PGIslanders
Safe Boating Education Goal
The Punta Gorda Boater’s Alliance (the PGBA) is an organization consisting of about 27 local boating and fishing organizations. One of its concerns is that as more boaters use Charlotte Harbor, the risk of boating accidents increase. To make the waters safer for all boaters, the PGBA is asking that the member boating organizations set a goal of having 100% of its members take a Safe Boating Course. The Board of the PGIslanders and the Members at the July monthly meeting support this goal for our Club.
Having all our members take a safe boating course is especially important for PGIslander members, as we are all required to own a boat and participate in Club Cruises. In addition, our Operation Policy # 17 in short requires all members to make safe decisions about boating on our cruises. It is also important that all of our members are safe boating qualified. Though one member may generally function as the Captain of a vessel, the Co-Captain must be capable and ready to take over these duties at any time and to be capable to take over and handle the boat safely if the Captain becomes incapacitated. We also believe it is appropriate that the PGIslanders set an example for other boating organizations.
The action plan goes like this:
- The PGIslanders will be notified of the 100% Goal and a
questionnaire will be sent to members asking for updated information so the
Club’s records can be updated.
- If you have not taken a course, please let JoAnn Lakes Elliott, Membership Chair, know when you have completed a course.
Note: Members with a Coast Guard License, or who are graduates of the Naval, Coast Guard or Merchant Marine Academies automatically qualify as having taken a course.
If you have any questions, please call or e-mail any of the Safe Boating Education Committee members: Jake Dye 833-9208; jake@jakedye.com, Shelly Harris 639-2787; sheldonjharris@yahoo.com or Toby Haswell 575-7011; Haswell2@Comcast.net .
Safe Boating Educational Courses
The Safe Boating Educational Committee has done a lot of work on finding and reviewing Safe Boating Educational Courses. We believe that the courses listed below, are approved by the National Association of State Boating Law Administrators (NASBLA) and are also qualified to issue a Florida Boating License. Before taking a Course, make sure that this is the case. Also, you may wish to check with your insurance company to see if they give a discount for the course, you are planning to take.
There are basically two types of courses. These are instructor led courses which are taught in a classroom and web/CD based courses that you take on your own at home. One course is taught both in the classroom and on the water. A final exam is required for all courses. If you have a lot of boating experience, many of the web based courses allow you to go right to the exam questions.
INSTRUCTOR LED SAFE BOATING COURSES
Course Name: Squadron Boating Course
Organization: Peace River Sail and Power Squadron
Course Overview: The Squadron Boating Course is an instructor lead course, which meets weekly, for all boaters including skippers of a family cruiser, sailing enthusiasts, personal watercraft (PWC) operators, hunters or fishermen operating an outboard utility boat, and canoe and kayak paddlers,. It covers the basics you need to know to safely and legally operate your boat, such as basic boating terminology, boat handling, water sports safety, PWCs, legally required equipment and other boating laws and regulations, right-of-way rules between boats, and marine radio operation.
When Offered: September 26 through November 7, from 7:00-9:00pm
Cost: $60
Location: PG Boating Club
Enrollment Procedure: Call 637-0766 to register
Course Name: Boat Smart Course
Organization: Cape Coral US Power Squadron
Course Overview: The one day course includes three main sections:
- Getting Started: boat terms and types, boat handling, anchoring, water sport safety, personal watercraft
- What's Needed: equipment, regulations, law enforcement
- Rules To Live By: aids to navigation, navigation rules, adverse conditions, marine radio
When Offered: July 14
Cost: $50 for one person, $10 for second person sharing a book
Enrollment Procedure: Call 637-0766 to register
Location: Punta Gorda Boating Club
Course Name: Boating Essentials CPC 100
Organization: Chapman School of Seamanship
Course Overview: 12 hour intensive course – 8 hours of class time and 4 hours of on the water skills practice. Class size is 3 – 12 students. Topics covered:
- Legal requirements & regulations
- Getting Underway
- Operating your boat
- Anchoring
- On the water skills
- Weather, Hypothermia, Environmental Issues
When Offered: Second Saturday and Sunday of each month
Cost: $ 350
Enrollment Procedure: Go to the following URL:
http://chapman.org/training-programs/cpc100.html
WEB AND CD BASED SAFE BOATING COURSES
Course Name: America’s Boating Course
Organization: U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary
Course Overview: The course can be taken in any of three ways: on the Internet, by studying an 80-page course manual or with a CD. When you sign up you'll receive a complete package which includes the course manual, the boating course CD, and a PIN number giving you access to the Internet course. The course manual, CD and online course contain identical material, except for your state-specific law, which can only be accessed online. This course is the same as the Power Squadron ABC course. The Coast Guard Auxiliary has a variety of boating courses. Their courses can be found at the URL below.
Course Topics:
1. Introduction to Boating
2. Boating Law
3. Boat Safety Safe Boating
4. Boating Problems Trailering, Storing and Protecting Your
5. Hunting and Fishing, Water-skiing and River Boating
When Offered: On-line anytime. Instructor led as coordinated locally.
