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*** 2024 Local Safe Boating Courses presented by the USCGAUX Solomons flotilla will be posted here in March 2024 ***

 The US Coast Guard Auxiliary Solomons Flotilla provides boating safety instruction in a variety of topics via free seminars.  These free seminars are not the course required to achieve a Maryland Safe Boating card, but instead focus on different safe boating topics that will help prepare new boaters to operate safely on the water and as a refresher for more experienced boaters.  Contact the Solomons US Coast Guard Auxiliary Public Education Staff Officer at gjweston47@gmail.com or call 301-535-7518 for more information about our seminars or our Maryland State Safe Boating certificate courses.

 2024 COURSE LIST

Introduction to Basic Boating Safety

Synopsis: The seminar is for boaters with little to no background or training in boating safety as well as a refresher for more experienced boaters.  It covers the most critical components of boating safety a new boater needs to know immediately.  The seminar includes the importance of life jackets, fire extinguishers and their use, how to get a free boat safety check, navigating on the water, navigation rules, safe fueling, anchoring and knots.  This is a classroom seminar presented by a certified USCG Auxiliary instructor. It is not an on-the-water course.  It covers the things that you should know but does not give you actual underway experience. This course does not provide you with the Maryland Boating Certificate. 

Seminar Length: 2 hours – One 2 hour session

Suddenly in Command!

Synopsis: This seminar is to assist boat occupants who are not normally at the helm, including guests, spouses, children, or others aboard who may find themselves “suddenly in command” if the operator becomes ill, gets injured, falls overboard, or has to attend to some other emergency and is unable to be at the helm.  The purpose of this seminar is to familiarize the boater with essential safety information so they can assess and stabilize the situation, operate the vessel, and summon any required assistance.  This is a classroom seminar presented by a certified USCG Auxiliary instructor. It is not an on-the-water course.  It covers the things that you should know but does not give you actual underway experience.

Seminar Length: 2 hours – One 2 hour session.

Let’s Talk Life Jackets

Synopsis:  We in the Coast Guard Auxiliary have been focused on the importance of wearing life jackets for some time now.  This focus on wearing them is not new. But what do you think we mean when you hear us say, “Wearing life jackets saves lives”.  Does it mean something like: “If you’re in immediate danger of SINKING you’d better make sure you put your life jackets on before the boat goes down?”  Do you assume that you, as a GOOD boater, will be able to maintain control of the situation in an emergency? That you will KNOW when an accident is about to happen, and that even if you can’t avoid the accident, you will have time to brace yourselves and your passengers, don or at least grab your life jacket – if that’s “really necessary” – and that you will be mentally and physically prepared to survive the incident?  This seminar will explain the importance of wearing a life jacket, when you should wear one, and the different types of life jackets that can make your boat, canoe, kayak, paddleboard, or other water sport safer. It will also address the new life jacket labeling format.  This is a classroom seminar presented by a certified USCG Auxiliary instructor. It is not an on-the-water course.  It covers the things that you should know but does not give you actual underway experience.

Seminar Length: 1.5 hours – One 1.5-hour session.

Equipment for Your Boat

Synopsis: This seminar describes the required and recommended equipment for your boat. It will describe the difference between registered vessels and documented vessels.  You will learn about capacity plates, manufacturer’s certificate of compliance and how to read a hull identification number.  We will discuss fire prevention, detection and firefighting equipment.  Various types of life jackets will be covered. Sound producing devices and visual distress signals will be discussed.  Marine sanitation devices will be briefly addressed.  Emergency Position Indicating Radio Beacons (EPIRB) will be discussed and demonstrated.  Additional recommended equipment will be presented and discussed. The Skipper’s responsibilities and law enforcement will be presented.  We will discuss pollution control and dumping regulations.  This is a classroom seminar presented by a certified USCG Auxiliary instructor. It is not an on-the-water course.  It covers the things that you should know but does not give you actual underway experience.

Seminar Length: 1 hour – One 1-hour session.

Nautical Road Signs

Synopsis: This seminar describes the nautical road signs (Aids to Navigation) you will encounter when out on your boat.  It will take a look at the various ATONS, how to recognize them, and what they mean.
We will learn about waterway markers and cautions when using them to navigate.  The US convention for placing and numbering waterway marks and buoys will be explained and the Intracoastal Waterway and its marking convention will be described.  Light conventions will be described as well as light conventions for bridges. Navigation references and resources will be identified. This is a classroom seminar presented by a certified USCG Auxiliary instructor. It is not an on-the-water course.  It covers the things that you should know but does not give you actual underway experience.

Seminar Length: 1 hour – One 1-hour session.

