Cover Image: Boater enjoying Lake Balboa in Hot Springs Village, Arkansas
By Glenn Peterson, HSVPOA Lakes Committee Member
Did you know you may need a boater education certificate to operate a motorboat on Arkansas waters legally? The requirement is age dependent. Any motorboat operator born on or after January 1, 1986, must have earned 1) a boating education certificate showing successful completion of an approved Arkansas Game and Fish Commission (AGCF) safe boating course or 2) a valid boating education certificate issued by another state that is approved by the National Association of State Boating Law Administrators (NASBLA). Proof of certification must be carried on board the vessel.
You may think, “I was born well before 1986; how could this be relevant to me?” You may have family members or guests visiting you. If they were born on or after January 1, 1986, they must comply with the education requirement. The requirement applies whether or not the operator is a resident or non-resident of Arkansas. In Arkansas, the owner or lessee of a vessel is responsible for any injury or damage caused by the negligent operation of the vessel by others. It will be assumed that you have given consent if an immediate family member operates your vessel.
Additionally, if you rent a motor boat, any operator in your group must comply with the requirement.
Violation is considered a Class 1 offense and can result in monetary penalties ranging from $100 to $1,000 and a jail sentence of up to 30 days.
A positive point: completing an approved course may help reduce your boat insurance premium.
2023 AR Boating Laws & Responsibilities Handbook (see pgs 28, 29, 39, & AR Required Equipment Checklist)*
The legal reference is the 2019 Arkansas Code; Title 27 – Transportation; Subtitle 7 – Watercourses and Navigation; Chapter 101 – Watercraft; Subchapter 5 – Boater Safety; § 27-101-501. Program of Boater Training and Boater Safety – Boater Education Certificate.
Click here to read FindLaw.com – Arkansas Code Title 27. Transportation § 27-101-501. Boater safety and training program – last updated January 01, 2020.
For more boating information, click here to visit Arkansas Game and Fish Boater Education.
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