Axis Wake Research A20 - Insurance; Boating Safety Education Opportunities; Operation By Minors And Licensing; Safety and Required Equipment

The boat owner may be legally responsible for damages or injuries caused by both himself and the
operator (if dierent than the owner). Common sense dictates that you carry adequate personal liability
and property damage insurance on your boat, just as you would on your automobile. Many states have laws
detailing minimum insurance needs. Your insurance agent or your dealer may be able to supply you with
more informaon. You should also protect your boat from physical damage or the.
It is recommended that the boat owner/operator obtain boater safety educaon. If you have never owned
a boat before, you can get an excellent introducon to boat handling from organizaons such as the U.S. Coast
Guard, American Red Cross, United States Coast Guard Auxiliary, or your local boang authority. Even if you are
a veteran boater, these courses will help sharpen your boang skills as well as bring you up to date on current
rules and regulaons. See your local boang agency or dealer for informaon on classes in your area.
Some states require youths, 16 years of age and younger, to complete a boang safety course before
operang any watercra. Many others require operators under the age of 18 to be licensed in small boat
operaon.
Boat smart from the start: take a boang safety course and get a free vessel safety check annually for
your boat. For more informaon, contact: United States Coast
Guard Auxiliary, www.cgaux.org; United States Power Squadrons,
1-888-FOR-USPS, www.usps.org.
The following is a list of some other agencies and organizaons that
oer Water Safety, First Aid and CPR courses or informaon. To nd
boang safety courses in your area, call your state’s local boang
agency or the USCG boang safety course line at 1-800-336-2628
(1-800-245-2628 in Virginia).
• USCG Oce of Boang ( www.uscgboang.org )
• American Red Cross ( www.redcross.org )
• U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary ( www.cgaux.org )
• U.S. Power Squadrons ( www.usps.org )
• State Boang Oces
• Canadian Power and Sail Squadrons ( www.cps-ecp.ca )
• Boat Owners Associaon of the United States ( www.boatus.com )
• Naonal Safe Boang Council (www.safeboangcouncil.org)
• Water Sports Industry Associaon ( www.wsia.net )
• European or internaonal organizaons
If your boat will be operated by a minor, remember to have an adult present at all mes. Many states
have laws regarding minimum age and licensing requirements for minors.
Some states require boat training courses, cercaon, or licensing for minors and/or adults. Contact
state and local authories for requirements that apply in your area.
SAFETY AND REQUIRED
EQUIPMENT
Your boat and equipment must be in compliance with federal, state and local safety equipment
regulaons. USCG regulaons require certain safety equipment be present on your boat during operaon.
For a detailed descripon, obtain “Federal Requirements for Recreaonal Boats” published by the U.S. Coast
Guard and available online at:
hp://www.uscgboang.org/regulaons/federal_requirements_brochure.aspx.
2016 Axis Wake Research Owner’s Manual . . . Page 1-7
INSURANCE
BOATING
SAFETY
EDUCATION
OPPORTUNITIES
OPERATION
BY MINORS
AND
LICENSING