Boating Classes - Safety

All of our lives, we have heard (and perhaps preached) "Safety First!" It is no different when you are getting into boating. Learn safe boating and seamanship by taking a boating safety and seamanship course offered by the U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary or the U.S. Power Squadron. You'll boat with confidence and reduce your boat insurance cost, too. These classes are virtually free (with the exception of the cost of materials) and are usually convenient to your home.

Download this simple to use interactive simulator, powered by Nautical Know How, Inc. onto your computer now for free. Three easy to use simulations (Rules of the Road, Running Lights and Aids to Navigation) provide useful practice for any new boater.

Find a class nearby by searching these sites:

US Power Squadron
http://www.usps.org

USCG Auxiliary
http://www.cgaux.org

These courses take place within your community at boat stores, community colleges, marinas, etc. and are usually set up over a six - ten week period one night a week. The curriculum covers such topics as basic navigation, knots, anchoring and docking techniques, state and federal laws, boating terminology, what to do in case of an emergency, and much more.

Boat Safe: Carbon Monoxide & Boats

Each year, boaters are injured or killed by carbon monoxide. Virtually all of these injuries and deaths are preventable.

What is Carbon Monoxide (CO)?

Carbon monoxide, or CO, is a potentially deadly gas produced anytime a carbon-based fuel, such as gasoline, burns. Carbon monoxide sources on your boat include gasoline engines and generators, cooking ranges, space heaters and water heaters.

Read more »

You can also take one of four online boating courses, listed here:

In additional to many informative articles and boating tips from this website, www.boatsafe.com contains the first Nationally approved Basic Boating Safety Course. This course is approved by the National Association of State Boating Law Administrators (NASBLA) and recognized by the US Coast Guard as acceptable to the National Recreational Boating Safety Program. Most marine insurance companies, in all states, give discounts to boat owners who have successfully completed such a course.

Standards and Laws

Though the US Coast Guard has set up federal requirements for minimum standards and laws, boating laws vary from state to state and are subject to change at any time. These laws specifically change with regard to age restrictions for boat operation and safety equipment requirements. Click here to find out your state's requirements.

Check out some useful information on knots!

There are four basic knots that every boater should know. All knots used by boaters are designed to be easy to tie, take a tremendous amount of strain and then be easy to untie.