BEFORE BOATERS BEGIN CHARTING A COURSE THIS SUMMER, THEY WILL HAVE TO PASS ONE. MASSACHUSETTS RECENTLY ENACTED A NEW BOATING SAFETY LAW THAT REQUIRES MOTOR BOAT OPERATORS TO TAKE AND PASS A BASIC SAFETY COURSE. THE HANSEN MALONE BOATING SAFETY ACT IS NAMED FOR TWO MEN DAVID HANSEN, A YOUNG MAN WHO DIED TRAGICALLY IN A BOATING ACCIDENT, AND PAUL MALONE, THE LONGTIME AND BELOVED WEYMOUTH HARBORMASTER AND BOATING SAFETY ADVOCATE. MALONE PASSED AWAY IN 2020 AT THE AGE OF 74, AND HIS NAME WAS ADDED TO THE BILL AS A TRIBUTE. DAVID HANSEN WAS JUST 20 WHEN THE SMALL BOAT HIS FRIEND WAS DRIVING CAPSIZED IN FRIGID WATERS OUTSIDE PLYMOUTH HARBOR. THE FRIEND SURVIVED. DAVID DID NOT. HE WAS SELLING FULL OF AMBITION AND ENERGY AND, YOU KNOW, HE HAD THAT GENE WHERE HE WANTED TO HELP. AND NO MATTER WHERE HE WAS, HE WAS ALWAYS HELPING SOMEBODY. AND THAT’S REALLY THE LEGACY THAT WE THINK OF. DAVID. DAVID HANSEN WAS THE ELDEST OF THREE BROTHERS, GREG IN THE MIDDLE AND ERIC, THE YOUNGEST, WHO WAS JUST 14 WHEN DAVID DIED, IT WOULD BE 15 MORE YEARS BEFORE THE SAFETY LEGISLATION. THE FAMILY SUPPORTED WAS SIGNED INTO LAW. THAT NIGHT WAS IT WAS EMOTIONAL. IT WAS TO SEE, YOU KNOW, MY BROTHER’S FACE UP THERE ON A BIG POSTER. AND THEN HANSEN MALONE BOATING ACT PASSED. IT’S BEEN A LONG TIME COMING. IT’S SOMETHING THAT REALLY BRINGS SAFETY TO OUR WATERWAYS. STATE REPRESENTATIVE KATHY LANATRA HELPED SPEARHEAD THE LEGISLATION ON BEACON HILL, TAKING OVER FROM HER PREDECESSOR, TOM CALTER. BOTH WERE COMMITTED TO THE HANSON FAMILY’S DESIRE TO BRING SOMETHING POSITIVE OUT OF DAVID’S LOSS, AND THEY WERE JUST SO UPSET TO HEAR THAT PEOPLE WERE NOT REQUIRED TO TAKE A BOAT OR SAFETY CLASS BEFORE THEY WERE ON A BOAT AND HAD THEIR SON. MAYBE HE’D STILL BE ALIVE TODAY. THE LEGISLATION HAD THE SUPPORT OF BAY STATE HARBORMASTERS, INCLUDING PLYMOUTH’S CHAD HUNTER, WHO WAS PART OF THE RESPONSE TEAM THAT NIGHT IN MAY 2010, WHEN DAVID HANSON DIED. EARLY SEASON ACCIDENT. THEY WERE OUT AT NIGHT, BOAT TOOK ON WATER, AND ONCE THEY END UP IN THAT WATER, THAT WATER IS COLD. OBVIOUSLY HYPOTHERMIA SET IN. AND I DON’T KNOW EXACTLY WHAT HAPPENED THAT NIGHT, BUT WE HAD ONE THAT SURVIVED AND ONE THAT DID NOT. THE NEW LEGISLATION REQUIRES BOATERS TO TAKE AND PASS A BASIC SAFETY CLASS, WHICH WILL GIVE THEM A BOATING SAFETY CERTIFICATE, WHICH MUST BE CARRIED WITH THEM WHEN OPERATING A MOTOR BOAT OR PERSONAL WATERCRAFT. ONLINE COURSES ARE AVAILABLE, AND MANY STATE AGENCIES AND BOATING ORGANIZATIONS ARE OFFERING IN-PERSON CLASSES, AS IS HARBORMASTER CHAD HUNTER. WE COVER THE THE BASICS OF TRAILERING REGISTRATION OF YOUR VESSEL, SAFE BOATING OPERATIONS, SOME BASIC RULES OF THE ROAD. I ALWAYS TELL PEOPLE LIKE, IF THERE’S ONE THING YOU TAKE OUT OF THIS COURSE, HAVE A LIFE JACKET, WEAR YOUR LIFE JACKET. DAVID HANSON WAS A FIREFIGHTER IN KINGSTON WORKING TOWARD BECOMING FULL TIME. HE HAD JUST RETURNED FROM A TRIP TO HAITI, HELPING TO REBUILD AN ORPHANAGE DAMAGED IN AN EARTHQUAKE. AND HE WAS SO MOVED BY THE SUFFERING, HE SAW THAT HE LEFT EVERYTHING THERE, HIS CLOTHES OFF HIS BACK. YOU KNOW, HE WORE HIS FRIEND SNEAKERS HOME. HE GAVE AWAY EVERYTHING BECAUSE THEY NEEDED IT MORE THAN HE DID. HIS WAS A LIFE DEVOTED TO PUBLIC SERVICE AND PUBLIC SAFETY. DAVID WAS A FINAL EXAM AWAY FROM GRADUATING FROM COLLEGE. SO MUCH HOPE AND SO MUCH PROMISE. LOST IN THE FRIGID WATERS OFF PLYMOUTH. EVERY SUMMER WE HAVE, WE HEAR THESE TERRIBLE TRAGEDIES. WE DON’T WANT TO SEE THAT HAPPEN. BOATING SHOULD BE FUN. IT SHOULD BE SAFE. YOU ALWAYS HEAR STORIES OF PEOPLE GOING IN WITH A LOT OF CONFIDENCE, AND THEY’RE VERY SURE OF THEMSELVES UNTIL THEY GET OUT THERE, AND ALL IT TAKES IS 1 OR 2 THINGS TO GO WRONG, AND YOU’RE IMMEDIATELY IN A LIFE OR DEATH SITUATION. AND SO JUST HAVING PEOPLE TO HAVE THAT COMMON SENSE AND AT LEAST SOME PRACTICE BEFORE THEY GET OUT THERE, WE FELT WOULD BE VERY HELPFUL, TRULY AN HONOR THAT HIS NAME IS ON THIS AND HOPEFULLY IT PREVENTS THESE ACCIDENTS FROM HAPPENING IN THE FUTURE. I DID SPEAK WITH PAUL MALONE’S WIDOW, LISA, WHO TOLD ME PAUL WOULD HAVE BEEN DEEPLY GRATIFIED THAT THIS LEGISLATION PASSED, AND SHE HERSELF WAS VERY TOUCHED THAT HIS NAME WAS ADDED TO THE LAW. NOW, IF YOU WERE BORN AFTER JANUARY 1ST OF 1989, YOU MUST OBTAIN YOUR SAFETY CERTIFICATE BY APRIL 1ST OF 2026. THIS YEAR, IF YOU WERE BORN ON OR BEFORE JANUARY 1ST OF 89, YOU HAVE UNTIL APRIL 1ST OF 2028.
What boaters need to know about Massachusetts’ new safety requirement
The new law requires boaters to pass a safety course before hitting the water
