Ohio’s would-be boaters are shipping out via on-line education much more than they are in-person training.
Once again, credit COVID-19 for the use of home computers to study and take the test for first-time boaters in Ohio.
Under Ohio law, persons born on or after January 1, 1982 and who operate a boat in Ohio powered by more than 10 horsepower must provide proof of boater education.
A person can meet Ohio's boater education requirement by taking and passing an approved boating education course - classroom, online, or home study- or by taking and passing a proficiency exam, the Ohio Department of Natural Resources’ web site says.
“Despite the challenges of boating education classes being canceled due to the coronavirus, the Division of Parks and Watercraft has seen an increase in the number of Ohioans taking the Ohio Boater Education Course,” said Natural Resources Department’s chief of communications Sarah Wickham in a prepared statement on behalf of the Parks-Watercraft Division.
Wickham said that as of September 15th, a total of 15,701 Ohioans took the Ohio Boater Education Course. That compares to 13,928 persons during the same time frame in 2019.
In all, says Wickham, new boaters have five approved online course providers: They are Boat Ed, Boater Exam, Boat US, Boat Smart, and Ace Boater.
Similarly, says, Wickham, several well-known boating agencies were granted approval for virtual classes. And some still provide for in-person training.
In terms of popularity, not all are equal, though. The same goes for expense, as these commercial operations do charge a fee, none of which goes to the Natural Resources Department.
By far the most popular on-line boater education course is the one offered by Boat Ed. As of September 15th, this program had enrolled 6,906 students – up from the 4,559 students for the same period in 2019. The cost for this program is $34.95.
Another popular course is offered by Boat US which as of September 15th had enrolled 3,125 students, up from the 2,943 students enrolled for the same period in 2019. Boat US does not charge a fee.
Of the five approved commercial operations only Boater Exam ($29.95) has seen a decline in enrollment: from 1,983 students in 2019 to 1,909 students for the same period this year.
In-person education is offered by such organizations as the U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary, the U.S. Power Squadron, and the Ohio Division of Parks and Watercraft.
However, due to COVID-19 all of the classes offered by these groups have experienced plummeted attendance. In the case of the Parks-Watercraft course, attendance has fallen by 1,854 students, as prospective first-time boaters switch gears and throttle up with on-line courses.
- Jeffrey L. Frischkorn
JFrischk@Ameritech.net
JFrischk4@gmail.com
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