Curious - How Many Have Done A Boating Course?

[Bwphoto]

I took the CG Aux. course a few years ago. It was well worth the time involved. It was 2 nights a week for 6 or 8 weeks.

I would recommend it to anyone that operates a boat.

[auguste]

Power Squadron

about 40 hours

[Rich]

Taught the USCGAux 13-wk course + several of their other courses for a few yrs.

Now I just party with the Admiral.....

[Mud Runner]

USCG AUX and Hampton Roads Maritime OUPV

[Chiliando]

USCG AUX and Hampton Roads Maritime OUPV

I took an on-line course last year. I am now taking the 10 night Power Squadron course with my son. He will be 14 soon and wants his card. I thought it best he take a live class.

[Thubert57]

I took the Power Squadron course about 20 years ago. Then took the USCG course about 5 years ago shortly after buying a boat. Having a little experience with a boat made a world of difference in how much I absorbed.

[WMalloy382]

I did that class here in CT last year also.......and was COMPLETELY appalled at how worthless the class was. They played some state-mandated video, most of which was completely not applicable. No discussion about important safety things that people can do like DSC VHf radios, EPIRBs, the benefit of getting a SEA-tow service, the impact of wake, and how to be a good citizen, etc. It was all teaching in order to pass the lame, dated 100 Q test. It truly scared me to see how clueless most of the people were that were getting their licenses. I'd spent maybe 30 days on the water before i too the class, and i could have done a better job teaching the students what they needed to learn...this is not to trash the instructor, its just it was so focused on the dated, set curriculum.

The ONLY useful thing the guy emphasized was that "PWCs DONT TURN UNLESS THE THROTTLE IS ON....." which was good, because there were a bunch of completely clueless students that said they were getting the license to ride the PWC they had already bought....and many of them seemed suprised by that no-throttle no turn issue.

1000% agree. The boating licensing in CT has done nothing loud- NOTHING!! to change what happens on the water. the course you have to take is one day long and worthless. There has been NO change in the amount of deaths or collisions.

All it does is create another useless cottage industry.

BTW, i have done the CT course, power squadron and at one point had to pass a navigation certification to be the Navigator on a few overnight races. The only one worth anything was the navigation course and then only a little.

You have to be out there to really know how this works people

[roadkill]

I took the Coast Guard Aux course; 7 week, 3 hrs a week and scored a 96%. One of the bouys messed me up. It was a good course taught by some dedicated guys. Some of the people attending were just "clueless". One guy thought if he was anchored in the channel fishing, the oil tanker had to go around him.

[SCORPIO]

Took the Power Squadron course, the long one for several weeks. I joined the Power Squadron and have taken numerous courses and currently have the Advanced Piloting certificate from them. If I can find the time, I'd like to take a few more courses.

[Paul Barnard]

I took a four week Coast Guard course, a one week commercial RHIB course and have taken numerous day courses.