Boat ED

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Boat ED Reviews Summary

Positive Highlights

  • Course content is praised as comprehensive and useful, even by experienced boaters.
  • The course is officially recognized and meets state requirements.
  • Some users find the learning experience valuable and recommend it.

Negative Highlights

  • Website timer and navigation issues can make the course frustrating and time-consuming.
  • Customer support is limited to a chatbot that gives generic answers.
  • Permanent boating cards may not be delivered even after multiple support requests.
This summary is generated by AI, based on customer reviews from the past year

Most commonly discussed topics

The most helpful reviews behind these summaries

Jul 23, 2026

This course was so painful to get through because the website does not work effectively. The timer freezes up and can take over a minute to run out instead of 12 seconds, and about 50% of the time when the timer ran out, the link to go to the next page would not work. I had to change the url to the next number manually or go back to the main menu to find the next page. Because of this, the course took me way longer than it should have and I was distracted from the actual content of the course. I tried everything I could on my end to solve this like using other browsers or wifi and clearing my cache. I tried to report these issues to Boat Ed but could only reach a chat bot that gave generic answers.

May 28, 2026

I was a Law Enforcement Harbor patrol deputy for many years and actually taught courses for the CBSOA. I've made hundreds of arrests for BUI and wish these courses were around when I was a boat operator. It would have made my work so much easier. I guess the new deputies will now reap the benefits.

Jun 8, 2026

Did the boat-ed corse a year ago and got the confirmation email with a pdf of my temporary card. Never received the card. Talked to support 3 times to have them re send the card to two different addresses. It's been a year. Never received my card

This was a great experience that I think every sailor should take this opportunity to learn about things that they have forgotten I learned so much about the navigation and so much more so I give the course a 10 great job

Reviews

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3.3
Reviews 72
5 Stars
47%
4 Stars
19%
3 Stars
6%
2 Stars
4%
1 Star
24%

North Carolina
1 review
0 helpful votes
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Good Overview of Boating Knowledge
August 19, 2019

Very informative and covered a variety of topics related to boating. I went into the course really only looking/needing to learn more about personal watercrafts but I'm glad I received an expansive amount of information about other vessels. However, the course was a lot longer than advertised. It took me 6 hours to complete the lessons, study questions, and exam, when the instructions said it would only require 3 hours.

Date of experience: August 18, 2019
Colorado
1 review
0 helpful votes
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Sparking a Passion for Boating
August 17, 2019

As as suburb kid, I was never coached on the intricacies of boating. While some of my friends had boating certificates, I had "missed the boat on that opportunity". Thanks to Boat-Ed.com I was able to catch up on some essential boater safety knowledge. I learned a lot about boating which sparked a passion for me to learn how to drive PWC, pontoon boats, etc. I am grateful for this course.

Date of experience: August 16, 2019
Georgia
1 review
0 helpful votes
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Very informative and full of important information. I couldn't attend a classroom setting and this fit my schedule.

Date of experience: August 14, 2019
Texas
1 review
0 helpful votes
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Course went over material in detail and had written and video demonstrations explaining the material. Also had quizzes along the way to ensure understanding. The overall quiz at the end was also helpful. Thanks.

Date of experience: August 11, 2019
New Jersey
1 review
1 helpful vote
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I found the course content relevant and interesting, but the design is very outdated. The microlearning videos are very good---brief, cover the relevant learning objectives, and do so in an intertaining way, but the animation and multiple choice quizzing slows down the learner and are more of a distraction. There is a lot of redundancy between sections and a streamlining of the course would increase engagement and effectiveness.

Having led a corporate global learning department in a regulated industry, e-learning courses are undergoing great change, as learners expect learning experiences more like NetFlix and YouTube---brief, solve my problem, and move on. Research is showing better design has better business results. WOuld be happy to discuss more if desired... kenneth. G. *******@comcast. Net

Date of experience: August 5, 2019
New York
1 review
0 helpful votes
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The interactive scenarios are a little cluncky in that the graphics and the direction could be updated a bit. I think if the programs were updated you could do a lot more scenario based training which will help with the learning process by putting the boater in the situation. Other than that aspect, I think this is a terrific product and I am recommending it to everyone who I know looking to get into voting in NH.

