Bourne Community Boating

Bourne Community Boating is offering Safe Powerboat Handling and Massachusetts Boating Safety Certificate courses. Read more about each course below.

Safe Powerboat Handling

Safe Powerboat Handling

$350.00 Safe Powerboating Handling

Jun 20, 2026 - Jun 21, 2026

Saturday 8:00 am - 4:00 pm

Sunday 8:00 am - 4:00 pm

Express register

Massachusetts Boater Safety Certificate

Massachusetts Boating License

$150.00 Massachusetts Boater Safety Certificate

Program dates: Jun 20, 2026 - Jun 20, 2026

Jun 20, 2026 - Jun 20, 2026

Saturday 8:00 am - 4:00 pm

Express register

Safe Powerboat Handling

Safe Powerboat Handling is a 16-hour hands-on, on-the-water course for anyone who wants to learn how to safely operate a small motorboat and improve their boathandling skills. No previous experience is required! The US Coast Guard and the National Association of State Boating Law Administrators (NASBLA) have approved this course, and Massachusetts has recognized it as meeting their requirements for a State Boating Education Certificate.

 

Class location-

Saturday classroom sessions will be held at the Pocasset Village Association Building (5/30) or Kingman's Yacht Club (6/20)

Sunday sessions will be on-water at Monument beach

On-the-Water Sessions

  • Engine & electrical systems
  • Starting procedures
  • Docking
  • Leaving & returning to a slip
  • Close-quarters maneuvers
  • Anchoring
  • Steering a range
  • Proceeding to a destination
  • Person in Water rescue

Classroom Sessions

  • Safety, preparation & weather
  • Maneuvering concepts
  • Registration & capacities
  • Equipment requirements
  • Preparation & fueling procedures
  • Navigation rules of the road
  • Aids to navigation
  • Environment regulations

Prerequisites

  • None, no experience necessary!

Age

  • 12–adult (Must be 12 years old by the day of the course)

Certification(s) Earned

  • US Sailing/US Powerboating Safe Powerboat Handling Certificate (NASBLA Approved)
  • Massachusetts Boater Safety Certificate (NASBLA Approved Boating License)

Massachusetts Boater Safety Certificate

The Massachusetts Boater Safety Certificate is a one-day, 8-hour course for anyone who knows how to operate a small motorboat safely but has yet to receive a Massachusetts Boating License. The US Coast Guard and the National Association of State Boating Law Administrators (NASBLA) have approved this course.

Who Must Be Certified

Starting April 1, 2026, a valid boater safety certificate will be required for all individuals operating motorboats and PWCs in Massachusetts.

  • Born after January 1, 1989:
    • Must obtain a certificate by April 1, 2026.
    • No penalties will be enforced until September 1, 2026.
  • Born on or before January 1, 1989:
    • Must obtain a certificate before April 1, 2028.

Age

  • 12–adult (Must be 12 years old by the day of the course)

Certification(s) Earned

  • Massachusetts Boater Safety Certificate (NASBLA Approved Boating License)

Testing

  • Online courses require an in-person proctored test scheduled with Bourne Community Boating after completion of the course to receive your Boater Safety Certificate.
  • In-person courses will be tested on the day of the course.