St. Pete Beach Class Information

Flotilla 78 has a 12-week repeating cycle Safe Boating Program every Tuesday, 7:00-9:00 PM, arrive for the first time at 6:30 PM to register. You can start at any point in the cycle. Cost is $60 per person ($35 each additional person sharing materials). Cash/check payment. Records are kept for 2 years to allow flexible attendance. Sit in on any class a second time with no additional cost. Classes are located at 1500 Pass-a-Grille Way., St. Pete Beach (Warren Webster Building). If lot is full, park along 16th or 15th Ave. which, are one-way streets. A temporary parking pass will be provided inside.

The program is based on USCG Auxiliary Boating Skills & Seamanship 14th Edition, Federal, and State Boating Requirements. Additional pamphlets covering boating topics are provided. All materials are included in the cost of the program.

If you have any questions feel free to contact Tom (727) 367-1409 or Phil (727) 865-2226.

TOPICS INCLUDE

• 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.

• 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.

• 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.

• Inland Boating - Types of inland waters; inland navigation; inland seamanship;   river currents; maintaining inland waterways; dams; locks; river   charts; commercial traffic; before you go.

• 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.