Candlewood Lake Boating - Boating Certification, Boating Rules, Boat Registrations

The following information is from the State of Connecticut Department of Environmental Protection Website, is provided as a courtesy by this site to freshwater boaters, and neither the site owner, administrator, nor the webmaster assume any responsibility for its updating or accuracy. Please check with the Connecticut DEP for the most current information.

Boating Frequently Asked Questions

Boating Certification

The boating course is an eight-hour course. You must attend each day the course is held, and pass the exam given on the final day of class. You must score eighty percent (80%) or better in order to pass. The DEP boating course is combined with the personal watercraft course.

No. The grandfather clause expired as of October 1, 1997. Anyone applying for his or her Certificate after that date needs to take a boating course.

You will need to contact the Power Squadron at 888-367-8777. If your course completion diploma cannot be located, you will need to complete a boating course.

The State of Connecticut is obligated to keep records on file for seven years. If the diploma is not on file, a course would have to be repeated.

Yes. As long as you have the course completion diploma you can apply for you Connecticut Safe Boating Certificate. The completion diploma does not have an expiration date.

If the card is laminated, that was the boating course certificate (now called a completion diploma) issued by the State of Connecticut years ago. It is a valid card and can be used to obtain the boating certificate. A photocopy of the card would have to be returned with the application and a $25 fee.

No. Not only does a boating course have to be State of Connecticut and National Association of State Boating Law Administrators (NASBLA) approved, but it also has to have a minimum of eight hours of classroom instruction. The exam has to be a proctored exam.

Yes. Any vessel with any size motor is required to be registered and numbered before entering Connecticut waters. Also, any sailboat over 19.5 feet powered by sail alone is required to be registered and numbered before entering Connecticut waters. In order to operate that vessel, you must possess a Safe Boating Certificate.

The Safe Boating Certificate was designed for people who own property in the State of Connecticut, residents of the State of Connecticut or people who have a vessel required to be registered or display a Certificate of Decal in the State of Connecticut. If you live in another state and operate your vessel on Connecticut waters for more than sixty days in a calendar year, you will need the boating certificate. You will also need a Certificate of Decal (which is handled through DMV.)

Yes, he needs the Safe Boating Certificate to operate the vessel. He must take a boating course in order to obtain the boating certificate. By law, any person under the age of twelve, who has been issued a Safe Boating Certificate, is not allowed to operate a boat with a motor of greater than ten horsepower without being accompanied by an adult who is at least eighteen years of age and has been issued a Safe Boating Certificate or Certificate of Personal Watercraft Operation.

Yes, there is another way to obtain your boating certificate. You can take the DEP Equivalency Exam. This exam is designed for the experienced boater who knows the rules and regulations for safe boating on Connecticut waters. Not only does the experienced boater need to know about boating, but he will also need to know about canoes, personal watercraft, yachts, and sailboats. The person you need to speak with is Sue at (860)434-8638.

You will need to go to your local DEP processing office with your original registration (in your name because the temporary certificate is issued to the person whose name is on the registration), the bill of sale to show the amount of sales tax, and a photo ID. The cost of the temporary certificate is $25 and is valid six months from the date that you registered the boat. Within the six month time period, you must take a boating course and get your Safe Boating Certificate. No person shall be issued more than one temporary certificate.

If you have a current master, mate, or pilot license issued through the Coast Guard, you do not need the Connecticut Safe Boating Certificate to operate your boat. You must keep the valid license with you at all times. You cannot use the valid Coast Guard License to obtain your Connecticut Safe Boating Certificate. You would have to take a boating course or provide us with proof that you have taken an approved boating course to obtain a safe boating certificate.

PERSONAL WATERCRAFT

A boating course and a personal watercraft course or a combination course need to be completed and then you must apply for the Certificate of Personal Watercraft Operation (CPWO). The DEP offers courses which satisfy CPWO requirements.

The Certificate of Personal Watercraft is a certificate that will allow you to operate both a boat and a personal watercraft.

