All boat users operating under the auspices of UCSC for scientific research/education must have a state issued boater card for their area of operations, be MOTC trained, and current in CPR and First Aid prior to using any vessel for their research. Operators using a UCSC owned vessel must be checked out on the vessel they plan to operate. It is recommended to have documented at least 12 days of supervised operation before requesting a checkout. 

We typically run two MOTC's each year, or as needed. Scheduling varies based on needs. We usually allow only 6 students in each course due to training ratios and logistical constraints. Priority is given to those that need to be boat operators for their scientific work or research, with endorsement and prioritization from active research faculty. Our course meets the Department of Interior standards for the Motorboat Operator Certification Course (MOCC), which will allow you to operate Federally owned vessels. If you are interested in taking the course, please reach out to boatingsafety@ucsc.edu.