AMERICA'S BOATING COURSE Description (ABC)

The America's Boating Course presented by SPSPS is available to anyone 12 or older.

Instruction is free. Cost of the text and materials is $25.00 per family.

Classes are held once a week (2 hours each Monday), for 7 weeks. This course is normally held in January, March, June, and October each year. See the Schedule below for current and future class information.

If you are not able to attend classes, online and at-home study is also available from USPS for $34.95 plus S&H. Click here for details.

Completion of this course will enable the student to skipper a boat with confidence. Because most skippers will attend only one safety course, we believe it should be as comprehensive as possible. Plus, graduates are eligible to join the squadron and take advantage of all the other great educational opportunities afforded to SPSPS members.

Email pre-registration is REQUIRED!

Registration consists of 2 steps:

1.    Email your intention to attend the course. (Click here.) Be sure to include your name and phone number. You will receive an email back confirming your registration for the class.

2.     Download and fill out the form (click here) and bring it with you on the first night of class. (If you are not able to print the form, plan to arrive 1/2 hour early the first night to complete the registration process.)

This course covers

• Boat Terms & Types
• Boat Handling
• VHF Radio
• Required Safety Equipment
• Nautical Charts and Chart Symbols
• Latitude & Longitude
• The Rules of the Road
• Basic Piloting Techniques (such as course plotting and dead reckoning)
• Boat Trailering
• Personal Watercraft and
• State and Federal Regulations.

All instructors are volunteers and the student to instructor ratio is 5:1. The course is approved by the National Association of Safe Boating Law Administrators (NASBLA) and insurance companies traditionally provide discounts to graduates. Graduates also qualify for the Florida Boater's Education Card which is required for those under the age of 21.

Six sessions are used to cover the course material; the seventh session is a proctored final exam. Sessions run from 7 PM to 9 PM and are held at the Sailing Center, 250 2nd Avenue SE, on Demens Landing in downtown St. Petersburg. (Click here for a map and directions to the Sailing Center.)

Payment may be made by check (preferred method) or cash at the first session.

Students must also provide their own pens/pencils and 6' of line for the marlinespike/knot tying exercises (class 5). Inexpensive line is available at your local boating supply store. Ask for 5/16 or 3/8 inch, 3-strand twisted nylon.

SPSPS presents America's Boating Course

Schedule for 13 Sep 2010

Future Courses begin:  10 Jan 2011 , 04 Apr 2011 , 06 Jun 2011 (4 week version) , 19 Sep 2011

(Click on the poster for additional details.)

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