Boaters will soon be required to obtain new safety certificates

Following Gov. Maura Healey’s decision to sign into law new boating regulations for safety certificates, Harbormaster Steve Melo says he has some unanswered questions.

The new regulations, which were signed into law under the Hanson-Milone Act by Gov. Healey in January, will require Massachusetts boaters to hold a valid boater safety certificate to operate motorboats and personal watercrafts starting April 1, 2026.

Operators will also be required to carry proof of completion of an approved boater education course while on the water.

Boaters born after Jan. 1, 1989 must obtain their certificate by April 1, 2026 with no penalties enforced until Sept. 1, 2026.

Those born on or before Jan. 1, 1989 must obtain a certificate before April 1, 2028.

The Massachusetts Environmental Police has established two routes boaters can take to complete the required boating safety education course.

Boaters can either sign up and complete an online safety course or attend an in-person safety course. Organizations offering approved in-person classes include Boatwaise, the US Coast Guard Auxiliary and New England Maritime.

According to the Massachusetts Environmental Police, the courses will cover navigation rules, emergency procedures and environmental protections.

Although Melo has been in support of this kind of legislation for the last decade, he said there are still some unknowns regarding the changed regulations, including whether there are any exemptions for boaters and how he is meant to enforce the new law.

The purpose of the law, Melo said, is to ensure people are safe on the water, yet there had been some pushback in the years leading up to its passage.

According to Melo, the Marine Trade Association was concerned that fewer people would want to buy boats or get into boating, noting that the Association may make less money if there are less people who need to fix or replace their boats if an accident occurs.

“So it's kind of a tongue in cheek of both sides of the need for safety and the desire not to impose that on the public,” he said.

Melo, who has been involved in signing petitions to get the law passed for the past 13 years, said there’s “no denying” that the law has a “solid, good purpose.”

“Doing something to improve your chances of survival on the water, which are boating skills, safety skills, anything you can do toward that end, is better than doing nothing,” he said.