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One of the Coast Guard Auxiliary's cornerstone missions is to educate the public on boating safety. Our program will not only give you valuable information, but it allows you to interact and work one-on-one with seasoned boaters. Flotilla 9-4 offers a boating safety course for a cost of $25.00, $15 each additonal family member which includes the textbook. Upcoming presentations are listed in the table below. Click here to E-mail our public education officer for more specific details.
Boating Safety courseswill be presented on the following dates:
23 June and October 14
The program covers all aspects of boating safety and includes the following:
Types of boats and engines - Federal and State Requirements - Rules of the Road
Aids to Navigation - Boat Handling - Hypothermia - Environmental Issues
Location: River Forest Club, 13505 Island Road, Fort Myers Fl, 33905
0900 till 1530 hrs.
Price: $25, & $15 each additional family member.
To enroll call 239-980-7635 or
jtyson0906@aol.com
Each participant will receive a Boater Safety Certificate from the United States Coast Guard Auxiliary. Anyone born after 1988 who operates a vessel powered by 10 horsepower or more must pass an approved boater safety course and have in his/her possession a photographic identification and a boater safety identification card issued by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission. A person is exempt from this requirement if there is a person on board who is not affected by this law or is at least 18 years of age and holds a boater education I.D. card. This person must be attendant to and take responsibility for the safe operation of the vessel.
About Boat America
If you are interested in an exciting, in-depth boating safety course, check out the in classroom (seminar) version of our popular online boating course. This beginner boating class will give you the knowledge needed to obtain a boat license or safety certification in many states. Many boat insurance companies will offer discounts on boating insurance to boaters who successfully complete About Boating Safely. TOPICS INCLUDE:
Boating Law - Boat registration; boating regulation; hull identification number; required boat safety equipment; operating safely and reporting accidents; protecting the marine environment; Federal boat law; state boating laws; personal watercraft requirements.
Boat Safety Equipment - Personal flotation devices ("life jackets"); fire extinguishers; sound-producing devices; visual-distress signals; dock lines and rope; first aid kit; anchors and anchor lines; other boating safety equipment.
Safe Boating - Bow riding; alcohol and drug abuse; entering, loading, and trimming a boat; fueling portable and permanent tanks; steering with a tiller and a wheel; docking, undocking and mooring; knots; filing a float plan; checking equipment, fuel, weather and tides; using charts; choosing and using an anchor; safe PWC handling; general water safety. Navigation - The U.S. Aids to Navigation system; types of buoys and beacons; navigation rules (sometimes referred to as right-of-way rules); avoiding collisions; sound signals; PWC "tunnel vision."
Boating Problems - Hypothermia; boating accidents and rescues; man overboard recovery; capsizing; running aground; river hazards; strainers: emergency radio calls; engine problems; equipment failures; carbon monoxide (CO); other boating and PWC problems.
Trailering, Storing and Protecting Your Boat - Types of trailers; trailer brakes, lights, hitches, tires, and bearings; loading, balancing, and towing a trailer; towing (and backing) a trailer; boat launching and retrieving; boat storage and theft protection; launching, retrieving and storing a PWC.
Hunting and Fishing, Water-skiing and River Boating - Carrying hunting gear and weapons in a boat; fishing from a boat; water-skiing safety guidelines and hand signals; water-skiing with a PWC; navigating rivers, and other boating tips.