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Flotilla 11-1 serves the Clearwater, Dunedin, Largo and surrounding areas in Pinellas County, Florida in providing boating safety education classes to the public. We are conveniently located in downtown Clearwater.
For the convenience of our students, some classes are held online via Zoom. These virtual classes utilize the same instructors and materials you would enjoy during the in-person classes. The schedule below notes whether the class is in-person or via Zoom.
For more information and to Register for a Boating Safety Class at www.clwboatingsafety.com/boater-class-registration click here
Upcoming 2025 Boat America Classes
- February 1 and 2 from 9am to 2pm - in-person
- February 22 and 23 from 9am to 2pm - via Zoom
- March 15 and 16 from 9am to 2pm - in-person
- April 26 and 27 from 9am to 2pm - via Zoom
- May 24 and 25 from 9am to 2pm - in-person
- June 28 and 29 from 9am to 2pm - via Zoom
- July 26 and 27 from 9am to 2pm - in-person
- August 23 and 24 from 9am to 2pm - Zoom
- September 27 and 28 from 9am to 2pm - in-person
- October 25 and 26 from 9am to 2pm - via Zoom
- November 22 and 23 from 9am to 2pm -in-person
Public Education Program
Vital to the success of the Coast Guard Auxiliary's national boating safety efforts is an informed and knowledgeable boating public. The Coast Guard and the Auxiliary believe that education is the best approach to preventing accidents. Members of the Coast Guard Auxiliary present public education programs as a service to the boating public.
The State of Florida requires any individual born after Jan. 1, 1988 to have passed a Safe Boating Course before operating a motorboat on public waters. They must carry their Florida Boater Education ID card whenever they operate a power boat. The Coast Guard Auxiliary offers two such programs, and they are mentioned below.
About Boating Safely Classes
Register here for Classes (Class size limited)
Introduction to Boating – Types of power boats; sailboats; outboards; paddle boats; houseboats; different uses of boats; various power boating engines; jet drives; family boating basics.
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.
Contact:
Flotilla Staff Officer - Public Education
Email: [email protected]
(727) 469-8895