Boater Education Sources....got any?

[Julian]

So I am in the process of going through the FAQ and came across this link:

https://www.boat-ed.com/

to boater education courses. Made me wonder what other resources others have used. So if you have thoughts, post them up in reply to this thread, and I'll link it to the FAQ.

 

[GTBRMC]

Here are a couple with good reputations and national reach:
US Power Squadrons http://www.usps.org/index.html/ and the US Coast Guard Auxiliary http://cgaux.org/boatinged/

Note: I took the Wisconsin Boaters' Safety course online that can be found from your Boat-Ed link when we got our boat (I had been out of the boating game for a number of years and had not boated in Wisconsin before). I found the online course to be both comprehensive and useful, FWIW. Beyond basic boating safety info, the course also had Wisconsin-specific info that I found helpful. Also, the class qualified me for a state-approved boaters' safety certificate useful in inspection situations and possible insurance savings.

 

[dan_hoog]

I had used boat-ed some time ago. It is very well done as an online course, with some tailoring for your state. After a small fee, I ultimately received a boater safety id card (from Florida's authority, I believe).

I wanted my family to have the safety / general info as well. I've taken my ten year old to a US Power Squadron one day course (https://www.usps.org/index.html/index.php/boating-courses). He passed with flying colors (so did I). I'd highly recommend their program. It's not as dry as the online courses and you meet some other boaters while you're at it.

I find it amazing that boater safety education and basic on the water orientation are not mandatory in Florida (and other locales as well, just not familiar with them). On Memorial day weekend, I watched at least ten power boats go by on the ICW with zero navigation lights (I was safely docked...).

Best,
Dan

 

[eticket]

I just finished the Boat-Ed course for Minnesota to get my DNR safety certificate. I don't have a reference to compare it to but I did feel like it was well worth the time. The course covers a wide range of topics and it certainly got me focussed on safety. I thought I had a clue but the course was a humbling experience.

 

[Geiger41]

Coast Guard just put out an app on android and ios....seems pretty good with alot of features

 

[Glassman]

As a kid I took a course through the U.S. Coast Guard. I had to obtain a "License" due to my tender young age.

My son in law took a course through the U.S. Navy. They kept pushing him out of perfectly good helicopters!

I think my course was better. There were cookies.

 

[tdonoughue]

I did the boat-ed.com, as well. It was my first boat, and I thought the course was very useful and thorough. In fact, it is now a prerequisite for my children in order for them to drive the boat. No course; no drive.