Boater Ed courses

[Gin]

Now that boater ed courses are required in most (or all) states, I'm guessing many of you Tugnuts have taken a course. Here in Oregon, we have three online options: (1) Boat Ed; (2) Boater Exam; and (3) BoatUS Foundation. The first two charge about $30 for their course, although it appears that with Boater Exam you don't pay until you pass and want to get the certificate of completion needed to get the state-issued card. BoatUS's course is free. Off-hand. It appears that what you are getting with the paid courses may be more engaging course materials (videos, animations) but I'm not sure.

Have folks had experience with these courses? I don't mind paying the fee if it's for a better course that will be a better investment of time. Don 't mind free, either 🙂

Any advice?

 

[walldog]

Now that boater ed courses are required in most (or all) states, I'm guessing many of you Tugnuts have taken a course. Here in Oregon, we have three online options: (1) Boat Ed; (2) Boater Exam; and (3) BoatUS Foundation. The first two charge about $30 for their course, although it appears that with Boater Exam you don't pay until you pass and want to get the certificate of completion needed to get the state-issued card. BoatUS's course is free. Off-hand. It appears that what you are getting with the paid courses may be more engaging course materials (videos, animations) but I'm not sure.

Have folks had experience with these courses? I don't mind paying the fee if it's for a better course that will be a better investment of time. Don 't mind free, either 🙂

Any advice?

Willie and I took US Coast Guard Auxiliary course that included or recommended purchase of Chapman's about 30 years ago. More recently we joined the US Power Squadron just for the courses they offer. While the state required boater ed courses are a step in the right direction, more advanced courses can be invaluable to your peace of mind and proficiency. Take the free course and then invest in more advanced training.

 

[Bruce Moore]

We took 3 months of US Power Squadron classes when we were waiting for our first boat, an R-25, to be built. We had no experience and wanted to at least have some classroom training. The Seamanship and Piloting classes were outstanding. Completion of the Seamanship class earned us our WA boater cards. One night per week of classroom work, with assignments from the Squadron's well developed course materials. You join the Squadron and the classes are free. You pay for the materials.

Looks like you have Squadrons near Portland, Coos Bay, Astoria, and St. Helens. You can get information about locations and courses at http://www.usps.org.

Like Herb (Walldog), we'd highly recommend them.

Cheers,

Bruce

 

[Crewdog]

We took the USCG Aux course when we got our first boat; it was ok.

Just took the US Power Squadron course online and on dvd, and it seemed much more thorough and better laid out.

I made arrangements with local squadron rep to take a proctored test at mutual agreed time. This serves GA requirements.

The advanced classes sound great, but they started same day as FL rendezvous. Hopefully they will be offered again before summer.

Bill

 

[sparky]

United States Power Squadrons, definitely. We too the very first course in 1999 while awaiting delivery of our first boat. Joined the Tacoma squadron right away and have been members ever since, now in Virginia. We offer two classes here, the very basic-just-get-your-license class mandated by the state, and a "real" boating class designed by USPS. Much more indepth, and you can take many follow on courses as well. My husband and I have also qualified as Vessel Safety Examiners, offering the same free vessel safety exam as the US Coast Guard Aux.

 

[Gin]

The local power squadron classes require going to Portland -- we are in Salem. We will probably do an online course first, and consider PS courses later. Always happy to learn as much as we possibly can. I hope one advantage for us is that we have 10 years of (knock on wood) incident free boating in the Puget Sound. So at least we aren't starting from scratch. But still, I feel like there is a lot to refresh on, and always more to know. So even if we start with the online course, I would like to pick up the Power Squadron classes later.

Gini

 

[Levitation]

Like all laws, these are sausage and therefore the crafting is messy.
I am not against basic training, in fact I support these laws for folks taking up boating.
But, (always a but) some of us have been banging around in boats longer than some have been alive - my first boat was 1959.
My official "boater ed" took place in the 1970's when my wife and daughter wanted to take the course after I took up sailing (Pearson). That was part of an adult ed course and there is no record.
I just don't feel inclined to spend money to go through material again I already know well enough for the real world.
(The exception to that might be the light signals for the various permutations of tugs and barges and dredges on the Mississippi - shrug)
The law needs an exception for those who can attest that they have boated for a decade or more.

