Welcome South Dakota Boaters!

This handbook is published by Boat Ed, the official provider of South Dakota's boating safety course. Although this handbook is a convenient reference tool, students wanting to receive official South Dakota 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 Dakota Game, Fish & Parks Department, and is the same material used in their classroom courses. Take the official South Dakota boating safety course.

In This Handbook

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

It's the Law includes: registration 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 Dakota Game, Fish & Parks Department enforcement officers patrol our waterways to make your boating experience safe and pleasant. Cooperate with them by following the suggestions outlined in this manual as well as the rules of common courtesy while operating your boat.

Get started!