Boating Safety
Water sports are a great way to have fun in the sun, whether you take to the water in your power boat, sailboat, canoe or just jump in for a swim. But whether you're swimming or boating, it's important to use common sense. The Colorado Boating Safety Program promotes safe vessel operation while enhancing boating experiences.
Before heading out on the water, be sure to:
This Boat Safety Review Session is required for people 14 or 15 year olds to operate a boat in Colorado, but it is extremely valuable information regardless of age or experience level!
The review session is your opportunity to review the material you studied in the manual with an instructor and to take the proctored test. You must be 14 years or older at the time of the review session to take the test. Boat operator cards will be issued to students who attend the review session and pass the final exam.
The schedule for the 2012 Boat Safety Classes are now available. Please check back frequently for the most updated version. These classes fulfill the requirements for youth operation, but are open to any safety conscious boater. Not only will it help make you a safer boater, but it could save you 10-15% on your boat insurance!
The "Boating Safely in Colorado" manual is a self-study manual that must be studied by the students prior to the review session. Because of the associated cost, study books will only be provided to people who register to attend a boat safety review session.
The certification fee is $15 per student, payable at the class. Each student must bring a 1-by-1 inch front-facing photo, which will be laminated onto their operator card.
Search and Rescue FAQ
Saved By The Jacket We all know that life jackets save lives. In 2010, over two-thirds of all fatal boating accident victims drowned and of those, 90% were not wearing a life jacket. If you or someone you know has a story about how their life was saved by using a life jacket, we and the National Safe Boating Council would love to hear it. Your story may be used as part of the National Safe Boating Week to promote life jacket use nationally. If your interested, please e-mail boating.safety@state.co.us or call 303-791-1954.