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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:
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:
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:
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:
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:
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. 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:
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:
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:
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.
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