TWIN FALLS – Although cooler temperatures have put many boaters off, the season is approaching when many people are taking to the water.
To help boaters prepare for a new season, the Twin Falls County Sheriff’s Office will host a free Boat Idaho Safe Boating course on Saturday. Classes are open to all ages and cover topics such as boating laws, “rules of the road”, boating safety practices, safety equipment requirements, navigation and boating. navigation label. The course will start at 2 p.m. and will last approximately six hours.
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sergeant. Ken Mencl of the Twin Falls County Sheriff’s Office said the course will hopefully give boaters more information about safety, rules and etiquette on the water to reduce incidents and violations.
“We see so many different violations on the water,” Mencl said. “And we really want to give boat operators the opportunity to take a boater education course.”
The course is free and open to all ages, and Mencl encouraged anyone interested in attending, whether they are new to the business, or even have had a boat for many years but could perhaps -be use a reminder because things change.
“This boating course in Idaho is designed to help people understand where rights of way exist and where they should navigate, especially in crowded waters like Centennial Park,” Mencl said.
In the case of Centennial Park, it is common to have high traffic of motorized and non-motorized watercraft. This has led to conflicts, when operators of either type of watercraft are unfamiliar with rights of way and boating etiquette.
This category is for motorized boaters. The Sheriff’s Office will be offering paddle sports lessons later in the season, specifically designed for paddle boards, kayaks and canoes.
By being better informed, Mencl said, boaters can hopefully help reduce conflict on the water.
“We prefer to spread the information and educate, rather than take enforcement action and issue citations,” Mencl said. “That’s what it’s limited to doing is educating and eliminating or reducing the chances of our search and rescue teams being called in to rescue or recover a deceased person, who if they had knowing some of these things that we are going to teach, it could have saved a life or prevented someone from receiving a citation.
The course will be taught through a series of PowerPoint instructions, videos and lectures to keep the class engaged.
Although Idaho does not require boater training for boat operators, it is recommended that all boaters take a boater safety course approved by the National Association of State Boating Law Administrators. This course allows you to sail in states that require a boater’s training card and can help you save on boat insurance. The certification card is a lifetime card.
