Boating class?

[Drifty]

What boating class or classes have you taken? What classes are the best to learn about offshore navigation? The only test I have taken so far is for the oregon boaters card and I would like to take some more.

Drifty

[El Shaddai]

Drifty:

USCG Auxilary offers a good 13 week class for $75.00. USCG in Portland would have the number. Some topics are very basic, but many are not and even in topics that seem basic I learned new things. Money well spent!

[skein]

I took the 5-day guides and outfitters course and considered it pretty good (I'm not a guide, I just felt that course was a good place to start). I'd like to go back and get the Columbia River endorsement (3-day) which concentrates a lot on "Rules of the Road."

We spent some classroom time, but most of it was on the river. Hell, just being out there was a lot of fun, and for me it was money and time well spent.

Here's the link

Skein

[Drifty]

EL Shaddai thanks for the input.
Even acting as crew I would like to be more comfortable with my navigation skills just in case something goes wrong ( captian gets hurt ect..)

Drifty

[Drifty]

Thank Skein,

Nice Link Has alot of information I'll have to browse around the site.

Drifty

[Pilar]

Drifty, good point about becoming a substitute pilot. Any one who crews on a fishing boat should pay attention to what it takes to pilot the boat. Volunteering for driving the boat and asking questions will teach you some of it.

The sad fact is that anybody with money can buy a boat and instantly become king of the bay. No common sense or practical experience required.

Skein, tell us more about the 'guide' course.

[black magic]

Drifty,
The best place that I know of to learn boat handling and navigation is through the exellent courses offered by the United States Power Squadron. They have several levels of instruction from basic seamanship to celestial navigation. There are local groups in Oregon and many have websites such as Beaverton http://www.usps.org/localusps/beaverton/ I personally belong to the Portland Squadron where I have taken the courses up the Piloting level. The Piloting course teaches you to navigate successfully without the use of any electronic devices. It is possible to find your way using only a chart, compass, speed indicator, and a watch or clock.

[skein]

Pilar and all,

I've got a busy weekend ahead of me - boat show, out of town guests, etc - and I want to get my thoughts together before I just start winging it about that guide's course. I'll post something as soon as I get a few quiet minutes. I just didn't want you all to think I wasn't going to reply.

The "what do you have in your boat" thread is very, very good.

Skein

[Orca]

The USCG Aux. has a course open to the public called Advanced Coastal Navigation. It is all about navigating by landmarks, charts, compass, and taking into account currents and tides. The different Flotillas will hold this once a year or once every couple of years. If you are just interested in Navigation only, then this is the course to take.

[ 01-10-2003, 08:18 PM: Message edited by: Orca ]

[kenai]

I took that advanced coastal nav class last yr. highly recommended, Everything from dead reckoning to radar plotting with a lot of piloting skills taught. I think it starts in March this yr in Hillsboro. It really makes you appreciate the way the old timers had to do it.

[Drifty]

These are the exact type of classes I was looking for. It's all about getting home safely and keeping a cool head if things do go wrong (electronics ect...)

Drifty

[mirage]

Advanced Coastal Navigation class started wed. for winter term at Lbcc. in Albany. Ten more weeks costing $30. Great buy, for more information call Emily Chaput at 928-8223.

[bait boy]

Skein have you got the time to add your 2 cents on this one?