Privacy Policy

Updated Effective Date: April 30, 2026

This privacy policy is provided by the BoatUS Foundation for Boating Safety and Clean Water (“BoatUS. Foundation”) and applies to all our courses.

BoatUS Foundation is committed to protecting your privacy when you visit our website. We want you to know what information is collected, how we use that information, and how you can update it. BoatUS Foundation reserves the right to change this privacy statement at any time, and we will notify you of any changes to our policy by posting them here, so please re-visit this page regularly to check for changes.

BoatUS Foundation collects various types of information from our visitors so we can offer our services and adjust our site to meet our users' needs and expectations. Some of this information is collected automatically and other information is collected when you provide it to us.

Information Collected Automatically

The types of information your browser or Internet session automatically sends us each time you visit our site, which we automatically collect, include information such as:

• Your browser, e.g., Microsoft Edge® or Firefox®
• Your Internet domain
• Your computer’s operating system, e.g., Windows®, MacOS®
• Your navigation path, i.e., the URLs of where you come to our site from, which of our pages you visit, and where you go as you leave
• Your IP address

This information lets us see how users are finding our site and tells us which pages are visited most often so we can make our website more useful. It also helps us address any technical issues which may arise when accessing the course materials.

Information You Provide to Us

In addition to information automatically collected, BoatUS Foundation also collects information which you provide when you register for an online course.

If you wish to take a course with BoatUS, you must supply certain personal information, including your name, contact information, birth date, sex, and information to make payments (if a fee is required by a particular state to receive a boating certificate). Some states require more personal information to be disclosed than others. The information required is state specific.

How We Use Information

BoatUS Foundation uses the information you provide to fulfill your requests for products or services and otherwise operate our business. Your payment information will be used for processing your applicable fee(s) or payments. We may share your information as disclosed below.

If you opt to join our mailing list, we may also use certain directory information collected to send you information about products and services, or updates and other information we think may be of interest to you. Please see below for your choices regarding these communications.

Third Party Links

Our web site may contain links to other sites. When you click on these links you are leaving the BoatUS. Foundation site and will go to another website. BoatUS Foundation is not responsible or liable for the content of such Web sites or their collection and use of your personal information. Please remember that any information disclosed in these other sites will be handled according to their privacy policies and you should exercise caution when deciding to disclose your personal information.

How We Share Information

BoatUS Foundation may share your information as follows:

• If you take an online boating safety exam, we will share with state agencies responsible for certification;
• If you register for a course offered by a third party, we will share with the third party administering the course;
• We may share as required by law:
• To a government institution or another person or entity that has asserted its lawful authority to obtain the information;
• Where we believe the information could be useful in the investigation of unlawful activity;
• To protect BoatUS Foundation, our users, or our property, or to enforce our terms;
• To comply with a subpoena, warrant, or other legal process, or an order made by a court, person or entity with jurisdiction to compel the production of information;
• To comply with court rules regarding the production of records and information; and
• To our legal counsel.

Please remember any information disclosed to another entity may be handled and disclosed by that entity for its own purposes and according to that entity’s privacy policies.

Your Choices

If you opt in to our email list, we may, on occasion, use certain directory information collected to send you information about products and services, or updates and other information we think may be of interest to you. You can opt out of such contacts by clicking the unsubscribe link at the bottom of any email or by sending an email to smartboating@boatus.com with your request.

Updating Your Information

If you would like to update your information in BoatUS Foundation’s records, you can log into the “My Account” section of the website, go to “My Profile” and change the information as desired.

California Residents’ Privacy Rights

As explained above, if you opt into services, we may share personal information with third parties such as entities which offer courses through our websites and other entities offering products and services we believe may interest you. These third parties may use such information for a variety of purposes including direct marketing. Upon request submitted by mail or email using the contact information at the bottom of this policy, we will provide you with a list, no more than annually, detailing the categories of information shared and the entities to which such information was provided. In accordance with California law, California residents may file grievances and complaints with California Department of Consumer Affairs, 400 R Street, Suite 1080, Sacramento, CA 95814; or by phone at 916-445-1254 or 800-952-5210; or by email to mailto:dca@dca.ca.gov.

Our Security Measures

BoatUS Foundation websites have reasonable security measures in place to protect against the loss, misuse, and alteration of the information under our control. We maintain physical, electronic, and procedural safeguards to protect your personal information. The people authorized to access your personal information need it to do their jobs, and we require that they keep your information secure and confidential.

Children’s Online Privacy

The BoatUS Foundation website is not intended for children under 13 years of age. BoatUS Foundation encourages parents and guardians to spend time with their children online, and to be familiar with the sites their children visit. If a parent or legal guardian believes that a child has provided personal information to BoatUS Foundation, the parent or legal guardian may contact BoatUS Foundation to have this information deleted.

When contacting BoatUS Foundation for this purpose, please include your e-mail address and telephone number where we can reach you. BoatUS Foundation takes steps to verify the identity of anyone requesting information about a child and to ensure that the person is in fact the child’s parent or legal guardian.

Contacting BoatUS Foundation

If you have any questions about this privacy statement or the practices of this site, you can contact us at:

BoatU.S. Foundation
5323 Port Royal Road
Springfield, VA 22151
smartboating@boatus.com