Gov. McMaster signs long sought-after boater safety bill in SC

A bill that will require younger boaters to sit for a safety course is just weeks away from officially becoming law in South Carolina, following a ceremonial signing at the Columbia Sailing Club.

Gov. Henry McMaster signed the South Carolina Boating Safety and Education Bill — S. 96 — on Thursday, marking a symbolic victory for some boater safety advocates and families who have lost loved ones in boating accidents. The new law will require anyone under the age of 16 to undergo boater education training before operating any type of watercraft in the state. The requirement would also apply to anyone under 16 renting a boat or jet ski, lawmakers said.

Thursday’s event attracted a variety of state officials, including lawmakers, state agency leaders and members of law enforcement.

“You have to take a course or get a license to operate a car where stoplights, flashing lights and yield signs tell you exactly what to do and where you have to stay in the lane,” said avid boater and state Sen. Chip Campsen, R-Charleston, the bill’s sponsor. “You certainly need to do that when it comes to a boat because you have to have all that in your head.”

Statistics from South Carolina Department of Natural Resources show a general rise in boating-related accidents and fatalities in the state over the last five years. There were 22 recreational boating fatalities in the state in 2022, up from 15 deaths in 2018. There also were a total of 170 boating accidents in 2022, up from 142 in 2018.

“Today, South Carolina joins 46 other states that require boater education, and I know this law will help save lives,” said Randall Smith, founder and chairman of Boating Safety South Carolina, an advocacy group that promotes boater safety issues.

Smith says he and his wife have been pushing for boater safety for the past 25 years after they lost their 11-year-old son in a boating accident on Lake Murray in 1997.

“With 30,000 miles of rivers and streams and the most beautiful coastline in the country, boating is a cherished pastime in South Carolina,” said McMaster. “By educating boaters and promoting responsible practices, we protect the lives of those who use our waterways and encourage more South Carolinians and visitors alike to enjoy South Carolina’s endless natural treasures.”

South Carolina now has more than 361,000 registered boats across the state, according to Robert Boyles, director of the S.C. Department of Natural Resources.

“This represents a nearly 21,000 vessel increase just in the past year,” Boyles said. “This doesn’t include the 1000s of canoes, kayaks and paddle boards that are not required to be registered.”

Boater education courses will be available in-person and online. While in-person courses will be free, self-paced online options will come with a fee, according to Boyles.

The Department of Natural Resources’ website will soon feature a list of approved boating safety courses, including boat rental safety courses for those renting a vessel, personal watercraft, or specialty propcraft, according to the governor’s office. A boat rental safety certificate is valid for 30 days.

The law is set to go into effect on Aug. 18, 2023.