About This Program

The U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary and Georgia DNR team up to deliver an engaging, in-depth boating safety course for new and experienced boaters. You will gain the knowledge needed to earn a Georgia DNR Boater Education certification, which is widely accepted for operating motorboats and personal watercraft in Georgia, South Carolina, Florida, and many other states. 

What you will learn

• General boat knowledge and basic maintenance

• How to plan a safe outing, including capacity, float plans, fueling, and trailering

• Operating safely on the water: navigation rules, lights, sound signals, anchoring

• Legal requirements: numbering, equipment, life jackets, reporting accidents

• Preventing and responding to emergencies: fires, collisions, capsizing, swamping, falls overboard, weather, and emergency calls

• Courtesy and best practices for water sports, hunting, diving, and paddlesports

• Why wearing a properly fitted life jacket matters, including secure straps, buckles, and zippers

Applies to all vessels
Powerboats, personal watercraft, sailboats, canoes, kayaks, stand-up paddleboards, and other paddle craft.

Course outline (Boat America)

• Ch. 1 Know Your Boat

• Ch. 2 Before You Get Underway

• Ch. 3 Operating Your Boat Safely

• Ch. 4 Legal Requirements of Boating

• Ch. 5 Boating Emergencies: What to Do

• Ch. 6 Enjoying Water Sports in the Boat

Leave with practical skills, a clear understanding of the rules, and the confidence to operate your vessel safely.

Who Should Attend

• All persons born on or after January 1, 1998 who operate motorized vessels on Georgia waters.

Delivery Format & Materials

Registration

Contact

For more information on this program, please contact communityprograms@georgiasouthern.edu.