Yes. In order to receive your temporary certificate, you must complete an approved two and one-half hour personal watercraft course and the personal watercraft must be registered in your name. Bring your registration, a bill of sale, and your course completion diploma to your local DEP office. The cost of the certificate is $25 and is valid six months from the date of vessel registration. Within the six month time period, you must complete a boating course and apply for your Certificate of Personal Watercraft Operation.

Yes. One restriction is that any person under twelve years of age who has been issued the Certificate of Personal Watercraft Operation shall not operate a vessel powered with a motor of greater than ten horsepower unless she/he is accompanied on board by someone eighteen years of age who has been issued their Certificate of Personal Watercraft Operation.
Please Note: No person under 16 years of age, who has been issued a Certificate of Personal Watercraft Operation (CPWO) after March 9, 2004, may operate a personal watercraft without the onboard supervision of a person who is at least 18 years of age and in possession of a CPWO.

No. Every person operating a personal watercraft on Connecticut waters must possess their Certificate of Personal Watercraft Operation. In order to receive that certificate an approved basic boating course and an approved personal watercraft handling course must be completed and the certificate must be on board while operating the vessel.

No. The State of Connecticut will not accept any personal watercraft course given by the USCGAux in another state because other states have not asked for our approval. The State of Connecticut feels that out of state personal watercraft courses are incomplete. Connecticut does recognize CPWO certificates from New York, Massachusetts and Rhode Island.

No. The course is not approved by the State of Connecticut.

Hull Identification Numbers

No. The Department of Motor Vehicles will issue a Temporary Certificate of Number/Registration. Homemade boats, vessels built in another country, and boats constructed in the United States before 1972 do not have the required 12 character HIN. The DMV Branch Offices and the DEP Boating Division will provide a HIN application to the boater.

Yes. You must carry the green page of your completed Application for a Hull Identification Number and your Safe Boating Certificate or Certificate of Personal Watercraft Operation on board.
Application Forms

No. The DMV will assign a number to fill the HIN space in their computer database.

No. Vessels constructed before 1972 are not required to possess Hull Identification Numbers. Homemade boats that are not required to be registered (not motorized or sailboats less than 19.5 feet long) are not required to have HIN.

Yes, with the following exceptions: if constructed before 1972 may have zero to 15 characters or if constructed after October 1972 it may have been issued 11 or 13 characters by manufacturer. Most foreign manufactured vessels must be issued a 12 character Connecticut HIN if registered or numbered in Connecticut.

No. You must submit your completed application to the Boating Division. Once your application is received, one of our Environmental Conservation Officers will contact you and schedule a date and time to visit your vessel. Application Forms

There is no cost for a HIN.

The Temporary Registration Number (CT-1234-XX) should be placed on both sides of the bow. (Block letters, at least 3 inches high and in a contrasting color to the hull) The Temporary Registration Numbers will become the actual Registration Numbers assigned to your vessel.

No. The boating certificate is only required to operate a Connecticut registered boat. There is a line on the Vessel Registration form for the certificate number. It does not have to be filled in.

Applying for Safe Boating Certificates (SBC), Certificates of Personal Watercraft Operation (CPWO), Temporary and Duplicate Certificates

Applying for a SBC or CPWO
To apply for a Safe Boating Certificate or Certificate of Personal Watercraft Operation, fill out the appropriate application (available at town clerks, through the DEP Boating Division or by submitting application request form) and have the application notarized, enclose a copy of your boating course diploma (and Personal Watercraft course diploma, if applicable) or equivalency exam diploma and a check for $25 made payable to DEP. Mail or deliver the application to the address listed on the application. A Safe Boating Certificate or Certificate of Personal Watercraft Operation will be mailed to you in four to six weeks.
You may obtain a Limited Durational Certificate immediately at no extra charge by bringing the completed application, supporting documents and $25 fee in person to any DEP Processing Office. The Limited Duration Certificate will be valid until your permanent certificate arrives.

