In MD,VA, and DC you can't operate a boat without a safety certificate from one of those places I linked.
Navigation Question
- Thread starter sbailey64
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I find it interesting some states require a boating safety class and some don't. I know NH does but MA does not. There is no question about the importance of a boating skills and safety course. What are the rules of a boater from a state not requiring a license sailing through a state that does?
Actually, in Virginia, the Boating Safety Certification requirement is age dependent:
http://www.boatus.org/onlinecourse/statelaws/Virginia.html#Age
The law also specifically says the requirement is for the operation of a "motorboat". Is a sailboat considered a "motorboat" ?? If so, why wasn't the regulation written to say "any motorized water craft" ?
I guess at 35 I must be one of the young 'uns on the forum!
Steve,
Check the requirements. The certs are cheap and easy to get. If you choose not to get them, you should still definitely get a good grounding in rules of the road from somewhere (preferably both classroom/personal research, and practical) and also keep in touch with the folks here who have experience sailing the waterways you plan on traveling.
As the answers to your post have showed, this forum is a treasure trove of folks willing to share experience, take advantage of it!
-Scott
Your trip is straightforward. Remember that the channel markers are in the deepest part of the waterway. Ocean going ships are constantly moving up and down the waterway. The draft on you boat is less that 5' which means that yes, you can get off the channel and visit others areas of interest. Upper Chesapeake Bay is very beautiful and has hundreds of places for you to drop anchor. You do need to buy the chart book that cover the bay and the C & D canal.
These are excellant charts. http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/t...56258/sr=8-1/ref=sr_8_xs_ap_i1_xgl14?v=glance
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