Cost: $34.95
Enrollment Procedure: www.americasboatingcourse.com Other course information at: www.cgaux.org
Course Name: America’s Boating Course
Organization: US Power Squadron
Course Overview: This self-study course covers the fundamentals of boating. The course material covers:
- General information about boats and maintenance
- Information to make your boating safer and more comfortable
- Tips on being a more courteous boater
- Laws and regulations to which you must adhere
When Offered: Available any time on-line
Cost: $34.95
Enrollment Procedure: go to the following URL for more information and enrollment procedure:
http://www.americasboatingcourse.com/front/splash.htm
Course Name: Boater 101
Organization: Marine University
Course Overview: On-line. The course offers a text book on line and chance to ask questions on an 800 number and by e-mail. Test required at end of course. Some of the topics covered are:
- Boat designs
- Required equipment
- Safety
- Aids to navigation
- Weather
- Rules of the road
When Offered: Anytime on-line
Cost: $ 15
Enrollment Procedure: Go to the following URL:
Course Name: Smart Boating with Captain Steve
Organization: Marine Smarts, Inc.
Course Overview: Basic boating to the intermediate level. No specific outline or topics given.
When Offered: Uses CDs on your home computer.
Cost: $79.95. Up to 4 persons can take the course for this price.
Enrollment Procedure: Go to the following URL:
http://www.maritimesmarts.com/index.html
Course Name: Online Boating Safety Course
Organization: Boat US Foundation
Course Overview: This on line course uses 75
questions, which are randomly generated, from a pool of questions. If you are
not sure of an answer, you can click on a hyperlink to study the subject prior
to giving an answer. The Course covers boating safety, navigation and operating
a boat.
Cost: Free. You can print a certificate if you pass. If you have them
send you a certificate, it costs $ 5.00
More Information: http://www.boatus.org/onlinecourse/generalcourse.htm
Course Name: American Boat Operators Course
Organization: American Boating Education
Course Overview: on-line course covering the following:
- Basic boating information
- Laws and safety equipment
- To the water
- Navigation rules
- Personal watercraft and other boats
- Accident prevention and emergency response
- Water sports and the environment
When Offered: Available any time on-line
Cost: $20 to take the examination
Enrollment Procedure: go to the following URL:
www.boatingcertificate.com/Florida/studymaterial.aspx
Course Name: Florida Boating Safety Course
Organization: American Safety Council
Course Overview: On-line boater safety course covering:
- Know your boat
- Before heading out
- Operating your boat
- Legal requirements
- Boat emergencies
- Enjoy water sports
When Offered: Available any time on-line
Cost: $20 to take the examination
Enrollment Procedure: go to the following URL:
www.boat-ed.com/fl/fl_internet.htm
Course Name: BoaterExam.com
Organization: Safe Boating America, Inc.
Course Overview: On-line. The course offers an on line course manual that is specific to Florida. After using the manual, the student takes the test of 60 questions. The student continues to work on the exam until at least 80% of the questions are answered correctly. When the exam is completed satisfactorily, a fee is charged and the Florida Fish & Wildlife Conservation Commission will mail the student’s Florida Boating Safety Education ID Card in approximately 2 to 3 weeks. The topics covered:
- The Boat
- Boat Equipment
- Trip Planning
- Marine Environment
- Safe Boat Operation
- Navigation
- Emergency Preparedness
- Other Water Activities
- Boating Education
When Offered: Anytime on-line
Cost: $ 24.95
Enrollment Procedure: Go to the following URL:
Course Name: Practical Boating Safety, Seamanship and Navigation Course
Organization: Coastal Yachting Academy
Course Overview: According to their website, the course is more comprehensive than a basic Power Squadron or Coast Guard Auxiliary course but less comprehensive than a Coast Guard license prep course. It is available by correspondence/home study or classroom. The text is Chapman Piloting Seamanship & Small Boat Handling and a supplemental text for 1 lesson prepared by us. The course has 20 lessons. The student reads the assigned chapters/pages for each lesson and completes a fill-in-the-blanks test on each lesson. They also take 7 multiple choice tests, each based on a block of 1 to 4 of the lessons. Both the Correspondence and Classroom students receive the National Association of State Boating Law Administrators Approved Certificate.
When Offered: On line, up to the student
Cost: $99.95. Enrollment Procedure: Go to the following URL:
http://www.boatingclasses.com/
Course Name: PWC Safety School
Organization: Delaunay Communications
Course Overview: This program is for Personal Water Craft operators and is designed to give new owners a safe operating experience. The course is presented by PWC dealers.
When Offered: At time of purchase of PWC
Cost: Usually free
Enrollment Procedure: See PWC dealer.
More information: www.pwcconflictresolution.net
Course Name: Basic Power Boat Handling
Organization: Florida Sailing & Cruising School.
Course Overview: Hands on training. There are a variety of courses, power and sail, designed to provide for safety and on-the-water proficiency. The courses range from Safe Boating 101, to thorough courses focused on owners of large boats who frequently cruise off shore. All courses qualify for the safe boating program. The school has a relationship with the American Sailing Association.
When Offered: As arranged.
Cost: $ 40 for Safe Boating 101. Other courses can cost up to $3000.
