Both
the ABC and BS&S class cover the following. The BS&S
class takes a deeper look into each topic with more time to
get your questions covered.
Passing
ether the ABC or the BS&S class may entitle you to an insurance
brake with most major boat insurance companies.
-
Introduction to Boating -
Types of power boats; sailboats; outboards; paddle boats;
houseboats; different uses of boats; various power boating
engines; jet drives; family boating basics.
-
Boating Law - Boat registration;
boating regulation; hull identification number; required boat
safety equipment; operating safely and reporting accidents;
protecting the marine environment; Federal boat law; state
boating laws; personal watercraft requirements.
-
Boat Safety Equipment - Personal
flotation devices ("life jackets"); fire extinguishers;
sound-producing devices; visual-distress signals; dock lines
and rope; first aid kit; anchors and anchor lines; other boating
safety equipment.
-
Safe Boating - Bow riding;
alcohol and drug abuse; entering, loading, and trimming a
boat; fueling portable and permanent tanks; steering with
a tiller and a wheel; docking, undocking and mooring; knots;
filing a float plan; checking equipment, fuel, weather and
tides; using charts; choosing and using an anchor; safe PWC
handling; general water safety.
-
Navigation - The U.S. Aids
to Navigation system; types of buoys and beacons; navigation
rules (sometimes referred to as right-of-way rules); avoiding
collisions; sound signals; PWC "tunnel vision."
Boating Problems - Hypothermia; boating accidents and rescues;
man overboard recovery; capsizing; running aground; river
hazards; strainers: emergency radio calls; engine problems;
equipment failures; carbon monoxide (CO); other boating and
PWC problems.
-
Trailering, Storing and Protecting
Your Boat - Types of trailers; trailer brakes, lights,
hitches, tires, and bearings; loading, balancing, and towing
a trailer; towing (and backing) a trailer; boat launching
and retrieving; boat storage and theft protection; launching,
retrieving and storing a PWC.
Hunting and Fishing, Water-skiing and River Boating - Carrying
hunting gear and weapons in a boat; fishing from a boat; water-skiing
safety guidelines and hand signals; water-skiing with a PWC;
navigating rivers, and other boating tips
