UNITED STATES COAST GUARD AUXILIARY UNOFFICIAL NEWSLETTER

          BOAT SMART FROM THE START - TAKE A BOATING      SAFETY COURSE      

United States Power Squadrons

Peekskill Sail And Power Squadron  USPS Boating Safety Courses

AMERICA'S BOATING COURSE

The one day, 8 hour, ABC Course will be offered throughout the boating season.

Topics will include:

Aids to navigation, Rules of the road, Legal requirements,
Operation and seamanship, Boating terms, Trailering,
Boat handling, Personal Water Craft required NYS certification.

BS&S Boating Skills and Seamanship                           13 Lessons

LGS Let's Go Sailing                                                        4 Lessons

B/ACN Coastal Navigation (Basic & Advanced)     6 / 12 Lessons

OPERATION BOAT SMART

PUBLIC INFORMATION

Who Are We?

If you're interested in an exciting and highly interactive boating safety course, check out America's Boating Course. ABC can be completed either on the Internet, with a book supplement, or you can purchase a shrink-wrapped combination of the book and a CD. Purchasing the CD version you can take the course with you anywhere you go, with or without Internet access. This is a self-study course with a local contact to assist you. To earn the certificate of course completion, you take a proctored exam which is given in your local area. There is also a class session covering your local and state laws, again given in your local area.

The course is fun and it's very comprehensive. By following the link above, you'll be taken to a Web site that fully explains the course contents and how you can participate. America's Boating Course is a joint project between The United States Coast Guard Auxiliary and the United States Power Squadrons. In addition, the course has been approved by the National Association of State Boating Law Administrators, and it fulfills the new course requirement for PWC operators.

PERSONAL WATERCRAFT (PWC) ONE-HOUR COURSE

The U. S. Coast Guard Auxiliary's Personal Watercraft course is a very basic, one-hour introduction to the safety issues involved when operating a PWC. Because of its brevity, it is not approved by the National Association of State Boating Law Administrators (NASBLA) nor is it approved by most of the states which require formal instruction in order to operate a boat (the Auxiliary's Boating Safely, Boating Skills & Seamanship and Sailing Fundamentals courses are more appropriate for meeting legal requirements).

The purpose of the course and its associated text, Personal Watercraft Rider's Handbook, is to teach that PWCs are boats and that their skippers have legal responsibilities and should learn the "rules of the road."

Individuals who successfully complete the course and exam are awarded certificates and cards.

NAVIGATING WITH GPS COURSE

Navigating with GPS was developed jointly by the U S Coast Guard Auxiliary and the Canadian Power and Sail Squadrons.  Although a foundation in principles of navigation is recommended, a brief review of navigation is provided.  The two-hour course provides a very basic introduction to the nature of the Global Positioning System as well as basic receiver functions with special attention to selecting a receiver and doing simple waypoint navigation.  It is not intended to teach the operation of any particular GPS receiver.

LET'S GO SAILING COURSE

The USCG Auxiliary's Let's Go Sailing (LGS) is a fun course for beginning sailors. The course is designed for the person who wants to begin sailing in a small boat, learning each step the right way, and in the process build the skills and confidence that will serve as the foundation for a lifetime of enjoyment.  It uses a short, well illustrated text published by the American Sailing Association to introduce fledgling sailors to the equipment, nomenclature and safe operation of small sailboats. Each of the text's four chapters has review questions and there is an extensive glossary and index. The course has it's own exam and certificate of accomplishment.

By itself, Let's Go Sailing is NOT approved by the National Association of State Boating Law Administrators (NASBLA) as a boating safety course. Only when taught in conjunction with NASBLA approved USCG Auxiliary courses such as Boating Safely, America's Boating Course or Boating Skills and Seamanship, can a state boating safety certificate be issued. Let's Go Sailing may be offered as a non-NASBLA approved, stand alone course. This would be appropriate for students who do not need or want NASBLA certification. 

Topics include:

• BEGINNING TO SAIL -- the sailboat and the wind, the sailor's language, parts of a boat, sails and control terms, sailing terms, points of sail, how a sail works, tacking vs. jibing, heading up, heading down, in irons, sail care and folding.
• LET'S GO SAILING -- rigging, launching, getting going, your first sail, close hauled sailing, coming about/tacking, running-sailing, downwind, steering, jibing, safety considerations.
• SAFE SAILING -- capsizing, righting, scoop recovery method, rescuing, heavy air sailing, upwind and close reaching, downwind, man overboard, what to wear, cold and hypothermia, dealing with the sun.
• ADVANCED TOPICS -- crewing, centerboards, planning your sail, wind and weather, tides and currents, sailing in a confined area, steering and sailing rules, docking/mooring/beaching, knots and lines.

