Responsibility to Others Operating Your Boat

You always should make sure that anyone operating your vessel understands his or her responsibilities as a driver and knows how to operate safely and responsibly.

Before allowing others to operate your vessel:

• Check that they meet the minimum age and boater education requirements for operation in your state.
• Make sure they know basic boating safety and navigation rules.
• Show them how to use the lanyard with the ECOS and require them to use it.
• Explain the importance of obeying “idle speed,” “headway speed,” and “slow, no wake” restrictions.
• Stress the need to keep a proper lookout for other boaters and hazards.