Boating Safety Course: What’s Happening in the World of Water Safety
There’s nothing better you can do for yourself than taking a boating safety course to be taught all you need to know before you complete your boat registration and get on the water. A good boating course will show you how to operate your boat and teach you the rules of the water. Here’s a quick update on what’s happening in the world of water safety.
What’s Hot:
- The US Coast Guard Auxiliary has developed an innovative boating safety course that offers participants new opportunity for gaining safety certifications in forty-two states. The course, titled About Boating Safely, is comprehensive and is offered nationally. It teaches topics such as Introduction to Boating, Boating Law, Boating Safety Equipment, Navigation, Boating Problems and much more.
- The in-depth boating safety course offered by the American Sailing Association. Of course, the concentration here will be on sailing vessels, but you will learn the basics of boating and navigation as well. To obtain greater knowledge of boating skills, read advanced references such as Chapman’s Boating and Seamanship, The Annapolis Book of Seamanship, or The Practical Encyclopedia of Boating.
What’s Not:
- Online courses. Unless you have a solid maritime background and you’re confident you can study on your own and pass a test at your local Coast Guard’s Regional Examination Center, you should take a boating safety course that gives you practical experience on the water. It’s very important to have complete knowledge of safety regulations and procedures when you’re in charge of powerful watercraft, and an online course will not give you the practical experience you’ll need.
The number of leisure boaters using the nation’s waterways continues to grow. Boating safety course alumnae can help guarantee healthy, happy, and safe journeys for years to come.