How many have takeing a boating class

[choochooharley]

I was on my way home from teaching the final class of a boating class. It got me to thinking one of the other instructors said to the class congratualtions you just did something 90% of fellow boaters have not done....So I guess I was wondering how many have actually taken a class?

 

[Woodyq]

Re: How many have takeing a boating class

As it is now required in Ontario Canada I have the Canadian Safe Boating Certificate. We also boat in Florida so I took US Power Squadron course throught the San Carlos Bay Power Squadron in Ft Myers Beach, Florida. Theirs was an excellent course with great support materials which I periodically review.

Money and time well spent!!

 

[ziggy]

Re: How many have takeing a boating class

i did the usps thing for several years.
took classes up to navigation. went through piloting + took several other classes, like weather and maint. etc.

i thought they were real fun + i learned a lot. i would have likely kept going too however the usps is pretty small in the middle of the corn fields. over the years it got smaller too. i even had to drive 50 miles to get to classes.

i would recommend to anyone that's into boating to take any classes available. i had fun with the folks and staff at all my classes.

i wanted to take classes further. navigation was next for me. however the size of the squadron in my area just kept shrinking. i tried to wait it out, over a year, and by the time i got ready to move on the squadron was down to a handful of folks. no one to teach the classes and no students to take the classes. i was sorry to see that happen but there appeared to be no way to stop the decline. i don't even know if the omaha power squadron is still in existence. my guess would be no. very sad. to date, (2 years since i've been a member) i've not had one call or any contact with the usps in my area. i'd have thought the commander would have at least contacted me and tried to persuade me to continue on. but it didn't happen.

 

[tommays]

Re: How many have takeing a boating class

I took the NY class for the insurance break and while it taught the basics it did not begin to prepare someone to run a boat in the conditions common to this area

 

[JB]

Re: How many have takeing a boating class

I took several USPS courses and a USCG prep for Captain's ("six pack") license in Ft. Lauderdale in the early 80s.

 

[Fly Rod]

Re: How many have takeing a boating class

Took my captains 100 ton course a few years back.

In Mass. if you are under 16 you need to take a boating course in order to operate a boat solo.

 

[choochooharley]

Re: How many have takeing a boating class

The basic classes are just that they are intended to be very basic and teach the safety of general boating. If you want more than tgat there are more advanced classes.

 

[choochooharley]

Re: How many have takeing a boating class

I took the NY class for the insurance break and while it taught the basics it did not begin to prepare someone to run a boat in the conditions common to this area

The basic class is just that basic 8th is ment to teach the basic laws and basic an general survival skills. There are advanced courses if you want more In depth lessons.

 

[Brewman61]

Re: How many have takeing a boating class

Does online count? I had to take the MN boaters certification course online thru the State DNR, in order to go out in the Sheriff's water patrol boats.
Not bad- very basic information but good stuff for the average Joe to know.

 

[nlain]

Re: How many have takeing a boating class

I took the Georgia online course several years back and got the certificate for Ga. A lot of good information there, I need to go back an refresh my memory, there is a lot to remember. I do plan to take a course that teaches on the water operation.

 

[choochooharley]

Re: How many have takeing a boating class

Onlines courses are good it gete the info out there but it doesnt give a platform to ask questions and hear learning stories.

 

[LadyFish]

Re: How many have takeing a boating class

My husband, myself and our daughter all took a full semester at a local college of The U.S. Power Squadron Safety Course years ago before we ever tried to navigate coastal waters.

 

[hoytvectrix]

Re: How many have takeing a boating class

In missouri it is required to take a class to navigate the larger lakes. If you run the rivers it is not needed.

 

[roscoe]

Re: How many have takeing a boating class

Sadly, not in years.
Took a class in the 70's.
Then took one from the uscg in Milw back around '92.
Since then, I have moved to the sticks, and I work nites and weekends, can't find any to take.

That is sad considering I live in a state with 400,000 boats.

 

[choochooharley]

Re: How many have takeing a boating class

Sadly, not in years.
Took a class in the 70's.
Then took one from the uscg in Milw back around '92.
Since then, I have moved to the sticks, and I work nites and weekends, can't find any to take.

That is sad considering I live in a state with 400,000 boats.

This brings up another ? that came up from last night....If we advertised more and had say a website where we could advertise classes and then maybe have a poll for what the next class to teach should be..I wonder if we could get more students and if more people would know about it..

 

[sosumi]

Re: How many have takeing a boating class

Here's a pretty good online safety course:
http://www.boatus.org/onlinecourse/default.asp