America's Boating Education

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Marine Navigation Course

Come learn navigational techniques and aids to become a confident Marine Navigator!  

The course will include face-to-face time, hands-on activities, and self-study.

Course times:  6:00 pm – 8:30 pm  (Optional potluck dinner starts at 5:15 pm)

Location:  Lake Charles Sail and Power Squadron Anchorage.

Thursday, August 13    Introduction, Marine Navigation Charts

Thursday, August 27  Navigating Waterways, Chart Plotter Basics

Thursday, September 10  Paper Chart Navigation, Navigating Coastal Waters, Inland Navigation

Thursday, September 24    Practice Cruise, Summary, Review, and Optional Test

Instructor: Darrell Walker, AP 

Cost $65, which includes the textbook and access to OpenCPN Chart Plotter Navigation Software.  Electronic textbook and access to OpenCPN Chart Plotter Navigation Software $100. 

Must pre-register on-line with the link below or call Cher Walker at 337-540-2518 for registration or questions. 

Registration Link: TBA 1-2 months before class is scheduled. 

If your birthday is after July 01, 1972, a Boating Safety Course Card is required to legally operate a recreation vessel in Maritime waters. America's Boating Clubs offers the America's Boating Course III to fill that requirement. The course is 8 hours of instruction and a test. Passing the test with an 80% or better gets you the Boating Safety Card. Experienced instructors will teach this course.

Course Description: The basic boating knowledge topics include:

• Introduction to Boating: types of boats - power, sail, outboards, paddle boats, and houseboats. Also, different uses of boats, various power boating engines, jet drives, and family boating basics.
• Boating Law: boat registration, boating regulation, hull identification number, required boat safety equipment, operating safely and reporting accident, protecting the marine environment, Federal boat law, state boating law, 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, and other boating safety equipment.
• 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 (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.

The basic boating knowledge class will be announced, and details will be provided soon.

IMPORTANT: This course requires registration so books and materials can be provided before the first night of class. Text Darrell Walker at 337-802-8529 for more details