Inexpensive Boating and Navigation Courses

[Meerkat]

Was perusing the Coast Guard site and found links to these (what seem to me to be) inexpensive basic safety and coastal navigation courses that you can study and take the final for online along with instructor correspondance and peer interaction (a student forum). CG and State approved and can get you a discount on insurance if you have any.

Prices range from $20 to $100 depending on whether or not you want a printed book or can deal with online/downloadable materials and, for the coastal navigation course, if you want the optional tools pack from Wheems and Plath.

http://boatsafe.com/

I have my eye on the coastal navigation class! smile.gif

[Meerkat]

Was perusing the Coast Guard site and found links to these (what seem to me to be) inexpensive basic safety and coastal navigation courses that you can study and take the final for online along with instructor correspondance and peer interaction (a student forum). CG and State approved and can get you a discount on insurance if you have any.

Prices range from $20 to $100 depending on whether or not you want a printed book or can deal with online/downloadable materials and, for the coastal navigation course, if you want the optional tools pack from Wheems and Plath.

http://boatsafe.com/

I have my eye on the coastal navigation class! smile.gif

[Meerkat]

Was perusing the Coast Guard site and found links to these (what seem to me to be) inexpensive basic safety and coastal navigation courses that you can study and take the final for online along with instructor correspondance and peer interaction (a student forum). CG and State approved and can get you a discount on insurance if you have any.

Prices range from $20 to $100 depending on whether or not you want a printed book or can deal with online/downloadable materials and, for the coastal navigation course, if you want the optional tools pack from Wheems and Plath.

http://boatsafe.com/

I have my eye on the coastal navigation class! smile.gif

[Alan D. Hyde]

You might also check into the U. S. Power Squadron's courses in your area. Excellent, low cost, and don't let the name mislead you--- plenty of sailors there too.

Alan

P.S. Here's a link:

www.usps.org (http://www.usps.org)

[ 10-04-2002, 11:57 AM: Message edited by: Alan D. Hyde ]

[Alan D. Hyde]

You might also check into the U. S. Power Squadron's courses in your area. Excellent, low cost, and don't let the name mislead you--- plenty of sailors there too.

Alan

P.S. Here's a link:

www.usps.org (http://www.usps.org)

[ 10-04-2002, 11:57 AM: Message edited by: Alan D. Hyde ]

[Alan D. Hyde]

You might also check into the U. S. Power Squadron's courses in your area. Excellent, low cost, and don't let the name mislead you--- plenty of sailors there too.

Alan

P.S. Here's a link:

www.usps.org (http://www.usps.org)

[ 10-04-2002, 11:57 AM: Message edited by: Alan D. Hyde ]

[Ian McColgin]

And/or Coast Guard Auxillary. I don't know about USPS, but the CGA courses vary wildly in quality depending on which flotilla sponsors. Check with (dis)satisfied alumni.

[Ian McColgin]

And/or Coast Guard Auxillary. I don't know about USPS, but the CGA courses vary wildly in quality depending on which flotilla sponsors. Check with (dis)satisfied alumni.

[Ian McColgin]

And/or Coast Guard Auxillary. I don't know about USPS, but the CGA courses vary wildly in quality depending on which flotilla sponsors. Check with (dis)satisfied alumni.

[Jamie Hascall]

The CGA classes in our area are pretty good. There's a Sailing and Seamanship class that deals specifically with sailing needs. I liked it. I also took a Practical Navigation class through Washington Sea Grant. It was mostly geared toward fishing boat folks and brought in GPS and radar as integral parts of the class. Overall I felt it was a great class and has made me feel reasonably competant navigating in these waters. Check the 48 North and Northwest Yachting calenders for announcements or call Sea Grant @ 206-543-6600 to see what they might be offering.

[Jamie Hascall]

The CGA classes in our area are pretty good. There's a Sailing and Seamanship class that deals specifically with sailing needs. I liked it. I also took a Practical Navigation class through Washington Sea Grant. It was mostly geared toward fishing boat folks and brought in GPS and radar as integral parts of the class. Overall I felt it was a great class and has made me feel reasonably competant navigating in these waters. Check the 48 North and Northwest Yachting calenders for announcements or call Sea Grant @ 206-543-6600 to see what they might be offering.

[Jamie Hascall]

The CGA classes in our area are pretty good. There's a Sailing and Seamanship class that deals specifically with sailing needs. I liked it. I also took a Practical Navigation class through Washington Sea Grant. It was mostly geared toward fishing boat folks and brought in GPS and radar as integral parts of the class. Overall I felt it was a great class and has made me feel reasonably competant navigating in these waters. Check the 48 North and Northwest Yachting calenders for announcements or call Sea Grant @ 206-543-6600 to see what they might be offering.

[Wild Wassa]

Do your Internationally recognized course.