Beginning April 1, a new boating safety law takes effect in Massachusetts. With limited exceptions, it requires all motorboat operators to take and pass a basic safety course, earning a certificate that must be carried when operating a motorboat or personal watercraft.Massachusetts has enacted the Hanson-Milone Boating Safety Act, a new law requiring motorboat operators to pass a basic safety course, honoring David Hanson and Paul Milone.”The Hanson-Milone Boating Safety Act is named for two men: David Hanson, a young man who died tragically in a boating accident, and Paul Milone, the longtime and beloved Weymouth Harbormaster and boating safety advocate,” said Anthony Su.Hanson was 20 years old when the small boat his friend was driving capsized in frigid waters outside Plymouth Harbor. His friend survived, but Hanson did not.Greg Hanson, David’s brother, described him as “someone full of ambition and energy” who was always helping others.Eric Hanson, David’s youngest brother, recalled the emotional moment when the legislation was passed, saying, “That night was emotional. It was to see, you know, my brother’s face up there, you know, on a big poster, and then the Hanson-Milone Boating Act passed. You know, it’s been a long time coming.”Rep. Kathy LaNatra, who helped spearhead the legislation, emphasized the importance of the law, stating, “It’s something that really brings safety to our waterways.”She noted the family’s distress over the lack of mandatory boater safety classes, saying, “They were just so upset to hear that people were not required to take a boater safety class before they were on a boat. And had their son, maybe he’d still be alive today.” The new legislation mandates that boaters take and pass a basic safety class, providing them with a boating safety certificate that must be carried when operating a motorboat or personal watercraft. Online courses are available, and many state agencies and boating organizations offer in-person classes, including Harbormaster Chad Hunter.”We cover the basics of trailering, registration of your vessel, safe boating operations, some basic rules of the road,” Hunter said. “I always tell people, like, if there’s one thing you take out of this course, have a life jacket, wear your life jacket.”
Beginning April 1, a new boating safety law takes effect in Massachusetts. With limited exceptions, it requires all motorboat operators to take and pass a basic safety course, earning a certificate that must be carried when operating a motorboat or personal watercraft.
Massachusetts has enacted the Hanson-Milone Boating Safety Act, a new law requiring motorboat operators to pass a basic safety course, honoring David Hanson and Paul Milone.
“The Hanson-Milone Boating Safety Act is named for two men: David Hanson, a young man who died tragically in a boating accident, and Paul Milone, the longtime and beloved Weymouth Harbormaster and boating safety advocate,” said Anthony Su.
Hanson was 20 years old when the small boat his friend was driving capsized in frigid waters outside Plymouth Harbor. His friend survived, but Hanson did not.
Greg Hanson, David’s brother, described him as “someone full of ambition and energy” who was always helping others.
Eric Hanson, David’s youngest brother, recalled the emotional moment when the legislation was passed, saying, “That night was emotional. It was to see, you know, my brother’s face up there, you know, on a big poster, and then the Hanson-Milone Boating Act passed. You know, it’s been a long time coming.”
Rep. Kathy LaNatra, who helped spearhead the legislation, emphasized the importance of the law, stating, “It’s something that really brings safety to our waterways.”
She noted the family’s distress over the lack of mandatory boater safety classes, saying, “They were just so upset to hear that people were not required to take a boater safety class before they were on a boat. And had their son, maybe he’d still be alive today.”
The new legislation mandates that boaters take and pass a basic safety class, providing them with a boating safety certificate that must be carried when operating a motorboat or personal watercraft. Online courses are available, and many state agencies and boating organizations offer in-person classes, including Harbormaster Chad Hunter.
“We cover the basics of trailering, registration of your vessel, safe boating operations, some basic rules of the road,” Hunter said. “I always tell people, like, if there’s one thing you take out of this course, have a life jacket, wear your life jacket.”