Temporary Certificates
If you purchase and register a new or used boat and do not have a Safe Boating Certificate, you may apply for a Temporary Safe Boating Certificate. It is valid for six months from the date of vessel registration. Within that time, you must qualify for and obtain a permanent Safe Boating Certificate in order to operate after the temporary certificate expires.
If you purchase a new or used personal watercraft and do not qualify for a Certificate of Personal Watercraft Operation, you may apply for a Temporary Certificate of Personal Watercraft Operation after you have registered the vessel and have completed an approved Safe Personal Watercraft Handling Course. The temporary certificate is valid for six months from the date of vessel registration. Within that time, you must qualify for and obtain a Certificate of Personal Watercraft Operation, allowing you to operate your craft after the temporary certificate expires.
The fee for a Temporary SBC or Temporary CPWO is $25.00. No person shall be issued more than one temporary certificate.
An application for a Temporary Safe Boating Certificate must be obtained at a DEP Processing Office.

Duplicate Certificate
Any person who has been issued a Safe Boating Certificate or a Certificate of Personal Watercraft Operation may apply for a duplicate certificate if the original certificate was lost, stolen, destroyed, or the individual wishes to change his/her legal name or any other information on the Certificate. The duplicate certificate fee is $10.00 (payable when the application is sent or carried in).

If you need a certificate immediately, you must appear in person at one of the DEP Processing Offices.

DEP Processing Offices
Boating Certificates

DEP Licensing & Revenue
79 Elm St., Hartford, CT 06106-5127
(860) 424-3105
Monday - Friday, 9:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.

DEP Marine Headquarters
333 Ferry Rd., Old Lyme, CT 06371
(860) 434-8638
Monday - Friday, 8:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.

DEP Western District Headquarters
Plymouth Rd., Harwinton, CT 06791
(860) 485-0226
Monday, Thursday & Friday from 8:30 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.

DEP Eastern District Headquarters
209 Hebron Rd., Marlborough, CT 06447
(860) 295-9523
Tuesday, Wednesday & Thursday from 8:30 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.

Westport Office - Sherwood Island State Park, Westport
(203) 226-3116
Monday - Friday, 8:00 a.m.- 1:00 pm and 1:30 pm - 4:00pm.

Boat Registration
Connecticut law requires that all boats with motors, regardless of size, and sailboats powered by sail alone, 19 1/2 feet or longer in length, be registered and numbered before launching. If you purchase a boat that is currently registered, you are responsible for seeing that it is registered in your name.

All vessels must be registered with the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV). Evidence of ownership must be submitted at the time of registration. Upon receipt of the application and fee, an identification number will be assigned and a certificate of number/registration will be issued along with two validation decals. The registration will be valid until April 30 of the following year. Connecticut vessel numbers stay with the boat as long as it is registered in the state.

Normally you will receive a registration renewal from DMV early in the calendar year. If you do not register the boat for a year, you will not receive another renewal notice and you must go to a DMV office to renew your registration.

Position of Vessel Number and Decals
The numbers, which must be at least three inches high, contrasting in color to the background and of block form, must be painted on or attached to both the port and starboard bow so positioned as to be distinctly visible and legible from at least 100 feet away. The two validation decals must be placed two inches to the right of and in line with the assigned boat number. No other numbers and only current decals shall be displayed.

Certificate to Be On Board
A certificate of number/registration or certificate of decal/registration must be on board the vessel whenever the owner or any person authorized by the owner is aboard, except that rented boats may carry a rental agreement in lieu of a certificate.

Hull Identification Number
The Hull Identification Number (HIN) is a unique 12-14 digit number (numbers and letters) assigned by the manufacturer to boats built after 1972. (Like the Vehicle Identification Number / VIN on a car.) It is engraved in the fiberglass or on a metal plate attached to the upper right hand corner of the transom.

Owners of vessels manufactured after October 1, 1972 (including home built boats) that do not have a HIN can get a temporary registration from the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) but they will be given a HIN Application form which must be processed through the DEP before receiving their permanent registration. There is no charge for this service.