Rules of the Nautical Road

Synopsis: This seminar explains the Nautical Rules of the Road.  It presents the legal rules that boaters must follow when operating their boats.  In addition, vessels 39.4 feet or longer must carry a copy of these rules onboard.  We will walk through the published edition of the Navigation Rules.  In Rules 1,2 and 3, you will learn how the navigation rules apply, the General Responsibility Rule, and how accident liability is assessed and what your responsibility is for helping others on the water.  We will then look at Rules 4 through 10 pertaining to the conduct of vessels in any condition of visibility.  We will follow up with Rules 11 through 18 pertaining to the conduct of vessels when they are in sight of each other.  Next we will examine Rule 19 which covers the conduct of vessels in restricted visibility. This will conclude our look at the sailing and steering rules.  We next cover lights and shapes in Rules 20 through 31.  This will be followed by a review of the sound and light signals in Rules 32 through 37.  We'll finish up the Rules with a brief look at the final rule, Rule 38 that covers exemptions, and the Appendices to the Rules of Navigation. This is a classroom seminar presented by a certified USCG Auxiliary instructor. It is not an on-the-water course.  It covers the things that you should know but does not give you actual underway experience.

Seminar Length: 2 hours – One 2-hour session.

Waterfowl Hunting and Boating Safety

Synopsis: Most boating accidents occur in open motorboats of 16 feet or less in length.  One third of people who die on the water die while hunting or fishing.  Hunters are more likely to die of drowning than from an accidental gunshot wound. This seminar addresses the factors that contribute to boating accidents
while hunting or fishing while using a boat and prepares you to be safe.  We will look at safe boat loading and maneuvering.  Useful apps will be described that can make your hunting or fishing trip safer.  Anchoring, lights, visual distress signals, sound producing devices and life jackets will be covered. Capsizing, swamping and man overboard will be discussed.  The new Engine Cut-Off Switch (ECOS) law will be covered.  Hypothermia, which is a major concern during a large portion of the hunting season, will be described and discussed.  Weather cautions will be addressed.  Hunting safety considerations will be discussed including shooting zones and waders.  Vessel safety checks will be described. This is a classroom seminar presented by a certified USCG Auxiliary instructor. It is not an on-the-water course.
It covers the things that you should know but does not give you actual underway experience.

Seminar Length: 2 hours – One 2-hour session.

Your Boat’s Radio

Synopsis: This seminar is to familiarize boaters with the types of radios typically used in recreational boating.  We will discuss the functions that are performed with these radios and when radio station and operator licensing is required.  Factors to consider when purchasing a marine radio and antennas will be covered including their capabilities and limitations. Radio operation will be covered to include the proper way to make radio checks and distress calls.  This is a classroom seminar, not an on-the-water course, that covers the things that you should know, but does not give you actual underway experience.

Seminar Length: 1 hour – One 1-hour session.

Completing and Filing a Float Plan

Synopsis: This seminar explains what a Float Plan is, who should file a Float Plan and why it is important to file one.  It shows you the six major sections of the Float Plan and describes what information is entered into each section.   Next you will learn how to create a master copy of your Float Plan that will greatly simplify future plan creation.  You will also learn the two basic types of Float Plans.  You will learn the four steps to put your Float Plan into action. Then we will conclude with a walk through of filling out an actual Float Plan.  This is a classroom seminar presented by a certified USCG Auxiliary instructor. It is not an on-the-water course.  It covers the things that you should know but does not give you actual underway experience. 

Seminar Length: 1 hour – One 1-hour session.

Weather and Boating

Synopsis: This seminar is to familiarize boaters with the factors that create our weather and what to look for when planning time on the water.  It is a somewhat technically detailed seminar.  We will first take a macro look at how the sun is ultimately responsible for our weather.  Factors such as solar energy, earth’s axis tilt, and the Earth’s energy balance will be discussed.  We will then discuss how the Coriolis Effect causes global wind circulation.  Next we will turn to a more micro view of weather. We will cover wind and how it affects boating with factors such as wave height and period, swells, and the effect of fetch. Next we’ll look at how day and night affect weather, along with factors such as temperature, humidity, moisture and energy.  We will look at high and low pressure air masses and Buys-Ballot’s Law.  We will take a brief look at the three types of clouds and how they might inform your boating activities.  Next we will look at weather fronts and their characteristics.  We will discuss poor visibility and what to do if you are caught out on the water.  We will also cover thunderstorms: how they are generated, their characteristics, lightning, and actions a boater can take to avoid them or prepare for heavy weather.  Extreme weather such as tropical storms and waterspouts will be discussed.  The seminar will conclude with a presentation of the USCG PEACE risk assessment model used by the Coast Guard prior to any operation on the water.  It is a good tool for all boaters to use.  This is a classroom seminar presented by a certified USCG Auxiliary instructor. It is not an on-the-water course.  It covers the things that you should know but does not give you actual underway experience.

Seminar Length: 3 hours – One 3-hour session.

Boating Roundtable  

Synopsis: This Boating Roundtable provides an informal discussion with US Coast Guard Auxiliary personnel about topics of interest pertaining to safe boating.  We will answer your questions and provide current boating safety information. Do you want to understand what the buoys and markers mean?  How many fire extinguishers do I need on my boat? When do I need to have a Maryland Boating Safety card?  What do I do if my boat engine stops and I can’t get it started?  What if someone falls overboard?  How do I navigate the Intracoastal Waterway? How many life jackets do I need to have onboard? Do I need lights on my vessel?  What should I never do on a personal watercraft (jet ski)? How do I call for help when on the water? What safety equipment is required for a paddle board?  This is your opportunity to ask boating questions from our expert mariners in a comfortable and casual environment.

Roundtable Length: 1 -2 hours – One 1-2 hour session depending on number of questions.