Boating Course

[pred02]

Hi,
I am thinking of taking a boating course pre-purchase of a 24" ft cruiser. I know that experience is everything but would like to get a more solid classroom foundation when it comes to boating/skippering. I already passed the NH Boating exam and have a license from there.

Looking online there are the "Squadron Boating Course," "America's Boating Course," as well as USCG safety courses available as well.

Can anyone recommend some of these more advance boating courses?

Thanks

 

[Ned L]

Re: Boating Course

It has been decades since I took a Power Squadron course, but I think I would still recommend it. I highly recommend what you are looking to do. About 5 years ago I took the basic 'safe boating course' offered here in Conn. for something to do during some winter evenings, & to see if there were any 'new' things from a state requirement perspective, and was very disappointed in that as well as the state published 'Safe boating handbook' (or whatever it is formally called). So very little of both actually deal with rules of the road, navigation, and actual boat operation it is no wonder why so few people out on the water actually understand what is going on. It is a shame, it is like learning how to drive a car without understanding that a red light means stop & a green light means go, and approaching a traffic light with the attitude of "if another vehicle is coming and it is bigger than me I will just wait for him to go, and if it is smaller it will have to wait for me".

 

[pred02]

Re: Boating Course

Thanks,
What about Coast Guard courses, are they any good? There are some that are starting next week that I am thinking of signing up for.
Thanks!

 

[Chiliando]

Re: Boating Course

Most of these orginizations offer a 10 night course that is as comprehensive as it can be without actually going out on the boat.

I took one with the Coast Guard Aux. here in my miami earlier this year. Well worth the time put in.