In Oz it's the Australian Yachting Federation's Certificate. The basic Class 1 is, the Boat Handler's Certificate. After 20 hours of instruction 'on the water' and 40 in the classroom (Class 1), then 200 hours of competition, you can proceed to Class 2. 200 hrs of boat maintenance, you can move onto Class 3. There is still the Charge Certificate then. I should get my Planing Licence. Then they would let me in the safety boat :D .

Warren.

ps, Restoring a Mirror was my maintenance project. About 1000 hrs at least, hands on. I had to make half the boat. 256 stitches. The Mirror was involved in an MVA. I should have done a six hour canoe, with 194 hrs of finishing, :cool: .

[ 10-22-2002, 05:15 PM: Message edited by: Wild Wassa ]

[Wild Wassa]

Do your Internationally recognized course.

In Oz it's the Australian Yachting Federation's Certificate. The basic Class 1 is, the Boat Handler's Certificate. After 20 hours of instruction 'on the water' and 40 in the classroom (Class 1), then 200 hours of competition, you can proceed to Class 2. 200 hrs of boat maintenance, you can move onto Class 3. There is still the Charge Certificate then. I should get my Planing Licence. Then they would let me in the safety boat :D .

Warren.

ps, Restoring a Mirror was my maintenance project. About 1000 hrs at least, hands on. I had to make half the boat. 256 stitches. The Mirror was involved in an MVA. I should have done a six hour canoe, with 194 hrs of finishing, :cool: .

[ 10-22-2002, 05:15 PM: Message edited by: Wild Wassa ]

[Wild Wassa]

Do your Internationally recognized course.

In Oz it's the Australian Yachting Federation's Certificate. The basic Class 1 is, the Boat Handler's Certificate. After 20 hours of instruction 'on the water' and 40 in the classroom (Class 1), then 200 hours of competition, you can proceed to Class 2. 200 hrs of boat maintenance, you can move onto Class 3. There is still the Charge Certificate then. I should get my Planing Licence. Then they would let me in the safety boat :D .

Warren.

ps, Restoring a Mirror was my maintenance project. About 1000 hrs at least, hands on. I had to make half the boat. 256 stitches. The Mirror was involved in an MVA. I should have done a six hour canoe, with 194 hrs of finishing, :cool: .

[ 10-22-2002, 05:15 PM: Message edited by: Wild Wassa ]

[Figment]

but the CGA courses vary wildly in quality depending on which flotilla sponsors. Check with (dis)satisfied alumni I'll second that emotion. The local CGA course that I took as a youngster was excellent, or so it seemed to my adolescent mind. conversations I've had with friends who've recently attended have led me to believe that the content and instruction quality have gone far downhill. as one put it "recite Red Right Return, tie a bowline in under 90 seconds, and you pass with flying colors" I suspect that the state's recent requirement for PWC licenses has overtaxed the infrastructure, and they had to dumb the courses down to keep up with the demand.

re-reading inspires an edit.... I'm not out to bash the CGA. it's a fine organization, and I've never had a bad experience with any of the people involved. My point was to suggest researching the course prior to enrollment.

[ 10-23-2002, 11:58 AM: Message edited by: Sailortect ]

[Figment]

but the CGA courses vary wildly in quality depending on which flotilla sponsors. Check with (dis)satisfied alumni I'll second that emotion. The local CGA course that I took as a youngster was excellent, or so it seemed to my adolescent mind. conversations I've had with friends who've recently attended have led me to believe that the content and instruction quality have gone far downhill. as one put it "recite Red Right Return, tie a bowline in under 90 seconds, and you pass with flying colors" I suspect that the state's recent requirement for PWC licenses has overtaxed the infrastructure, and they had to dumb the courses down to keep up with the demand.

re-reading inspires an edit.... I'm not out to bash the CGA. it's a fine organization, and I've never had a bad experience with any of the people involved. My point was to suggest researching the course prior to enrollment.

[ 10-23-2002, 11:58 AM: Message edited by: Sailortect ]

[Figment]

but the CGA courses vary wildly in quality depending on which flotilla sponsors. Check with (dis)satisfied alumni I'll second that emotion. The local CGA course that I took as a youngster was excellent, or so it seemed to my adolescent mind. conversations I've had with friends who've recently attended have led me to believe that the content and instruction quality have gone far downhill. as one put it "recite Red Right Return, tie a bowline in under 90 seconds, and you pass with flying colors" I suspect that the state's recent requirement for PWC licenses has overtaxed the infrastructure, and they had to dumb the courses down to keep up with the demand.

re-reading inspires an edit.... I'm not out to bash the CGA. it's a fine organization, and I've never had a bad experience with any of the people involved. My point was to suggest researching the course prior to enrollment.

[ 10-23-2002, 11:58 AM: Message edited by: Sailortect ]