| <!-- @page { margin: 2cm } P { margin-bottom: | | | | such as lakes and ponds. |
| 0.21cm } --> | | | | A number of people are exempt from this |
| No license is required for the operation of a | | | | requirement. Those exempt include persons who |
| motorboat in Florida; however, some people do | | | | are licensed as masters (captains) of ships by the |
| have to meet state requirements before they | | | | US Coast Guard. |
| can operate certain boats in the state. | | | | The provision affecting young boaters doesn't |
| A person under 21 years of age is not allowed to | | | | apply to boaters under 21 who are accompanied |
| operate a boat with a motor of more than 10 | | | | by an adult or a person who is exempt from the |
| horsepower unless they have completed an | | | | regulation. Interestingly enough the state's website |
| approved boater education course. An approved | | | | states that a person who is over 18 is defined as |
| boater education course must be approved by | | | | an adult. |
| the National Association of State Boating Law | | | | Although boaters don't need to get licensed in |
| Administrators. Some other boat safety courses | | | | Florida boats are required to carry validation. A |
| and exams maybe allowed under this regulation as | | | | motorboat or any vessel over 16 feet in length in |
| well. | | | | Florida needs to have the validation decal issued |
| Boaters who have two received citations for | | | | by the state posted next to the registration |
| non-criminal violations of the boating regulations | | | | number on the front of the boat. All motorboats |
| are also required to complete a boater education | | | | in Florida have to display this decal when they are |
| course. Anyone who has been required to | | | | on the water. |
| complete a boater education course has to have | | | | The owners of Florida boats are required to have |
| a Boating Safety Education ID card with them | | | | their certificate of registration with them when |
| whenever they are driving a boat. They are also | | | | they're on the water. A person has 30 days after |
| supposed to have a photographic id such as a | | | | they buy a boat to get this registration. If they |
| driver's license or passport onboard as well. | | | | don't yet have this registration a person must |
| These requirements only apply on public | | | | have a copy of the bill of sale for the boat with |
| waterways, the open sea and public lakes. They | | | | them. |
| don't affect boaters on private bodies of water | | | | |