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Boat ED
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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

Brenna R.
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.

E M.
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.

Jason T.
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

Steven Patrick S.
May 8, 2026

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%
DAVE G.
California
2 reviews
0 helpful votes
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You might as well learn from the BEST for your CBC!
June 22, 2019

Boat-ed's course for my California Boaters Card (CBC) was professional, detailed and organized. I couldn't have asked for anything more, the curriculum, the illustrations and animations were excellent and I learned several things I hadn't known before. I've sailed for over 50 years (started age 6), taught sailing and have owned my own sailboats and felt this class was very informative and educational. I highly recommend it - first cabin all the way!

Date of experience: June 20, 2019
Jillian N.
Texas
1 review
0 helpful votes
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Easy
June 21, 2019

Simple and easy way to achieve a boater's education. If you are in a hurry to get your boater's education, I got mine in a matter of 2 days.

Date of experience: June 19, 2019
Mary S.
Canada
1 review
0 helpful votes
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Comprehensive Pleasure Craft Operator Card Education
June 17, 2019

The educational program is very detailed and well illustrated. There were animated parts to test your knowledge at certain points in the program. The added video clips about certain topics was very helpful. I think it was a good idea to have the mini tests after each section. The overall test at the conclusion of the on-line course is very helpful in preparing for the actual examination. I highly recommend the Boat-Ed.com course.

Date of experience: June 17, 2019
Valentine C.
Germany
1 review
2 helpful votes
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Functional but seems to be a money racket.
June 16, 2019

Fine, but now less than a year later my record of completion of the NYS boat Ed course cannot be found in the database. As a result I cannot recover my lost cert. Oh well, pay again... hopefully phone call can resolve

Date of experience: June 16, 2019
Sue G.
New York
1 review
0 helpful votes
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Beginner's Overview
June 4, 2019

The course was extremely detailed. I had boated prior to taking it. However, I learned so much from taking the course. Since we are new boat owners I found it very helpful. I find myself using the proper terms while on the boat.

Date of experience: June 4, 2019
Giana G.
California
2 reviews
0 helpful votes
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Amazing online boating course!
May 28, 2019

Tons of information presented in an easy-to-understand way. Highly recommend! I learned so much even though I have been out on the water before. I thought I knew the laws but it turns out this course was very helpful, especially with defining all the different signs you see while boating.

Date of experience: May 28, 2019
Cade D.
Michigan
1 review
0 helpful votes
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Great course, very clear
May 25, 2019

Everything was great except I still have not received my license in the mail. The material was easy to understand with examples that were easy to memorize and relate to specific situations.

Date of experience: May 25, 2019
Junki N.
Canada
1 review
0 helpful votes
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Great course! Must for all Boaters!
May 25, 2019

The contents were well organized with adequate videos and photos. It was fun and interesting answering the quizzes. Well done. Appreciate.

Date of experience: May 24, 2019
Adam S.
New York
1 review
0 helpful votes
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Course is great; follow up Admin, not so much
May 22, 2019

The course was great, but when I received my certificate, my birthdate was wrong (it said 1996.
I was born in 1958). I tried to determine how to get it corrected, but was not able to... Very frustrating!

Date of experience: May 20, 2019
Brian B.
Illinois
1 review
0 helpful votes
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A must for boaters
May 12, 2018

This training was outstanding. Text, videos, and progress check were extremely helpful. I would recommend this training to anyone needing a first time boaters safety cert or as a refresher. Well done course.

Date of experience: May 12, 2018
Charles l.
Canada
1 review
0 helpful votes
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Fabulous course
May 11, 2018

Congrats to the genius' who put this course on line very valuable info and today ian a better person for it

Date of experience: May 10, 2018
Jabar R.
Maryland
1 review
0 helpful votes
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Very effective and informative training.
May 11, 2018

Boat-Ed was very easy to understand and follow. They cover all basis when it comes to safety and skill out on the water. I would highly recommend this training to anyone looking to safely operate a vessel on Maryland waters.

Date of experience: May 10, 2018