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The Membership Guide helps MariGuardTM members stay organized.
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Types of Courses & Programs
You can improve your boating knowledge, increase your confidence and safety, and maybe even save money on your boat insurance by completing one of several boating courses offered by your state, boating safety volunteers, private schools or other organizations.
Many courses are free or low-cost, covering boating basics of safe operation, navigation, weather, equipment requirements and other topics. Courses that are approved by the National Association of Boating Law Administrators (NASBLA) are recognized by the US Coast Guard as meeting the minimum educational standards for basic safety, navigation and survival information. These courses may also qualify you for discounts on boat insurance. If your state has a boating education requirement, be sure to select a NASBLA-approved boating course or check with your state to make sure the course you have in mind is certified as meeting the state requirement.
Free Boating Courses
Volunteer members of the US Coast Guard Auxiliary and the US Power Squadrons offer basic boating courses and free personal watercraft courses in thousands of locations throughout the US and Canada. The instruction is usually free, although there may be a small fee to cover the cost of materials. “Graduates” are given certificates of completion for use in meeting state boating education requirements and for obtaining insurance discounts. In addition to the basic courses, advanced courses are also available, covering such topics as Navigation & Piloting, Maintenance, Electronics, Safety, Celestial Navigation, and Cruise Planning and Passagemaking. Advanced courses usually have minimal fees, plus materials charges.
State Boating Courses
Your state boating office may offer courses with textbooks and home study programs. Most states provide certificates of completion, and many have online courses and courses for young boaters. State courses listed as NASBLA-approved (National Association of State Boating Law Administrators) meet the minimum state educational standards. States generally charge nothing, or minimal fees, for their courses and programs.
Sailing Associations
The American Sailing Association (ASA) and US Sailing (USS) offer a wide variety of courses ranging from Basic Small Boat Sailing, to Bareboat Chartering to one-day Safety at Sea seminars. Unlike the free courses mentioned above which are mostly held in the classroom, these courses have significant hands-on instruction on the water. Because of this, most sailing association courses have fees which can be as much as several hundred dollars. Instructors are certified, curricula are standardized and certifications are recognized internationally. Not all ASA and USS courses are focused exclusively on sailing and sailors—course offerings include Powerboat Handling & Safety and Race Officer Training.
Private Courses & Schools
Many companies offer boating courses that require one or two days or a weekend to complete. They typically charge a fee. Some of these schools offer advanced courses such as preparation for a captain’s license exam, seamanship, maritime law, etc. Make sure the company offering the course is certified in your state. Other private schools offer sailing instruction, vacation-and-learn packages and courses aboard charter boats, both power and sail. Fees depend on the length, depth and location of the instruction.
Seminars
Groups such as local colleges or universities, yacht clubs, civic groups and associations sponsor seminars on specific topics. The local trawler owners might offer a class on diesel engine maintenance or the Wooden Boat Restorers Club might sponsor a course on wood refinishing, for example. Fees vary depending upon sponsorship, location and other factors. Safety at Sea seminars are widely popular and well worth the time to attend.
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