Virginia Boating Safety instruction requirements

In 2007, Virginia passed a law requiring boating safety education for operators (drivers) of personal watercraft (SeaDoos, WaveRunners, JetSkis, etc.) and motorboats with a 10 horsepower or greater motor. The operator MUST have a boating safety education course completion card on board when operating a PWC or motorboat.


As of July 1, 2010 all operators of personal watercraft 35 years old and younger must meet complete a safety course. No one under 14 years of age may operate a PWC in Virginia.

PWC operators 50 years of age AND motor boat operators 20 years old and younger must meet the requirements by July 1, 2011. 40 year old operators have until 2013, while 45 year olds may wait until 2014. By July 1, 2016 ALL PWC and ALL motorboat operators must meet the boating safety training requirements.

Just how do you prove you met the education requirement? The operator MUST have on board a card to show he/she met one or more of the following:

- Complete and pass a boating safety education course approved by NASBLA and accepted by the Virginia DGIF.

- Pass an equivalency/”challenge” exam

- Possess a valid license to operate a vessel issued by the Coast Guard ( a Merchant Mariner document)

- Posses a rental agreement from a rental business which lists the person as the operator AND has also completed the dockside safety checklist(must be onboard)

- Operates the boat under the direct supervision of a person that meets the compliance requirement

- Is registered as a commercial fisherman under the Code of Virginia or is under the direct supervision of the commercial fisherman while operating the fisherman’s boat

- Has assumed operation of the craft due to the illness or physical impairment of the operator and is retuning the craft to shore.

Non-residents of Virginia may operate boats in local waters for up to 90 days if they meet the requirements of their home state.

Make sure you meet the requirements before you head out this spring! Even if you are not subject to the requirement, take a safety course, and bring your family along! Boating is supposed to be fun, and being safe keeps boating fun!

Hiding my guns

I don't mean hiding my guns in case of a government takeover or zombie apocalypse.  Rather, two of my most-used guns are the same as they came from the factory long ago, with stained wood stocks and blued steel/alloy parts.  Since I take these two out in the field more than the others, I want them to be less conspicuous to critters.  I don't care for camo films or dips on the stocks, maybe on the metal parts.  I just want a dull nonglare finish.  On the wood, I want a dull finish there also, and maybe something to break up the outline some.  The problem with camo "patterns" is they don't always match where you are or the season.

I plan to work on two guns for this project; my old Mossberg 500 shotgun in 12 gauge, and a Umarex air rifle that wears the Ruger Airhawk logo.  Whatever I decide to use must be durable and easily touched up so the weapon remains protected and still "hidden".

More updates as this project goes on!

Where have I been?

Want to know where I have been? Check out www.pontoonboatadventures.blogspot.com.  Since the barge is up for sale, I have will return here. Want a deal on a great pontoon boat? 31 feet of fun and adventure!
Only $11,000 and you can come get it!