Boating Skills and Seamanship
The U. S. Coast Guard Auxiliary's Boating Skills and Seamanship (BS&S) program is comprehensive and designed for both the experienced and the novice boater. The program, now in its 13th edition published in 2007. Flotilla 95's course is held twice a week (Mondays and Thursdays from 7:00 pm until 9:30 pm) for 4 weeks at the Coast Guard Auxiliary Station in Caxambas Park with material taught by experienced Auxiliarists.
Topics Include
All Courses require advance registration and payment of course fees. You can register by contacting Al Schettino, Public Education, at (239) 970-2391.
- EQUIPMENT FOR YOUR BOAT -- requirements for your boat; your boat's equipment; legal considerations; substance abuse; boating accident reports; Courtesy Marine Examinations.
- HANDLING YOUR BOAT -- leave with a full tank; fueling your boat; your boat's propeller; cars and boats; twin screws; jet drives; loading your boat; getting started; leaving a pier; "man" overboard; docking; mooring to a permanent anchor; anchoring; towing a skier; heavy weather; small boat safety.
- YOUR "HIGHWAY" SIGNS -- protection of ATONs; buoyage systems; waterway marks; how waterways are marked; light characteristics; chart symbols; light structures; lights on bridges; electronic aids to navigation; a word to the wise; navigation publications.
- THE RULES YOU MUST FOLLOW -- two sets of rules; to whom do the rules apply; what is a vessel; the general responsibility rule; general considerations; conduct in narrow channels; traffic separation schemes; vessel traffic services; stand-on or give-way; rules for special vessels; risk of collision; bend signals; restricted visibility; vessel lights and shapes; vessels at anchor; diving operations; distress signals; drawbridge signals; penalties.
- THE REST OF OUR STORY -- small boat safety; personal watercraft; hypothermia; motorboats and sailboats; carbon monoxide poisoning; float plan; U.S. Coast Guard District Offices; instructions for using a course plotter; metric conversion system.
- INTRODUCTION TO NAVIGATION -- piloting tools; maps and charts; chart features; your chart's general information block; other charted information; your magnetic compass; position on the earth's surface; locating a point on a chart; distance on the earth's surface; measuring distance; course plotting; sources of compass error; correcting a compass reading; positioning; speed-time-distance; dead reckoning; practice your art.
- LINES AND KNOTS FOR YOUR BOAT -- line or rope; rope materials; kinds of rope; measuring rope; selecting your ropes; care of rope; making up line; knots, bends, and hitches; splices; securing lines; dipping the eye.
- WEATHER AND BOATING -- sources of weather information; wind and boating; wind and waves; understanding weather; weather and heat; fog; non-frontal weather.
- YOUR BOAT'S RADIO -- radios used on boats; functions of radios; licenses; selecting your VHF-FM radio; installation; operating your VHF-FM; maintain a radio watch; channels have special purposes; some "no no's"; copies of the rules; calling another station; procedure words; phonetic alphabet; routine radio check; distress, urgency, and safety calls; crew training.
- FLORIDA BOATING LAWS
Many insurance companies will offer discounts on boat insurance to individuals who successfully complete this 10 session program. Individuals who successfully complete the program and exam are awarded certificates and pocket cards from the Flotilla in addition to The Florida Safe Boaters Card from the State of Florida.
Cost: $50 per participant
Programs in 2008 will be held from:
October 27th through November 20th
Programs in 2009 will be held from:
January 12th through February 5th
February 16th through March 12th
October 26th through November 19th