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Ongoing Public Boating
Safety Classes
Boating Skills & Seamanship
Taught at the Warren Webster Building, 1500 Pass-A-Grille Way, St.
Pete Beach, FL 33706.
Every Tuesday evening at 7:30 PM for 13 weeks, classes taught on a
continuous basis. If you miss a class you can make it up 13
weeks later.
The cost is only $36.00 which
includes a manual. If you wish to attend just arrive at 7:00
PM any Tuesday evening, and sign up onsite. Call
Jim at (727) 360-4846 or Warren
(727) 321-7801
TOPICS INCLUDE
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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 Infoline; marine surveyors; buying a boat.
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Equipment For Your Boat - Requirements for your boat; your boat's equipment;
legal considerations; substance abuse; boating accident reports;
Courtesy Marine Examinations.
-
Trailering 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.
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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.
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Inland Boating - Types of inland waters; inland navigation; inland seamanship;
river currents; maintaining inland waterways; dams; locks; river
charts; commercial traffic; before you go. (This lesson
typically will not be taught in coastal courses)
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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.
-
Introduction To Navigation - 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 & 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 & 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; some "no no's"; copies of the rules; calling another
station; procedure words; phonetic alphabet; routine radio
check; distress, urgency, and safety calls; crew training.
Many insurance companies will offer discounts on boat insurance to
individuals who successfully complete this course.
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