GRDA Police will again offer FREE Boating Safety Courses to the public to ensure you can decrease your risks while on the water this season. The Oklahoma state boating certification courses are provided by GRDA Police at NO COST to adults and kids 12 to 16 years of age that want to be certified to operate a boat or personal watercraft (PWC). We have one goal in mind; to help ensure that your entire family remains safe while having fun on the water this season and that you know how to remain in compliance with the law while on our lakes. The numbers don't lie; the U.S. Coast Guard confirms that the majority of boating deaths (74%) occurred on vessels where the operator had NOT received any boating safety instruction. Driving a boat takes skill and knowledge, and the "trial by error" method of learning to operate a boat can be costly and dangerous.
Instruction in the one-day courses provided by GRDA Police will include a variety of information that includes navigation rules, boat nomenclature and equipment, safety equipment, boating laws, and information about safely navigating on GRDA lakes. These courses are taught by seasoned police officers with GRDA Police that can pass on a vast amount of information about Grand and Hudson Lakes that you may not know about. We recommend that anybody that intends to operate a vessel take this course. Even experienced boat operators will learn something new about how to operate their vessels safely; plus, many insurance companies will give you discounted rates on your insurance if you attend this course.
The Kyle Williams Boating Safety Act prohibits kids between the ages of 12 and 16 years of age, without a valid driver's license, from operating a vessel powered by a motor of more than ten horsepower or a sailing vessel 16 feet or longer without first completing a state-approved boater safety course. This course is what your kids will need to operate a boat or PWC this season legally. We encourage the whole family to attend so you all have the knowledge you need to ensure your boating experiences are as safe and enjoyable as possible.
All classes will be held at the GRDA Ecosystems & Education Center in Langley at the west end of Pensacola Dam on the following dates from 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM:
March 11
April 8
April 22
May 6
May 13
June 3
June 24
July 22
August 12
Courses are held at the GRDA Ecosystems & Education Center at 420 Hwy 28 in Langley.
