Northwest Fishing Reports

Just a reminder for everyone under 50 years old, you must have a boater education card to operate a boat in Washington state this year. Well not all boats but if powered you should check to see if you are required to have it. I was checked several times last year but I was exempt last year. Just got my card in the mail today so I am ready for may 1st ling opener.

As happy as I am that I will never need a card, I do think everyone should have qualified training to operate a boat, of just about any size, or maybe any size. And yes I've taken a couple Coast Guard classes on boat handling, responsibilities. As far as the test for the card, a LOT of that stuff shouldn't be included for a fresh water card. So there should be a fresh water card, and a salt water card, and a combo card.

Only required if you are running 15hp or greater but I agree everyone should take the coarse, just don't fall for some of the scams out there charging up to $50 for the coarse and then another $10 for the state. The only cost you should HAVE to pay is the $10 to the state. Take the free coarse and send it all to parks and rec. with $10 and you are good to go.

I just started taking it and completed test one. The boating web site froze and now I have to take chapter one all over again. uggg.

Mike Carey wrote:I just started taking it and completed test one. The boating web site froze and now I have to take chapter one all over again. uggg.

I had that happen to me on one of the chapters and later when I went to redo it, it started me where I left off when it froze. Hope you get that lucky.

Sometimes it pays to be older. Phewwww No tests for me.

I just went online and passed it. No need to study. I'm not required to have a card but it's a good show, I did it so there's no excuse for anyone to not have one. One more step to weed out the dumb @$$es.

well, it's crashed twice on me. Next time I think I'll try Firefox instead of IE.

What website are you taking your coarse at?

Bodofish wrote:I just went online and passed it. No need to study. I'm not required to have a card but it's a good show, I did it so there's no excuse for anyone to not have one. One more step to weed out the dumb @$$es.

I believe those types are going to be out there regardless. As the great philosopher Ron White said: "You Can't Fix Stupid".
I supposed to have one by 2014 but I'm holding off to the last minute because I'm tired of continually forking over cash to State and Federal entities.

goodtimesfishing wrote:What website are you taking your coarse at?

http://www.boatus.org/onlinecourse/default.asp

Mike Carey wrote:

goodtimesfishing wrote:What website are you taking your coarse at?

http://www.boatus.org/onlinecourse/default.asp

That the same one im taking just pass the first 4 gotta take a break....

ah, Firefox worked fine. Chapter 1 in the bucket.

same one I did.

kokanee_slayer wrote:

Bodofish wrote:I just went online and passed it. No need to study. I'm not required to have a card but it's a good show, I did it so there's no excuse for anyone to not have one. One more step to weed out the dumb @$$es.

I believe those types are going to be out there regardless. As the great philosopher Ron White said: "You Can't Fix Stupid".

I took the USCG Boating Skills and Seamanship classroom course 4yrs ago. A copy of my course certificate plus $10 satisfied "the state". Boater's ed card stays in my boat glovebox just in case. Actually had to show it during a safety inspection on our last outing to Roosevelt. First time ever.