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BOATING SKILLS & SEAMANSHIP (BS&S)
 The U. S. Coast Guard Auxiliary's Boating Skills and Seamanship (BS&S) course is a
comprehensive course designed for both the experienced and the
novice boater. The course, now in its 13th edition published in 2007, consists of 8 core required two hour lessons plus five elective lessons,
providing up-to-date knowledge for handling boats in all
conditions.
TOPICS INCLUDE
- Which Boat Is For You? -
Boater's language; types of boats; outboard motors and
sterndrives; hull design; uses of boats; other power plants;
materials for constructing boats; your intended use; the
Coast Guard Customer Infoline; marine surveyors; buying a
boat.
- Equipment For Your Boat -
Requirements for your boat; your boat's equipment; legal
considerations; substance abuse; boating accident reports;
Courtesy Marine Examinations.
- Trailering Your Boat - Legal
considerations; practical considerations; the towing
vehicle; balancing the load; handling your trailer;
pre-departure checks; preparing to launch; launching;
retrieving; storing your boat and trailer; theft prevention;
Zebra mussels; float plan.
- Handling Your Boat - Leave
with a full tank; fueling your boat; your boat's propellor;
cars and boats; twin screws; jet drives; loading your boat;
getting started; leaving a pier; "man" overboard; docking;
mooring to a permanent anchor; anchoring; towing a skier;
heavy weather; small boat safety.
- Your "Highway" Signs -
Protection of ATONs; buoyage systems; waterway marks; how
waterways are marked; light characteristics; chart symbols;
light structures; lights on bridges; electronic aids to
navigation; a word to the wise; navigation publications.
- The Rules You Must Follow -
Two sets of rules; to whom do the rules apply; what is a
vessel; the general responsibility rule; general
considerations; conduct in narrow channels; traffic
separation schemes; vessel traffic services; stand-on or
give-way; rules for special vessels; risk of collision; bend
signals; restricted visibility; vessel lights and shapes;
vessels at anchor; diving operations; distress signals;
drawbridge signals; penalties.
- Inland Boating - Types of
inland waters; inland navigation; inland seamanship; river
currents; maintaining inland waterways; dams; locks; river
charts; commercial traffic; before you go. (This lesson
typically will not be taught in coastal courses)
- The Rest Of Our Story -
Small boat safety; personal watercraft; hypothermia;
motorboats and sailboats; carbon monoxide poisoning; float
plan; U.S. Coast Guard District Offices; instructions for
using a course plotter; metric conversion system.
- Introduction To Navigation -
Piloting tools; maps and charts; chart features; your
chart's general information block; other charted
information; your magnetic compass; position on the earth's
surface; locating a point on a chart; distance on the
earth's surface; measuring distance; course plotting;
sources of compass error; correcting a compass reading;
positioning; speed-time-distance; dead reckoning; practice
your art.
- Powering Your Boat - Types
of marine engines; marine engines; selecting a propeller;
induction systems; ignition systems; flame arresters;
cooling systems; gasoline considerations; batteries;
maintenance; winterizing your boat; spring fitting-out;
troubleshooting.
- Lines & Knots For Your
Boat - Line or rope; rope materials; kinds of rope;
measuring rope; selecting your ropes; care of rope; making
up line; knots, bends, and hitches; splices; securing lines;
dipping the eye.
- Weather & Boating -
Sources of weather information; wind and boating; wind and
waves; understanding weather; weather and heat; fog;
non-frontal weather.
- Your Boat's Radio - Radios
used on boats; functions of radios; licenses; selecting your
VHF-FM radio; installation; operating your VHF-FM; maintain
a radio watch; channels have special purposes; some "no
no's"; copies of the rules; calling another station;
procedure words; phonetic alphabet; routine radio check;
distress, urgency, and safety calls; crew training.
Many insurance companies will offer discounts on
boat insurance to individuals who successfully complete this
course.
Individuals who successfully complete the course
and exam are awarded certificates and cards.
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