Boating Homestudy Course Mail "Deadline" Nears

Boaters who want to meet 2003 Mandatory Boater Education requirements early by taking the Oregon State Marine Board homestudy boating safety course should order their books by Dec. 21 or sooner. "We're getting hundreds of orders for the homestudy courses each day," said Randy Henry, of the Marine Board. "After Dec. 21, it's unlikely that you'll get your book in time to complete the course by Dec. 31 when the self-test option expires."

More than 23,000 boaters have completed the homestudy course in the last year, with 200-300 tests coming in daily in recent weeks. The homestudy course is a convenient way to qualify early, but the self-test option ends Dec. 31.

"Fortunately, we have other options that are just as convenient as this that aren't going away," said Henry. "We have several Internet courses that are available 24 hours a day through our web site, www.boatoregon.com. And even though the self-test expires, the homestudy course will still prepare people for the proctored exams beginning in 2001. Missing this deadline is not a major problem. Other opportunities exist, and no one needs a card until 2003."

The mandatory education requirement starts phasing in in 2003 for power boat operators 30 and younger, then 40 and younger in 2004, 45 in 2005, 50 in 2006, 60 in 2007, 70 in 2008 and all boaters in 2009. Internet courses and updated information are available at www.boatoregon.com or by calling the Marine Board.

"If people order books after Dec. 21, we will continue to send them as a method of preparing for the proctored exam," said Henry.
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