Boater Education Card

[Friskyou]

As we move into September of this year that was supposed to be the end of the world.. Don't forget there are only 4 months left to get your test by mail and take it at home at your own pace. After Jan. 1 you will have to take it at a proctored site. The test only costs $4 and you can order it from the Oregon State Marine Board. Good Luck all

[WaterDog]

The wife only missed 1 question. Not too bad. I wonder if this will do any good. At times I think there should be a test like when you drive a car. Some folks dont belong behind the wheel, nor do they belong at the ramp. I can forgive a newby and am more than willing to help. Some folks are just plain inconciderate. That drives me nuts! I took my boating couse when I was 16(14 years ago). Took the 6 or 8 week couse put on by the Power Squadron. Well worth the time!

[fishNfanatic]

Hey FriskYou,

Thanks for the reminder. I went to the Oregon State Marine Board webpage http://www.marinebd.osmb.state.or.us/
and found several other options for taking the test.

You can take the test prior to December 31, 2000 at home by sending off for the test($4.00), or you can take it online. They have several links to websites where you can take the test. The most obvious link on their page is to the BoatOregon online test. This test costs $15 to take and then you will be required to pay the state $10 to get your boater education card.

I called the Oregon Marine Board office to get some information and was told you could take an online test for free that would also earn you a certificate that you could turn in with $10 to the state and get your card. They couldn't (or wouldn't) tell me exactly how to find the link but assured me you could take the test for free somewhere.

I went back to their page and look a little more and found it. If you look at about the middle of the page at http://www.marinebd.osmb.state.or.us.../Classes1.html there is a title called OTHER COURSE OPTIONS and there are two links there. One is to www.boatsafe.com and the other is to www.boatus.com. The boatsafe test cost $15 for the certifcate. The Boatus.com test can be taken for free and you can print out the certificate on your own printer.

So I took the free test. Got the certificate and called the marine board again. This time I got someone who had a little more knowledge about the programs and was told to hang on to my certificate until after the first of the year. Then you will be able to send it in with $10 and get your boater ed card. But you must take the test and get the certificate with a date prior to December 31, 2000 for it to be valid.

After the first of the year they will only accept "proctored" testing. You will have to go to a authorized agent and take the test and pay an additional fee. You will not be able to order the mail in test for home. She also mention they might have an online test that will be allowed, but I bet it will cost something.

So the best way to get that card as I can see it is to go online to http://www.boatus.com and take the free test and print out your own certificate. Save it until next year and turn it in for your card.

I spent the better part of the morning on this. I hope this will help anyone else that is not going to put this off until the last minute. Besides you can save yourself a few bucks. The test was very informative and I did learn a few things.

FishNFanatic



[This message has been edited by fishNfanatic (edited 08-31-2000).]

[Phish_on]

Hey, thanks for doing the ... uh ... mouse-work and posting those links here !

[Gizmo Man]

Is this new "tax" I mean requirement only required for Or. residents or is Or going to make it a requirement for anyone boating in Or water to have one of certificates?

Does anybody know.

I live in Wa and boat in Or. What is required for out of staters?

Giz...

[Jim]

Hey Giz...that is my question also...I have my little red stern sticker but....let us know those that are in the know!

Jim

[Hook'd]

Thanks fishNfanatic for all the good info. Took test and printed certificate. Took less than ½ hour.