 

[baz]

Like Bruce & Vicki, Gill and I took the USCG classes while waiting for our R25 to be built and beyond. No matter how much boating knowledge a person can have I do believe keeping up with the 'times' so to speak is beneficial for all. New things are coming onto the market all the time, and even the traditional weather patterns are evolving/changing.

I think if you have the time and inclination take the courses online as well as the physical classroom ones. Meeting with others who also are inclined to learn is motivating, and you get the opportunity to ask the instructors questions that aren't so easily asked online.

I think it best if 1st mate and Captain take the courses together.

Learning is a life long endeavor.

 

[Bruce Moore]

In Washington state, the law assumes knowledge comes with age - born before 1955 and you are exempt from the Boater Education Card requirement. Other ages are being phased in - folks 50 and under need cards as of this year. While I was born well before '55, my only boating experience was under water. I figured it didn't count. While the law didn't require me to obtain a Boater Education Card, my risk-adverse nature suggested I did.

After 13 weeks of class, and still no practical experience, I at least new something about the world we were about to enter. Perhaps the most important lesson we learned came with our instructor's parting words. "You've all learned a good bit about seamanship, piloting, and boating safety. But, remember, at least 50% of the boaters you encounter on the water don't know, or don't care, what you know."

Our experience over the last five years has proven his point. For every boater like Denny-o, who certainly knows what he's doing, there's another who is clueless. This "stand on" vessel has "given way" on countless occasions. It's the knowing and caring, not the card, that matters.

 

[Gin]

Per Bruce:

remember, at least 50% of the boaters you encounter on the water don't know, or don't care, what you know.

Truer words were never spoken. We spent our years boating in the South Sound. If we get back to boating this year, as we are considering, we will be mooring in the Portland area for the next year, maybe two. That is one of the things that concerns me most -- the often crazy urban boat scene during the summer. I suspect that a sample of the boats on a sunny summer day on the Willamette near downtown Portland would reveal the percent of don't know-don't care types at the helm to be higher (fearfully, maybe much higher) than 50%.

I long for the South Sound just thinking about it . . . .

 

[HRowland]

I attended a Boater Safety course done by the USCG Auxiliary at a RI Community College (CCRI). At the end of the course I took two tests, one for a USCGA certificate and one for a RI boating safety card. In RI anyone born after Jan 1, 1986 or anyone operating a PWC is required to have a card. I did not technically need the card but since I had no boating experience I felt it was prudent. I also attended USCGA courses for chart reading and coastal navigation. This made a huge difference in insurance cost, I had a wide range of quotes due to my lack of experience. I got the best quote via a broker that used my RI safety card/USCGA training, my aviation experience (instrument rated private pilot) and the training I received from my Ranger Tug dealer as rate determination factors.

Howard

 

[VancMike]

Gin, there is a huge difference between boaters on the Willamette and those on the Columbia. I think boaters think of the Willamette to be a big ol' long lake and anything goes. Make the turn into the Columbia, and Darwin's law appears to be functioning (at least some of the time). Maybe because it's bigger, faster and, at times, a lot more dangerous, boaters appear to respect the Columbia more.

That's not to say there aren't boat morons on any body of water.... :roll:

 

[Gin]

We have wondered if that might be true. I was talking to someone today, after I posted that, who told me that the summer boat traffic thins out dramatically as soon as you get north of the steel bridge. Reassuring to have you suggest the same thing. We're in the process of exploring moorages. That argues strongly in favor of staying to the north, around Hayden Island or the Multnomah Channel, even though that makes it a bit longer of a drive coming from Salem. But worth it. Thanks for the advice!

Gini

 

[Don and Brenda]

Quite timely as last night both the wife and I got an email from Washington state parks to do a survey about boaters ed, questions as in age, if I was going to take a course, what type ie internet etc.

Don