Spring Aboard” Boaters Urged to Get Educated Before Boating Season

By State of NM

Santa Fe, NM: Now that it’s officially Spring, it’s the perfect time to prepare for fun activities on the water by taking a boating safety class offered by New Mexico State Parks. New Mexico State Parks is partnering with the National Association of State Boating Law Administrators (NASBLA) and state, federal and nonprofit partners to encourage boaters to enroll in a boating education course prior to the kickoff of the boating season. The first class will be held Saturday, April 14, 2018 from 8:15 a.m. – 5 p.m. at Rio Grande Nature Center State Park, 2901 Candelaria Rd. NW in Albuquerque. Call 575-373-5562 to register today!

“We know that an educated boater is safer on the water. If a boater has taken a boating safety education course the likelihood of their time spent on the water being a safe and enjoyable experience is much greater for them as well as their passengers,” said Barry Lucero, Chief of Law Enforcement. “With today’s wide variety of courses available, there’s a course for everyone’s schedule. Boaters have multiple options from classroom courses offered by New Mexico State Parks and the Coast Guard Auxiliary to online offerings available anytime day or night. There’s no reason to head out on the water without knowing what you’re doing, and spring is the perfect time to take a course before the summer boating season begins.”

Who is required to take the course? All motorboat, personal watercraft and sailboat operators born on or after January 1, 1989, must complete a boating safety course to operate on New
Mexico waters. This means operators – even those 13 years and younger being supervised by an adult on board. Students must score 80 percent on the closed-book exam to receive their Boater Education Card and have it on-board the motorboat during its operation.

Check out free class schedules at www.boatnm.com and for the remainder of the boating season.