Over the years, Massachusetts has been working towards a law requiring all motorboat operators to obtain a boater safety certificate. Currently, most states require some form of certification. Massachusetts is finally playing catch-up! The Hanson-Milone Act was signed in January 2025 to address safety concerns on Massachusetts waterways.
Starting on April 1, 2026, anyone born after January 1st, 1989, will need a boater safety certificate to operate a motorboat. The law will not be enforced until September 1, 2026, to allow everyone some time to adjust to the new requirements and to take the course and exam. Anyone born before January 1st, 1989, will be required to obtain a certificate by April 1, 2028.
This law currently only applies to operators of boats with motorized propulsion. Our Solings and Sonars don’t have motors, so daysailing members are not required to be certified. Members at the mid-range and cruising levels will need to obtain a certificate through the state and have it accessible while on the water.
Exceptions to this law will include:
- Captains with merchant mariner credentials
- Active members in the armed forces of the United States, National Guard, or United States Coast Guard, who are qualified to operate motorboats based on training or position in such branch or organization, with documentation
- Operators who have a NASBLA-approved license or a license that meets equivalent standards from another state.
- BSC Students on a lesson with an instructor onboard
You can attend a free in-person class from an accredited provider or take a paid online course through an approved certification website. To find a boater safety course that will be right for you, please visit this mass.gov website link. To get a sense of what is on the test check out this Study Guide.
The certificate does not expire and will be good for life. Failure to obtain one by the dates listed above may result in fines from Massachusetts law enforcement.
To read the full law, please visit the Commonwealth of Massachusetts legislature website.