“Behind the Wheel” & Challenge Test-out
This 12- to 14-hour hands-on, on-the-water course is for anyone who has taken a classroom boating course but needs experience to safely operate a cruising powerboat and improve their boathandling skills. Students will be expected to study the course materials at home to challenge and pass a written exam covering equipment requirements, rules of the road, aids to navigations, preparation, environment regulations, safety and emergencies. This course focuses on hands-on application of all skills, consequently it is NOT approved by the US Coast Guard or the National Association of State Boating Law Administrators (NASBLA) as meeting requirements for a state boating safety education certificate. Students learn:
On-the-Water Sessions
- Engine & electrical systems
- Bilge & head systems
- Starting procedures
- Docking
- Leaving & returning to a slip
- Close-quarters maneuvers
- Open-water maneuvers
- Anchoring
- Plotting & tracking safe course to a destination
- Determine position with bearings & GPS
- Determine time/speed/distance
- Person in Water rescue
Classroom Sessions
- Safety, prep & weather briefings
- Maneuvering concepts
- Variation, deviation, compass rose
- Limitations of electronic navigation
- Challenge test-out
Prerequisites: state boating education certificate or USCG operator’s license recommended
Suggested Age: 18–adult
Certification(s) Earned: Basic Powerboat Cruising certificate
– See more at: https://www.uspowerboating.com/Home/Courses/Types_of_Courses/Accelerated_Basic_Powerboat_Cruising.htm#sthash.DbQDsaBk.dpuf