The following set of info and info links should be shared with everyone involved in use of motorized boats; MCA helping to spread the word with pleasure boaters and fishermen/women; young and old. The new boater safety certificate people will need to complete and carry with them falls under the new
Hanson-Milone Boating Act, signed into law in 2024 and takes effect in 2026.
This new boater safety education laws applies to everyone, not just commercial boat operators. So, for example, if you have a 15 foot canoe with a trolling motor, the fisherman/woman will need to take a boater safety class and carry their certificate of completion when operating their boat, even if the person is the only person in the boat. This applies to young boaters from age 12 onwards.
The links for the boater safety class and certification
https://www.mass.gov/news/massachusetts-environmental-police-raise-awareness-campaign-for-new-boater-education-law
https://www.mass.gov/how-to/boat-safety-certificate-course
https://boatingindustry.com/news/2025/01/14/hanson-milone-safe-boating-act-signed-into-law/
The reminder of what types of boats need to be registered in MA with size and motors
https://www.mass.gov/boat-registration
State law requires any motor-powered boat, or boat operated on a Massachusetts public waterway, to be registered. This includes motorized fishing boats, canoes and sailboats with motors, and jet skis or wet bikes.
https://www.mass.gov/info-details/boat-registration-faqs
Some examples of boats that require registration include fishing boats with motors, recreational motorboats, canoes or sailboats that use motors (includes electric motors), and personal watercraft such as Jet Skis or wet bikes
All boats 14 feet or greater in length that are designed for use with a motor, or that use a motor at any time, must be titled. For example, sailboats 14 feet or longer with a backup motor in use, or sailboats designed for use with a backup motor, must be titled. Even canoes 14 feet or longer that use a motor of any type must be titled.
What Does This Mean for Boaters?
Starting April 1, 2026, anyone wishing to operate a motorized vessel in Massachusetts will be required to complete an approved boating safety education course.
The goal is to ensure that every boater has the skills and knowledge needed to operate their vessel safely, reducing accidents and ensuring a more enjoyable experience for all. The education program will cover important topics such as:
Navigation Rules: Understand how to safely maneuver on the water and avoid collisions. Emergency Procedures: Learn what to do in case of an emergency to protect yourself and your passengers. Environmental Protections: Gain awareness of practices that protect Massachusetts' treasured natural resources.
To get started, boaters can visit the official Massachusetts Boater Education website at www.mass.gov/how-to/boat-safety-certificate-course
Do you need to take a boaters safety course to get a Massachusetts boating license?
Anyone born after January 1, 1989, has until April 1, 2026, to obtain their boater education certificate, provided that no operator shall be assessed a penalty until September 1, 2026. Anyone born on or before January 1, 1989, must obtain their certificate before April 1, 2028.
Operators of motorboats and PWCs will be required to show proof of completion of an approved boater education course when underway on the waters of the Commonwealth. No person under 12 years of age may operate a motorboat. No person under 16 years of age may operate a personal watercraft (PWC).
https://www.boatsafe.com/what-is-a-pwc/