Individuals who successfully complete the course and exam are awarded certificates and cards.

The U. S. Coast Guard Auxiliary's Boating Skills and Seamanship (BS&S) course is a comprehensive course designed for both the experienced and the novice boater. The course consists of 8 required lessons plus elective modules, providing up-to-date knowledge for handling boats in all conditions.

Topics include:

• WHICH BOAT IS FOR YOU? -- boater's language; types of boats; outboard motors and stern drives; hull design; uses of boats; other power plants; materials for constructing boats; your intended use; the Coast Guard Customer Info line; marine surveyors; buying a boat.
• EQUIPMENT FOR YOUR BOAT -- requirements for your boat; your boat's equipment; legal considerations; substance abuse; boating accident reports; Courtesy Marine Examinations.
• TRAILORING YOUR BOAT -- legal considerations; practical considerations; the towing vehicle; balancing the load; handling your trailer; pre-departure checks; preparing to launch; launching; retrieving; storing your boat and trailer; theft prevention; Zebra mussels; float plan.
• 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.
• PILOTING YOUR BOAT -- 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.
• POWERING YOUR BOAT -- types of marine engines; marine engines; selecting a propeller; induction systems; ignition systems; flame arresters; cooling systems; gasoline considerations; batteries; maintenance; winterizing your boat; spring fitting-out; troubleshooting.
• 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; copies of the rules; calling another station; procedure words; phonetic alphabet; routine radio check; distress, urgency, and safety calls; crew training.
• INLAND BOATING -- types of inland waters; inland navigation; inland seamanship; river currents; maintaining inland waterways; dams; locks; river charts; commercial traffic; before you go.
• 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.

Many insurance companies will offer discounts on boat insurance to individuals who successfully complete these courses.

Individuals who successfully complete the course and exam are awarded certificates and cards.

The U. S. Coast Guard Auxiliary's Basic Coastal Navigation (BCN) course is a comprehensive course to introduce the advanced boater to the methods needed to safely pilot a boat.

Topics include:

• INTRODUCTION TO COASTAL NAVIGATION -- course overview; names and definitions of various types of navigation; steps of voyage planning and underway navigation; earth's coordinate system and its use to specify location; how direction can be measured on the surface; conversion of direction (true, magnetic, compass and relative) to another.
• THE MARINE MAGNETIC COMPASS -- parts and principle of operation of the marine magnetic compass; concept of deviation and distinctions between compass north, magnetic north, and true north; "swinging ship" and deviation table preparation; rapidly and reliably solving TVMDC and/or CDMVT computations.
• THE NAUTICAL CHART -- characteristics of nautical charts, particularly Mercator and polyconic projections; plotting positions in terms of latitude and longitude; various chart types/scales and their appropriate uses; basic knowledge of chart symbols; rapid and reliable measurement of direction, distance, and location on Mercator and polyconic nautical charts.
• THE NAVIGATOR'S TOOLS AND INSTRUMENTS -- navigator tools used in everyday practice; basic skills and familiarity with the use of plotting instruments; use of other instruments and equipment used in the practice of navigation.
• DEAD RECKONING -- working knowledge of dead reckoning methods including plotting, labeling, measuring, and determining DR positions; speed, time, distance formulas and problem solving; speed estimation, tachometers and speed curves.
• PILOTING -- Line of Position (LOP) concepts; bearing use in LOPs; running fix by advancing or retiring an LOP; danger bearings; estimated positions when the data are lacking for a FIX.

ADVANCED COASTAL NAVIGATION

The U. S. Coast Guard Auxiliary's Advanced Coastal Navigation (ACN) course is a comprehensive course to prepare the advanced boater with the knowledge needed to safely pilot a boat.                               

Topics include:

• INTRODUCTION TO COASTAL NAVIGATION -- course overview; names and definitions of various types of navigation; steps of voyage planning and underway navigation; earth's coordinate system and its use to specify location; how direction can be measured on the surface; conversion of direction (true, magnetic, compass and relative) to another.

• THE MARINE MAGNETIC COMPASS -- parts and principle of operation of the marine magnetic compass; concept of deviation and distinctions between compass north, magnetic north, and true north; "swinging ship" and deviation table preparation; rapidly and reliably solving TVMDC and/or CDMVT computations.

• THE NAUTICAL CHART -- characteristics of nautical charts, particularly Mercator and polyconic projections; plotting positions in terms of latitude and longitude; various chart types/scales and their appropriate uses; basic knowledge of chart symbols; rapid and reliable measurement of direction, distance, and location on Mercator and polyconic nautical charts.

• THE NAVIGATOR'S TOOLS AND INSTRUMENTS -- navigator tools used in everyday practice; basic skills and familiarity with the use of plotting instruments; use of other instruments and equipment used in the practice of navigation.

