Welcome South Carolina Boaters!

This handbook is published by Boat Ed, the official provider of South Carolina's boating safety course. Although this handbook is a convenient reference tool, students wanting to receive official South Carolina boating safety certification would benefit from studying Boat Ed's comprehensive boat safety course.

All boating safety course material has been developed in conjunction with the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources, and is the same material used in their classroom courses. Take the official South Carolina boating safety course.

In This Handbook

Boating Basics includes: vessel length and capacity, fueling, float plans, navigational rules, U.S. Aids to Navigation, weather and other boating emergencies, and personal watercraft (PWC) basics.

It's the Law includes: registering information, registration fees, display of numbers, legal operating age, required equipment, unlawful operation, boating under the influence, reporting accidents, enforcement, environmental restrictions, and laws governing PWC and vessels towing skiers.

South Carolina enforcement officers patrol our waterways to make your boating experience safe and pleasant. Cooperate with them by following the suggestions outlined in this handbook as well as the rules of common courtesy while operating your boat.

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Boater Education Law

Those younger than 16 years of age may operate a boat powered by 15 horsepower or more (including PWCs) only if they are accompanied by an adult at least 18 years old who is not under the influence of alcohol and/or drugs or they have passed a boating safety course approved by the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources.

Read more about this law.