BOATING SAFETY

experience

Boating Experience and Optional Assistance

Renters need to have basic experience operating a boat, and need to be able to understand the instructions that staff will give them at the time of their rental.

Nervous about driving a boat, or just want a smooth, carefree experience? If you would like to have an experienced boat driver on our staff drive for you, we’d love to provide someone. Your driver can even teach you how to drive a boat! Email us at staff@pcmarinapa.com, or call (570) 857-1850 for details and availability.

Boating Licenses and Education

If you do not have a boating license and were born on or after January 1st on 1982, you can complete the Official Pennsylvania Boating Safety Course Online. Please familiarize yourself with State boating regulations and Local boating regulations (PDF). You can also view the full Pennsylvania Fish & Boat Commission handbook (PDF). Also, see the recreational boaters webpage from the US Coast Guard. Additionally, review the Unpowered Boat Regulations poster and Powered Boat Regulations poster.

Required Safety Videos

Since your safety while out on the water is crucial to us, please watch the required videos below that are applicable to your rental. If you do not watch them before your arrival at the marina, you will be required to do so at that time. This may delay your rental. At the time of your watercraft check-out, you will be asked to sign an applicable video verification form along with your other paperwork.

Pontoons and Deck Boats: Basic Rental Boat Safety Videos

Tubing: Tubing Safety Video

Water Skiing Safety: Tips for Water Skiing Safely Video

Water Skiing Guide: Guide to Water Skiing Basics Video

Paddleboarding: 16 minute presentation on Paddleboarding

Kayaking: 16 minute presentation on Kayaking

Pedal-Boating: Tips for Pedal-Boating Safely Video

Safety Equipment and Waivers

All required safety equipment is provided at no additional cost with rental. Please fill out the required documents included in the email for your rental before you arrive. If more than one person will be operating the boat, all operators must fill out the required documents. Please arrive at least 30 minutes before your scheduled departure time so you can leave on time.

Weight Considerations

Mind the collected weight you’re bringing on your boat! The person capacity listed for a boat is a recommended maximum by the manufacturer. Consider the weight capacity to make a better judgment for you and your guests. Remember that the objects you bring onboard count toward the maximum weight, not just the people. Supplies can add up fast! Distributing weight across the boat’s surface is also important. Overloading a boat can cause issues such as difficulty controlling the vessel or partial sinking. We also won’t allow you to bring on more members than the person capacity listed, even if you may appear to be under the weight limit.

Alcohol and Substance Use

Alcohol is involved in almost half of all boating accidents. Drinking, drug use, or other unruly behaviors are absolutely prohibited on our property and our vessels. We reserve the right to cancel or refuse rental to anyone the staff deems disorderly. Operating a boat while intoxicated is also against the law and could even affect your driving record.

Alcohol consumption is even more hazardous on the water than on land due to the marine environment – motion, vibration, engine noise, sun, wind, and spray all contribute to the increased risk. A boat operator with a blood alcohol concentration above 0.10% is estimated to be more than 10 times as likely to die in a boating accident than a sober operator. Even small quantities of alcohol consumption have been shown to increase the risk of accidents.

Thank you for your understanding and participation in our boater education effort!