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Originally Posted by Bear Islander
...Skip...Does this mean you can take the helm without a certificate if you are under 16, but not if you are 16 or over. The section below seems clear but doesn't it conflict with 270-D:10...
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Yep, weird....isn't it?
Operate in New Hampshire is defined as "to be in direct physical control". In a pleasure craft as we are talking about here the person at the helm (actually steering) has to have the certificate, unless under 16 and under the direct supervision of a certificated adult.
By the way, as a side note, an intoxicated adult with a certificate cannot be directly supervising the child as the intoxication prevents the ability to "directly supervise".
Currently, unlike the motor vehicle code, there is no excpertion to allow a certificated adult the ability to offer "driver training" to a non-certificated adult. You're at the whim & will of the law enforcement officer that may stumble upon you whether you get a warning or a summons.
Just another weird way we regulate the citizenry!
Skip
p.s. You know, many of us that post here are long time educated boaters here in New Hampshire. Yet even with experience, boater safety certificates and tons of common sense between us, look how many questions about regulations we still ask each other!
Why?
Because (as pointed out many times by Misty Blue, amongst others) our current marine regulations are sometimes confusing, many times happenstance and not understood very well by too many. Maybe its time we have a sunset review of our present marine statutes so we can clean up and simplify them! Just a thought....