to the
Power Squadron with $10 and they said I am now registered and I have a new
wallet card that looks official.
I also went to the State of Maryland Department of Natural Resources
website and for $15 for an online exam I got this very official looking
wallet card from Maryland that says it is a Certificate of Boating Safety
Education issued by the Maryland DNR. It says that if I was born after 1972
I would have to have this card in my possession to operate a boat in the
State of Maryland. There is nothing on the card that mentions that it was
obtained online. The only clue is that the instructor is Boat Ed which is
the organization that does this for the state. There is nothing on the card
that says I am a Maryland resident, just that I am certified in Maryland.
There is no expiration date. There is a copy of this card on the DNR site.
I suspect this might be an easy way for an experienced boater to meet New
Jerseys requirement since this card is issued by the State of Maryland.
YMMV
Frank Burrows
At 12:47 PM 1/17/2009 -0500, you wrote:
"New Jersey passed a law effective June 2009 requiring all boaters including
transients to have written proof
of having taken a boating safety course, even if your home state does not
require it.
"See: http://www.boatus.org/onlinecourse/statelaws/NewJersey.html "