Find the best educational tools for today's boater. This newsletter features all the places you will need to get boating knowledge and skills including safety

To make the full scope of SAFETY easier to comprehend we divided it up into separate sections. The sections include; Information sources on safety skills & knowledge, man overboard gear, lifejackets and overboard prevention, man overboard signals and tracking, weather, distress calls and signals, Safety onboard safety equipment. Look for the separate newsletter sections on these subjects./div>

General Boating Information

DISCOVER BOATING National Marine Manufacturers association promotes boating for newcomers. The site covers all aspects of boating from research into buying a boat to issues of owning a boat and registration requirements. Information sources on all you need to know.

BOAT SAFE Boat Safe is a great resource, on boating safety, education, rules, regulations, fun, navigation
Covers all State by State boater regulations, if you need information on your state the links are here. Boat Safe has some great tips and a nice children's learning center.

BOAT ED Will give you boater education requirements for your state, just plug in which state your in and the course contents and test can be taken for 34 states. Each State has different requirements for operating a watercraft. So check here for your States regulations and take the online exam.

BOATER 101 is a promotional site for all things on the water.
TV series on boating subjects like design scuba fishing wakeboarding. Educational tool on all aspects of boating.


Rules of the Road

USCG RULES OF ROAD The rules of the road from the USCG, shows you the rules for approaching vessels, handling your boat in navigable waters and collision avoidance:


Boat Handling Skills
The United States Power Squadrons run excellent basic and advanced courses for both sail and power boaters. The site also has a unique and helpful PWC "conflict resolution" page devoted to helping reduce the tensions between riders and traditional boaters.

US POWERBOATING For Power boaters to learn safety and boat handling the national governing body.

AMERICAN-SAILING American Sailing Association. A list of sailing schools across the Nation. Not every credited sailing school is on this list, but many are. See also J World, Colgate and other very qualified schools.

US SAILING US sailing is the nation body governing sailing and sailing races.

US SAILING HEAVY WEATHER CRUISING is an article found on the US Sailing website. Heavy weather and other cruising courses.

Docking & Maneuvering
Docking can be one of the most stressful parts of the boating experience. A little more knowledge here will go a long way to making your experience much more enjoyable.

BOATING INSTRUCTION Here is a docking instruction course and book 7 steps to successful docking. 158 pages of docking tips by Sea Search School of Seamanship. Follow the link.

BOAT DOCKING Docking advice plus some navigational rules.  (88 pages 140 clear simple diagrams)

COMPUBOAT DOCKING AND MOORING more docking advice


Safety courses

USCG BOATING This site offers safety courses and regulations. Plus has recall information on key safety equipment

USCG AUXILIARY maintains a good searchable list of boater education classes and runs many excellent courses around the country. The aux. also offers free boat inspections to certify that a vessel meets minimum federal and state standards. There is no penalty for failing these inspections.

Safety Gear Maintenance

The RNLI the British rescue organization has some interesting statistics regarding their rescues. They track the number of launchings of lifeboats to the problem. Number 1 problem boaters have that cause a rescue is machinery ie engine failure by 3 to 1,  after that comes adverse weather, the next is fouled propellers, while MOB and crew injuries are well down the list. What we can take from that is you need to maintain your engine, make sure you have clean fuel, don't start the engine with lines in the water, avoid fish traps and Check weather forecasts.

SAFETY SEAL The USCG and the USPS bring you this site from the National Dept of safety checks tells you the basic checks to make for your boat & equipment. Includes a 15 point check list for boat maintenance.

BOATING BASICS ONLINE

Navigation
A good guide to your destination is key to safe trip planning

"Chapman's Piloting & Seamanship" is a great book full of information found at any boat chandler in the book section.
Chapman's is the boater's bible and is worth including in every library. The book gives expert information on just about every aspect of boating.

REEDS ALMANAC covers the East coast, Caribbean and west coast. Traditional almanac with tidal & navigation information.

WATERWAY GUIDE covers the east coat the Lakes and Florida: very cleanly laid out with overhead photographs of harbors for 3D effect.

BOATERS ALMANAC

Towing & Distress Insurance
These Associations have towing insurance plans, plus boating courses.  Join one to get the benefit of knowing there is help on the water.

AMERICAN BOATING Association has several benefits, towing, insurance, discounts at boatersworld.com

BOAT US has an excellent online boating course and test that is approved by some states to satisfy boating ed requirements.

BOATING SAFETY Sea Tow sponsored site. Sea tow also have seasmartvhf.com a service for call forwarding and boat tracking.

MARISAFE

NBOAT

Better preparation can make life safer and more enjoyable. Next issue on Safety will cover Weather and Weather sources. After that we will concentrate on some of the new equipment available.