Class/Course Description

ABS (About Boating Safely)

ABS is an 8-hour introductory course designed for the novice or experienced boater.  U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary instructors teach the content.  Participants receive a certificate and wallet card upon successful completion of the course and proctored exam.  ABS meets the New York State requirements for Jet Ski or PWC  (personal water craft) operation. The National Association of State Boating Law Administration and the United States Coast Guard approves the course contents.  Topics include: Know your boat, Before getting underway, Navigating the waterways, Operating your vessel safely, Legal requirements, Boating emergencies, and Enjoying water sports with your boat.

Cost:  $40.00 Course book included with fee. We also provide state and federal requirement books. Discounts may apply for immediate family members sharing materials ($20.00).  School surcharges may also apply for events in some public school districts. 

When boating you must take into account:  US federal laws, state laws and any local laws in the area you are boating.  In addition, with our proximity to Canada, you must be aware of Canadian and Provincial Laws.  In the Great Lakes there are also international laws and treaties that you should be aware of. 

 We cover Federal and New York State (NYS) Laws for recreational boaters.  We have to look at 2 aspects of the NYS laws:   

#1. PWC (Personal Water Craft & Jet ski) operation.  Everyone from age 14 - 100+ must have attended a safe boating course recognized by the state for PWC operation in NYS waters.   Refer to the New York State Regulations.  Effective January 2009: In New York State, PWC operators must be 14 years of age & have attended a safe boating course. http://nysparks.state.ny.us/boating/navigation.asp

#2. For regular boat operation, safety courses are only required for those 10-18 to operate a regular boat solo.  Those between 10 and 18 can operate a regular boat with an adult 18 or older present on the craft. 

The U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary recommends that everyone who ventures out in the water take a safe boating course. Generally there is a primary operator who does most of the operation, docking, fueling, and piloting of the craft.  There is a situation which we call SIC (Suddenly in Command) where the primary operator make become ill or incapacitated.  This is why we encourage attendance by families.  It just may save you in an emergency situation.  

WEEKEND NAVIGATOR

U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary Navigation Course

WEEKEND NAVIGATOR, PART I is designed to give the student the rudiments of navigation by using charts, navigation plotting tools, and limited use of GPS. The intent is TO provide the student with a solid foundation with emphasis on technique and not electronics. GPS will be mentioned and discussed as it relates to plotting waypoints, etc., but more detail on the use of GPS and other electronic devices will be covered in more detail in WEEKEND NAVIGATOR: PART II. This course is multiple session and requires attendance at all sessions for completion. Navigation tools are required for each student. Contact instructor for list of equipment needed.

GPS for Mariners

Reference Text Provided with Course-GPS for Mariners
McGraw-Hill
International Marine
•How to use your GPS set
–Buttons
–Screens
–Menus
•How to perform basic navigation with GPS
–Waypoints
–Routes
–Staying on course
–Relating GPS with charts
–
•Students may bring their GPS unit to participate in hands-on outdoor exercises (weather  permitting) or join a group session to share a GPS unit.

BS&S (Boating Skills & Seamanship)

BOATING SKILLS AND SEAMANSHIP is an intermediate boating course designed to be appropriate
to both new boaters seeking basic boating skills and those who want to advance their basic
skills to a higher level. The Core Course, described below, is approved by the National Association
of State Boating Law Administrators (NASBLA) and, as such, will serve as an approved course in
all states when state regulations are added to the course. It is up to local instructors to add such
material. In addition, some states require state specific questions to be added to the final exam.
COURSE ORGANIZATION
BS&S consists of the Core Course and five Optional Lessons.
The Core Course lessons are:
Lesson 1 Which Boat is for You
Lesson 2 Equipment for Your Boat
Lesson 3 Trailering Your Boat
Lesson 4 Handling Your Boat
Lesson 5 Your “Highway” Signs
Lesson 6 The Rules You Must Follow
Lesson 7* Inland Boating
Lesson 8 The Rest of our Story
*Special note: The Inland Boating lesson is optional and included to assist inland boaters.
Instructors may exclude this lesson if it is not appropriate for their boating area. This lesson does
not include information necessary for NASBLA approval. Thus, if Lesson 7 is not taught, the
graduates of the Core Course may still receive a NASBLA-approved certificate.
The Optional Lessons are:
Lesson 9 Introduction to Navigation
Lesson 10 Powering Your Boat
Lesson 11 Lines and Knots for Your Boat
Lesson 12 Weather and Boating
Lesson 13 Your Boat’s Radio
Each of these Optional Lessons may be added, individually or collectively, to the Core Course or taught
as single (or multiple) lesson courses.
Information and review questions, previously in the Student Study Guide, are now incorporated into each
lesson. There is a supplemental publication (ordered separately), Student Review Questions, which contains
the review questions for ALL lessons. This is for use by students who are sharing one textbook and
wish to do the quizzes themselves.