Boating safety education classes

Since all Ohioans age 29 and younger must complete an approved boating safety education course in order to operate watercraft of more than 10 horsepower, you may want to take advantage of courses planned in March and April by the Muskingum Watershed Conservancy District (at least if you live close enough to New Philadelphia, Tappan Lake or Pleasant Hill Lake to take advantage of them).
The cost of the MWCD courses is $5 per person and registration is handled through the MWCD main office at New Philadelphia. The three classes are:
March 22-24 – 6 to 9 p.m. each night – MWCD main office, 1319 3rd St. NW, New Philadelphia.
April 16 – 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. – Pleasant Hill Lake Park activity center – 3431 Rt. 95, Perrysville.
April 29 (8 a.m. to 5 p.m.) and April 30 (10 a.m. to 2 p.m.) – Tappan Lake Park activity center – 84000 Mallarnee Rd., Deersville. Participants must attend both sessions to meet full education requirement.
For registration, contact Stacie Stein at the MWCD office by calling toll-free (877) 363-8500 Ext. 2201, or by sending a message to sstein@mwcd.org.
According to state law, all boaters born on or after Jan. 1, 1982, must show proof that they have successfully completed an approved boating safety education course if they operate any powered watercraft great than 10 horsepower on a state waterway, including any MWCD lake. The law includes those who operate personal watercraft, rental powercraft and persons 18 years old and older who supervise youth powerboat operators.
According to the Ohio Department of Natural Resources’ Division of Watercraft, the number of boating-related deaths in Ohio has declined 26 percent during the period of 2001-2010 since the law was enacted in comparison to the previous decade of 1991-2000.