Theboatownermaybelegallyresponsiblefordamagesorinjuriescausedby
bothhimselfandtheoperator(ifdierentthantheowner).Commonsense
dictatesthatyoucarryadequatepersonalliabilityandpropertydamage
insuranceonyourboat,justasyouwouldonyourautomobile.Manystates
havelawsdetailingminimuminsuranceneeds.Yourinsuranceagentoryour
dealermaybeabletosupplyyouwithmoreinformation.Youshouldalso
protectyourboatfromphysicaldamageortheft.
Itisrecommendedthattheboatowner/operatorobtainboatersafety
education.Ifyouhaveneverownedaboatbefore,youcangetanexcellent
introductiontoboathandlingfromorganizationssuchastheU.S.CoastGuard,
AmericanRedCross,UnitedStatesCoastGuardAuxiliary,oryourlocalboating
authority.Evenifyouareaveteranboater,thesecourseswillhelpsharpenyour
boatingskillsaswellasbringyouuptodateoncurrentrulesandregulations.
Seeyourlocalboatingagencyordealerforinformationonclassesinyourarea.
Somestatesrequireyouths,16yearsofageandyounger,tocompletea
boatingsafetycoursebeforeoperatinganywatercraft.Manyothersrequire
operatorsundertheageof18tobelicensedinsmallboatoperation.
Boatsmartfromthestart:takeaboatingsafetycourseandgetafreevessel
safetycheckannuallyforyourboat.Formoreinformation,contact:United
StatesCoastGuardAuxiliary,www.cgaux.org;UnitedStatesPowerSquadrons,1-888-FOR-USPS,
www.usps.org.
ThefollowingisalistofsomeotheragenciesandorganizationsthatoerWaterSafety,First
AidandCPRcoursesorinformation.
Tondboatingsafetycoursesinyourarea,callyourstate’slocalboatingagencyortheUSCG
boatingsafetycourselineat1-800-336-2628
(1-800-245-2628inVirginia).
• USCG Oice of Boating
(www.uscgboating.org)
• American Red Cross
(www.redcross.org)
• U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary
(www.cgaux.org)
• U.S. Power Squadrons
(www.usps.org)
• State Boating Oices
• Canadian Power and Sail Squadrons
(www.cps-ecp.ca)
• Boat Owners Association of the United States
(www.boatus.com)
• National Safe Boating Council
(www.safeboatingcouncil.org)
• Water Sports Industry Association
(www.wsia.net)
• European or international organizations
Axis
Owners
Manual
2019
Page 10
insurance
boating
safety
education
opportunities