COLDWATER, MI (WTVB) – The Branch County Sheriff’s Office has released its 2026 schedule for boater safety education classes, designed to prepare boaters for the upcoming season.
The curriculum, taught by Sheriff’s Marine Patrol Deputies, covers essential topics including navigational rules, crash prevention, and proper fueling techniques. Multiple in-person sessions are scheduled throughout the spring, including a March 21 class at the Coldwater Lake Association and a May 16, session at Sunset Cove Resort in Quincy and additional classes into the summer and fall seasons.
The classes are particularly important for younger operators, as Michigan law requires any motorized boat operator born after June 30, 1996, and any personal watercraft (PWC) operator born after December 31, 1978, to carry a valid boater safety certificate.
While there is no official minimum age to attend, children under 12 must be accompanied by an adult, depending on the specific session’s requirements.
To receive a certificate, students must complete the 8-hour course and pass a written exam with a score of at least 75%. Interested residents can find additional dates and register through the Michigan DNR’s official portal https://michigan.storefront.kalkomey.com/em/programs?fbclid=IwY2xjawQU3nVleHRuA2FlbQIxMABicmlkETE4S1pyNEJvbFlGVktIVVdvc3J0YwZhcHBfaWQQMjIyMDM5MTc4ODIwMDg5MgABHp5oFhbzDg_ugGnFAsU3QJs-ULXDm9miHFkhl_WztFsmvl-qI–9UcUWDVFe_aem_HUS1owv7byne1FKGwsCtRg
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