Boating in Florida I can't think of any reasons not to have everyone take a boating course.  As far as this Maine law.  I haven't read it but I see nothing wrong with having young children pilot motor boats if under proper supervison.  Not sure if this is allowed under this law, if not the law needs a rewrite. 

Overall, I'm against new regulations, we have too many and hard to control. However, I've seen some idiot kids on the water that are a danger to all, and THAT needs to be controlled.

I could argue for a requirement of one of the good safe boating courses.

Some kids 12-15 years old are quiet capable of operating a boat of more than 10 hp and do so regularly in Maine.  Require a test. And perhaps a short check ride with an adult.  Kids this age are riding snowmobiles, dirt bikes and ATV's.

Very much older that the target range.  My brothers & I were operating boats with 75 to 200 hp.  I started at 12 but my brothers are 4 & 6 years younger.  We all started with my father aboard.  If we "passed" his test, we were goo ro go.  We all were on our own at 12 ot 13 years old .  Operation on Lake Erie.

My son stated about the age of 13, but had been around boats all his life, sailing since the age of 7.  He drove our small powerboat w/ 110 hp at the age of 13 or 14 and as a sailng instructor, their RIBs had 20 hp motors.

Age is not the telling factor of whether a boat can be handled properly.  Just watch "Boat Fails" on any social channel! 

 

 

 

Requiring a boater to be 16 years of age to operate a boat is a bad idea.  How about requiring operators under 16 to have taken a safe boating course from the USPS or USCoastGuard or even those offered by local boating orgaizations.  In addition, it seems to me to be a GOOD idea for all those that want to boat to have taken a safe boating course.  Perhaps this requirement would eliminate some of the idiots I have encountered on the open waters as well as in shore.  My grandsons are under 16 and can operate the boat just fine, usually with an adult on board.  Family instuctions are necessary and maturity is required.  Nothing is taken for granted.  They have taken the standard Safe Boating Course offered to all by the USPS.  I am in the process of boxing up all my old course materials to give to them through Advanced Piloting and all the electives offered except navigating via the stars.  When they sign up I am sure new material will be in place. 

At age 10 my dad bought me a sailing pram. At 12 I was operating our 15 foot Lyman with a 22 hp outboard that I navigated through Hell's Gate in New York's East River. At 14 I was running our family 27 foot Chris Craft Sea Skiff with a 185 hp inboard and with my friends we would build 6 man pyramids on water skis. At 13 I passed the Power Squadron's advanced navigation course. USPS was the only boating education available in 1960. I have continued recreational boating including serious offshore racing to this day. Restricting kids from operating a boat until 16 is a really bad idea.

I really feel this is a long time coming, but I also feel that the age should be 12 with an adult on board until the age of 15, I have been boating since 1953 and have traveled by boat from Maine to Florida and onto the Bahama's and the BVI's on our last boat we lived aboard for 12 years and sailed her for over 57,000 miles. The USPS has a great course for beginners and would be happy to speak on the safety on the water. Thank you for all you folks do

 

At the age of 10 my scored 98% on the Maryland state boaters test.  He was far more qualified than many adults.  Maryland has subsequently increase the license age to 12.