Aug. 26, 2016

Media contact: Lt. Tom Wanless, 517-284-6026

DNR, Detroit Yacht Club offer free boater safety class at Belle Isle Park

The Michigan Department of Natural Resources has partnered with the Detroit Yacht Club to offer a free boater safety class to the public. The one-day class will be held from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sept. 1 at the Detroit Yacht Club, One Riverbank Road, Belle Isle Park, Detroit.

Interested persons must pre-register for the class. For more information or to pre-register, contact the Detroit Metro Customer Service Center at 313-396-6890. The center is open 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. The deadline for registration is noon, Aug. 31.

The class is limited to the first 20 registrants.

The course covers vessel basics, navigation rules, nighttime navigation, emergencies, boating laws and regulations, required equipment, water skiing and more. Lunch is provided.

Upon successful completion of the program, which includes a multiple choice exam given during the class, participants will receive their boater education certificate (card), which is required in most circumstances to legally operate a motorized watercraft in Michigan.

Following the class, there is an optional, hands-on training where participants will have an opportunity to put into practice what they learned. This includes maneuvering a motorized watercraft in the water while accompanied by a conservation officer.

Boaters born after June 30, 1996, and most personal watercraft operators who operate a vessel in Michigan, must have a boater education certificate.

Although there are some people who do not need to obtain the certificate to legally operate a boat or personal watercraft, Michigan conservation officers encourage all persons operating boats in Michigan to enroll in a course.

To obtain a boater education certificate through an online course and exam, visit www.michigan.gov/boating and click on the “Boating Safety Classes” icon. These courses cost approximately $30 each.

Michigan conservation officers are fully commissioned state peace officers who provide natural resources protection, ensure recreational safety and protect citizens by providing general law enforcement duties and lifesaving operations in the communities they serve. Learn more about Michigan conservation officers at www.michigan.gov/conservationofficers.

The Michigan Department of Natural Resources is committed to the conservation, protection, management, use and enjoyment of the state’s natural and cultural resources for current and future generations. For more information, go to www.michigan.gov/dnr.