Watchung Sail and Power Squadron - Public Boating Courses

Public Boating Course

The course material includes a 244-page full color manual. The manual includes extensive diagrams, graphics and boating tips.. In addition to the lessons, we include resources which will come in handy long after you have completed the course: printable forms (checklists, accident reports, float plans, etc.) and links to reference documents such as the Navigation Rules.

The course manual consists of five chapters packed with boating tips along with the nautical rules of
the road. The first four chapters contain core boating information while the last chapter is optional and
contains an introduction to GPS waypoint navigation and piloting via dead reckoning skills.

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Chapter 1: · Getting Started—nautical terms · Required Safety Equipment-life jackets, fire ext. · Going Boating—fueling, casting off, underway Chapter 2: · Navigation Rules · Navigation Aids · Lights and Sound signals · Government Regulations · State and Local Regulations Chapter 3: · Finding Your Way—nautical charts, electronic navigation · Anchoring · Adverse Conditions and Emergencies · Communications Afloat Chapter 4: · Water Sports Safety-water skiing, hunting/fishing, paddling · Trailering · PWC Operation · Knots and Lines Chapter 5: (optional) Featuring hands-on exercises using standard plotting tools. This chapter is presented in a classroom setting under the expert guidance of an experienced instructor. Classroom plotting exercises build skill and confidence for larger lakes and rivers and coastal waters. · Introduction to Navigation—how GPS works, nautical charts, digital charts · Charts—what they convey and how to interpret the many symbols · Digital Charting—an introduction to waypoint and route planning using the latest in computer software