Visitors to the 2024 CNY Boat Show in Syracuse February 15-18 will learn about the different types of approved personal floatation devices and life vests at the new Marine Education Center that includes exhibits by the U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary, New York Sea Grant, and other boating safety organizations. Credit: New York Sea Grant

Contacts: 

John Cannaday, Great Lakes Recreation and Tourism Specialist, New York Sea Grant, E: jdc378@cornell.edu, P: (315) 849-4436

Drew Wickham, CNY Boat Show Manager, E: info@cnyboatshow.com, P: (585) 526-5460 

John Steinbarge, USCGA, P: (315) 447-8077

Kara Lynn Dunn, NYSG's Freelance Great Lakes Publicist, E: karalynn@gisco.net, P: (315) 465-7578


Register Now to Meet Brianna’s Law Requirement; Adult Course is New for 2024 Show

Syracuse, NY, January 9, 2024 - The U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary, New York Sea Grant, and Central New York Boat Show have announced that an adult-level as well as a youth New York State (NYS) Boater Safety Certificate Course will be offered at the 2024 Central New York Boat Show in February at the New York State Fairgrounds in Syracuse, New York. This state-approved safety course certifies individuals to legally operate a motorized boat or personal watercraft alone on New York waters and helps boaters of 10 years and older to comply with Brianna’s Law timeline that requires every operator of a motorized watercraft, including personal watercraft, on New York state waters complete a NYS-approved boating safety course by 2025. Both courses are offered free of charge; pre-registration is required, contact New York Sea Grant’s Oswego office at 315-312-3042.

Adults and youth must successfully complete the 8-hour boater safety training and the same-day proctored exam to receive certification.

The adult-level New York State Boater Safety Certificate Course will be offered at the CNY Boat Show on Friday, February 16, 2024 from 1:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. in an Expo Center conference room at the New York State Fairgrounds, 581 State Fair Boulevard, Syracuse, New York. The course is offered free of charge and each adult registering for the course will receive free admission to the 2024 CNY Boat Show.

The youth New York State Boater Safety Certificate Course for ages 10 to 17 will be offered at the CNY Boat Show on Saturday, February 17, 2024 from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. in an Expo Center conference room at the New York State Fairgrounds, 581 State Fair Boulevard, Syracuse, New York. The course is offered free of charge and each youth registering for the class with receive three free admission passes to the 2024 CNY Boat Show. Participants are asked to provide for their own lunch.

The Certified New York Safe Boating Instructors for the courses at the 2024 CNY Boat Show will be U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary Flotilla 21 Past Commander Peter Wiles assisted by New York Sea Grant Great Lakes Recreation and Tourism Specialist John Cannaday and U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary Flotilla 21 personnel. 

The Central New York Boat Show is the largest and longest-running boat show in New York. The show features more than 400 all-new models of power and sail boats, personal watercraft, and docks in the Expo Center and Exhibit Center at the NYS Fairgrounds. The 2024 event will have a special section devoted to previously-enjoyed boats. The new Marine Education Center will have a special focus on marine industry career education. Show hours are 1-9 p.m. on Thursday, February 15, and Friday, February 16, 10 a.m.-9 p.m. on Saturday, February 17, and 10 a.m.-5 p.m. on Sunday, February 18. Admission is $12 per person, 13 and younger free; free parking and shuttle provided. Learn more at www.cnyboatshow.com. 


More Info: New York Sea Grant

New York Sea Grant (NYSG), a cooperative program of Cornell University and the State University of New York (SUNY), is one of 34 university-based programs under the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s National Sea Grant College Program.

Since 1971, NYSG has represented a statewide network of integrated research, education and extension services promoting coastal community economic vitality, environmental sustainability and citizen awareness and understanding about the State’s marine and Great Lakes resources.

Through NYSG’s efforts, the combined talents of university scientists and extension specialists help develop and transfer science-based information to many coastal user groups—businesses and industries, federal, state and local government decision-makers and agency managers, educators, the media and the interested public.

The program maintains Great Lakes offices at Cornell University, SUNY Buffalo, SUNY Oswego and the Wayne County Cooperative Extension office in Newark. In the State's marine waters, NYSG has offices at Stony Brook University and with Cornell Cooperative Extension of Nassau County on Long Island, Brooklyn College and Cornell Cooperative Extension in NYC and Kingston in the Hudson Valley.

For updates on Sea Grant activities: www.nyseagrant.org has RSS, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and YouTube links. NYSG offers a free e-list sign up via www.nyseagrant.org/nycoastlines for its flagship publication, NY Coastlines/Currents, which is published quarterly.