• DEAD RECKONING -- working knowledge of dead reckoning methods including plotting, labeling, measuring, and determining DR positions; speed, time, distance formulas and problem solving; speed estimation, tachometers and speed curves.

• PILOTING -- Line of Position (LOP) concepts; bearing use in LOPs; running fix by advancing or retiring an LOP; danger bearings; estimated positions when the data are lacking for a FIX.

• CURRENT SAILING -- understanding current and the motion of the vessel; current problems on both the nautical chart and maneuvering board including determination of EP given set and drift, course steered, and speed maintained; determination of actual set and drift given course steered, speed maintained, and a FIX; determination of course to steer and resultant SOA given set and drift and intended track; determination of course to steer and speed to maintain given specified track and speed of advance and current set and drift.

• TIDES AND TIDAL CURRENTS -- understanding tidal phenomena, causes, and typical variations; appreciate the practical reasons why tides are important to the mariner; know how to use the Tide Tables to estimate the height of the tide at any time; know how to use the Tidal Current Tables to estimate the strength and direction of the current at any time.

• RADIO NAVIGATION -- understanding the basics of RDF, Loran-C, Radar, and GPS, their respective advantages, disadvantages, limitations and how they can be used to fix position; radar use for collision- avoidance CPA and target course and speed.

• NAVIGATION REFERENCE PUBLICATIONS -- Acquaintance with the U.S. Coast Pilot, the Light List, and the Notices to Mariners; computation of visibility of lights given height of light, observer, prevailing visibility and nominal ranges; importance of up-to-date charts and other publications.

• FUEL AND VOYAGE PLANNING -- Understand the basics of fuel planning, including the definitions of fuel efficiency, fuel reserves, endurance, and range; fuel consumption affects of such factors as hull design, engine horsepower, throttle settings, condition of bottom etc.; developing a fuel consumption curve; effects of current in fuel planning; preparing and using a "Howgozit" chart for a voyage.

(Article by Gordy Aman, Flotilla 45, SO-PS D 9ER )

As the operator of a boat, you are responsible for the boat and all people on board. Remember, safety is not a set of rules--it's an attitude, and common sense will make your trip and your passengers' boating experience more enjoyable.

TIPS:

1) GOOD HOUSEKEEPING: There are few places where good housekeeping habits are more important than on your boat. Keep decks and cabin area clean and free from clutter and debris, such as fishing poles, tackle boxes, and cleaning equipment (such as hoses, buckets, and brushes). See that a spill of any kind is wiped up as soon as possible. Serious injuries to yourself and passengers can be avoided when you develop a good habit of storing things in the same place. Also, this will save time if you need something in an emergency.

2) TOOLS AND SPARE PARTS: It's a good idea to carry a tool box and a few spare parts, such as water pump belt, spark plugs, distributor cap, fuel filter, fuses and spare bulbs, just to name a few. Learn how to make minor repairs if you can, and if you would rather not, at least you may have the parts on board if someone else offers a hand.

3) MAINTENANCE: Keep a record of scheduled maintenance items, such as oil and filter changes, fuel filter replacement, and battery replacement. Before you leave the dock, check oil level, battery for water, navigation lights, and periodically add dry gas (water remover) to your fuel tanks.

4) FUEL SUPPLY: Always start your trip with a FULL tank of fuel; service stations are not to be found on the water. When you plan a boating trip, here's a good rule to remember. It's called the rule of thirds, and it works!

a) One third of a tank to get you there
b) One third of a tank to get you home, and
c) One third of a tank just in case.

5) DRUGS AND ALCOHOL: Never mix drugs and/or alcohol with boating; they affect your ability to react and cause poor judgment. More so, when you factor in the hot sun, wind, and noises aboard your boat, they cause more fatigue than you realize; and this is the catalyst for a serious boating accident.

6) MORE GOOD IDEAS:

a) Have a first aid kit on board

b) Have a flashlight and spare batteries

c) Listen to weather forecast

d) Float plan--tell someone at home or a friend when and where you are going, with whom, when you expect to be back, and who to call if they don't hear from you in a reasonable time. Remember to tell them when you arrive back so they can cancel the watch!

Safe Boaters File A Float Plan

  All safe boaters file a Float Plan with a responsible adult when going out on the water.

 It is also advised to leave a copy on the dashboard of your car.

 Provided for your use is a US Coast Guard approved Float Plan with supplementary pages in Adobe Acrobat format:

Float Plan

Supplemental Itinerary

Supplemental Passenger List

"Wait! Before Leaving." A Pre-underway Check List

Plan for summer, download your Float Plan now.

(Acrobat Reader required)
 

                     Click link for NOTICE DISCLAIMER 

   www.ratlines.com  Revised: 03/09/08