University of California Santa Cruz

Boating Safety Program

The UCSC Boating Safety program oversees all boating that occurs under the auspices of the campus. Boating at UCSC can be broken up into 3 categories: Scientific, Athletic/Recreational, and chartered. If you need to use boats for your research please reach out to the boating safety officer at boatingsafety@ucsc.edu. If you wish to learn more about athletic/recreational boating, please visit the Athletics/Recreational Boating Page.

New to boating at UCSC? Interested in learning more? The flow chart below may help guide you to relevant resources and training requirements.

Boating Flow Chart version 2. pptx

Cllick Here to Anonymously Report a Boating Near-Miss or Safety Concern

Note: Incidents requiring more than basic first aid or exceeding $500 in property damage are required to be reported to boatingsafety@ucsc.edu within 24 hours of occurrence

View the UCSC Boating Safety Manual

File a Digital Float Plan

Institute of Marine Sciences Boating Program

Click the image to the left to learn more about IMS boating resources

Motorized Operator Training

A Motorized Operator Training Course (MOTC), current CPR and First Aid certification, and vessel specific checkout process is required to operate a motorboat for scientific research at UC Santa Cruz.

Click the image to the left to learn more .

Non-Motorized Operator Training

American Canoe Association (ACA) training, current CPR and First Aid certification, and a vessel specific checkout process is required to operate UCSC owned non-motorized watercraft for scientific research at UC Santa Cruz.

Click the image to the left to learn more.

Operator Resources

Click the image to the left for access to float plans, weather resources, vessel inspection resources, the UCSC boating safety manual, and more.

Boating Safety Committee

Learn more about the UCSC Boating Safety Committee

Athletics and Recreational Boating

Recreational Boating at UCSC adheres to US Coast Guard safety standards and is currently co-managed by interim directors Tanya Van-Renesse and Amos Fishbein. Click the image to the left to learn more.