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Thread: Kentucky Boater Education Law Change Info - FYI

  1. #11
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    Hopefully there is a section in this course for courtesy and etiquette. Respect for kayaks, smaller, slower boats, and flotillas of boats that are fishing at idle or anchor by wake boats, large cruisers,, jet skis, etc is sorely lacking. Sometimes I chalk it up to ignorance, sometimes it's pretty obvious that they just don't care. Swamping someone in a small craft is not cool.
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  2. #12
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    Currently it was introduced in committee and that is it. They only have until the end of March until session is over. However, I expect it to pass eventually. I won't have to do it regardless but I signed up on-line already just because it can't hurt and I fish many other states where it may already be required.

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  3. #13
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    Quote Originally Posted by Jigboy View Post
    Currently it was introduced in committee and that is it. They only have until the end of March until session is over. However, I expect it to pass eventually. I won't have to do it regardless but I signed up on-line already just because it can't hurt and I fish many other states where it may already be required.

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    Right, we're in the 10 day recess/veto period now. They come back on March 29th and 30th to wrap things up and then the session is over. You're probably right, this late in the game it may get tabled until the next session, unless it gets pushed through with a rushed vote at the last minute. Coming up with the state budget plan has taken up a large majority of this session's time, especially with all the added things resulting from COVID-19.

    It certainly doesn't hurt to go ahead and take the test and be done with it. Like you said, it's most likely going to pass at some point. I took it a few years ago just to go ahead and get it done and to have it for traveling to other states where I'm required to have it.

  4. #14
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    They really need to make this apply to everyone regardless of age. I have been driving boats since I was a teenager, was taught the rules/laws by my father, and have fished lakes all over the south part of the country. I would have to take the course because I'm 43 and I am fine with that. However, someone who's 46 or older and never been on the water, much less driven a boat, can go buy one that runs 70+ mph and not take the course. That really makes alot of sense.

  5. #15
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    I am 67 and have driven boats for many years but not frequently.
    My wife has much more experience than I so I let her do the driving when we rent a pontoon or fishing boat.
    The lakes are so crowded these days, it makes sense to me that everybody be certified.
    Age is a non factor.

  6. #16
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    No thanks on that note. We have more then enough regulations then needed as it is. You can't legislate morality or ethics.

  7. #17
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    Quote Originally Posted by kentuckyranger390v View Post
    They really need to make this apply to everyone regardless of age. I have been driving boats since I was a teenager, was taught the rules/laws by my father, and have fished lakes all over the south part of the country. I would have to take the course because I'm 43 and I am fine with that. However, someone who's 46 or older and never been on the water, much less driven a boat, can go buy one that runs 70+ mph and not take the course. That really makes alot of sense.
    This law change sets it up so that eventually everyone will have it. The date is to be set at January 1, 1975 (same date used for Hunter's Education/Orange Card) - 40 years from now there won't be too many left alive who were born before that date.I think some schools even offer the boating class now. Hopefully KDFWR's Conservation Camps (like Camp Currie in west KY) will add the chance to gain a Boater's Education Card to their curriculum in addition to the Orange Card program they already offer.

  8. #18
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    Quote Originally Posted by Trapperpete52 View Post
    We have more then enough regulations then needed as it is. You can't legislate morality or ethics.
    You're right on that, but with this law change it does make it to where you must have some sort of basic understanding of what's in the boater's guide.

    The way it is out there now, I don't think many even know that a boater's guide exists!

    Basic knowledge of what the red and green buoys mean, knowledge of what navigational lights mean, and who has the right-of-way are all a large part of the test. It's 3 to 4 hours of info with quizzes after each section. I think it's a great setup!

    It certainly won't stop all the problems out there, but it's at least better than nothing. A driver's license doesn't stop accidents from happening, but it does help make sure that people have at least read the manual and understand that there are some rules that actually exist!

    I've been operating boats on KY and Barkley for over 30 years now, I started as a kid operating a jet ski in 1990 before any education requirements existed...who knows, maybe my wild ways inspired some law makers. Ha! Jet skis, bass boats, pontoon boats, jon boats, houseboats, cruisers, I've piloted them all. I'm currently exempt from the education requirement, but this new law change will require me to carry proof of education...I fully support this law change because it isn't about me and my need to learn the rules (I passed the test easily and only missed 1 question), it's about the OTHER GUY I'm meeting head-on and trying to make sure that he knows the rules. With as many times as I have been ran out of the navigational channel by someone who didn't know the rules, I'm hopeful that this law change will at least reduce the instances of that happening. Who knows, maybe this law change might prevent accidents like the one on Barkley near Kuttawa in 2010 where two bass boats meeting head-on resulted in a crash due to one boat operator not knowing what to do in that situation; both boat operators survived, but the passenger in the boat that was hit did not make it. That was an incredibly sad ordeal, and to make matters worse, one of the boat operators is considered a local bass fishing legend with all of his tournament wins; even with all of his boating knowledge he simply couldn't avoid the accident with the other guy.

  9. #19
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    I grew up on the river and can tell you that a jerk that don't care about anyone else will only become a educated jerk that doesn't care about anyone else. Pool 19 on the Mississippi is the site of an annual bass tournament and sadly usually there are accidents caused by them with a few fatalities over the years. Most times by NOT using common sense.

  10. #20
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    Quote Originally Posted by Trapperpete52 View Post
    I grew up on the river and can tell you that a jerk that don't care about anyone else will only become a educated jerk that doesn't care about anyone else. Pool 19 on the Mississippi is the site of an annual bass tournament and sadly usually there are accidents caused by them with a few fatalities over the years. Most times by NOT using common sense.
    I never understood why it was so hard for guys to simply stay on the right side of the channel/river. I've ran some of the smaller/narrowed river type lakes in KY like Nolin and I'm always baffled how guys will cut the corner on a blind curve/bend.

    Just a little over a week ago, a guy was trying to cut a bend on the wrong side of the channel/river, he ended up losing control and totaled his boat. He's lucky the boat didn't turn over and kill him:
    Smith Lake Boat Wreck - YouTube
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