The new Massachusetts Safe Boater law

According to U.S. Coast Guard statistics, 75% of boating-related deaths occur on vessels where operators lack proper safety training.

To make us all safer, you may have heard that on January 8, 2025, Massachusetts Governor Maura Healey signed the Hanson-Milone Act into law requiring boat operators to complete a boater education program and obtain a state-approved boater safety certificate.

Overview of the Hanson-Milone Boater Safety Act

In summary, the Act mandates boater education and certification for all Massachusetts motorized vessel operators, with phased implementation based on the operator’s date of birth, aiming to significantly enhance safety on the state’s waterways

Key Provisions

• All operators of motorboats and personal watercraft (PWCs) in Massachusetts will be required to carry proof of completion of an approved boater education course while on the water.

• The minimum age to obtain a boater safety certificate is 12 years old.

• Boaters born after January 1st 1989 must obtain a safety certificate by April 1st 2026.

• Boaters born on or before January 1st 1989 must comply by April 1st 2028.

• Recognized certificates from other states and prior certifications are accepted

• There are exemptions for merchant mariners, qualified Armed Forces members, and certain maritime students.

Additional Safety Rules:

The law also requires the use of engine cutoff switches (if provided by the manufacturer) and mandates that kayaks, canoes, and stand-up paddleboards carry at least one U.S. Coast Guard-approved personal flotation device.

Purpose and Background:

The act is named in honor of David Hanson, who died in a boating accident in 2010, and Paul Milone, a longtime Weymouth Harbormaster and boating safety advocate. The legislation was enacted after years of advocacy, with the aim of reducing boating accidents and fatalities through education.

Impact:

With this law, Massachusetts joins 45 other states in requiring boater education, aligning state regulations with federal U.S. Coast Guard safety standards. The law is widely supported by boating safety organizations and the recreational boating industry, who see it as a critical step toward safer waterways.

How to Comply:

• Boaters can fulfill the requirement by taking an approved safety course, which covers navigation rules, safe boating practices, emergency preparedness, and environmental responsibilities.

• Certificates from other states or previous Massachusetts certifications are recognized, and certain professional mariners and students are exempt.

Satori sailing are offering a 2-day course in conjunction with Boatwise that goes above and beyond the required Classroom training by adding a day of practical instruction out on the water, either on a school boat or the students own boat.

To find out more, click here.

The details of the new law