Date of experience: July 30, 2019
Justin O.
Alabama
1 review
0 helpful votes
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Very Thorough
July 29, 2019

This was a great course and one I could do at my own pace. Thank yo for making it so painless! I would recommend anyone to follow through with this course.

Date of experience: July 29, 2019
Pennsylvania
1 review
0 helpful votes
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Very easily understandable
July 29, 2019

The process was easy to understand and easily obtainable. Im Bey exited to Getty on thr water thanks to boater ed

Date of experience: July 28, 2019
Pennsylvania
1 review
0 helpful votes
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I enjoyed the course, and even though some of it did not apply to my pontoon, it was good imformation to have. I liked being able to do pieces at a time and being able to go back if I missed a review question to reread the information. I felt very confident taking our new pontoon out by myself as we are new boat owners. I also got $35 off my boat insurance for taking the course.

Date of experience: July 26, 2019
Canada
1 review
0 helpful votes
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There were some questions on the department of transport exam which was not covered by their content in the course. Otherwise great content.

Date of experience: July 22, 2019
Texas
1 review
0 helpful votes
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Not a course that can be completed in one day. Lots of info to take in. There was repetition but l know repetition is the key to retaining important information. Reminded Dad of things he learned as a Boatswains Mate in the Navy.

Date of experience: July 22, 2019
Georgia
1 review
0 helpful votes
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Awesome training
July 21, 2019

I wish all boaters would take this before they get on the water. This is excellent training well organized and great checks.

Date of experience: July 21, 2019
Washington
1 review
1 helpful vote
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Very time consuming.
July 16, 2019

Too much repetition. I. e. Wearing your PFD
Some questions on the final were not covered
In the course.

Date of experience: July 16, 2019
Missouri
2 reviews
0 helpful votes
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It's a long course but it went well
July 14, 2019

Thank you for the videos at the end of each topic, it helped so much and to be able to watch that to review eveything

Date of experience: July 13, 2019
New Jersey
2 reviews
0 helpful votes
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Modern Setup for easy completion
July 10, 2019

The course was set up very user friendly so you can always track your progress and save it without worry of losing any progress. Made it very smooth when obtaining my boating safety certificate!

Date of experience: July 8, 2019
California
2 reviews
0 helpful votes
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Good for anyone who is on the water.
July 3, 2019

Overall I was impressed. I often think about many of the things that I learned. I would even be interested in a refresher course that I could direct myself through. I'm not a personal watercraft user and for me there was a little too much information, but now that I am done I am glad for the extra knowledge. I have operated a small boat for many years and now that we have moved up in size and power the information that I have learned has made me a smarter and more confident boater.

Date of experience: July 2, 2019
District of Columbia
1 review
0 helpful votes
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Excellent Licensing Experiences
July 3, 2019

My husband and I took this course together. Site was easy to navigate, and courses are applicable to the actual boating experience. I came from a non-boating background as in never even rode on a PWC and was able to follow the instructions and apply it on the water shortly after.

Date of experience: July 2, 2019
Florida
2 reviews
0 helpful votes
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Boat Ed Survey from Eddie
June 30, 2019

The boat ed course is well developed and written making it easy to understand and complete. I feel that it is pretty comprehensive and covers most of the topics that the average beginning boater should know and understand. The only thing I would add would be a means to review the exam results by the student to understand where they may have come up short and to study the correct response. For me that would be very helpful.

Date of experience: June 30, 2019
District of Columbia
1 review
0 helpful votes
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I was pleased
June 29, 2019

What I enjoyed the most was that I could do it anytime because of my work schedule. I am always busy and do not have enough time to sit in class setting for over 8 hours unless I request the time off in advance. I really enjoyed reading the material.

Date of experience: June 28, 2019
Colorado
1 review
0 helpful votes
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Really good training.
June 26, 2019

It's very informational almost too much that i will never use. It's been a month now and hadn't gotten mine license in the mail yet. So make sure you print the temporary

Date of experience: June 25, 2019