Boating Safety Class Bay Shore Library April 23, 24 and 25th 6-PM to 9-PM

[poorrichard]

NY State Safe Boating Class is being offered at the Bay Shore Library. Class is open to anyone 10 years old or older. It is required by anyone operating PWC-Jet Ski in NY waters. Please call the library at 631-665-4350 for more information or to register for the class.

 

[wader]

You're required to take this course here in Virginia in order to get a license to operate PWC & anything over 16 feet. You could have been operating a boat for 20 years elsewhere. Wanna operate it in the Commonwealth? Need a license to do so. To get a license - you need to take the Boating Course.

Think it's a good idea.

 

[poorrichard]

Most states require some type of boater training, certification or license. Local states Connecticut, New Jersey ect.)accept NY State class as proof when operating in their waters. Similar to how a motor vehicle license is accepted in other states.
Insurance Companies usually will offer a discount on your insurance with a boating safety class certificate.

The class coves many topics: Safety Gear requirements, How to use the safety equipment, Navigation, Rules of the Road, Personal Watercraft are just a few of the topics.

 

[Roccus7]

Theoretical Boating knowledge is nice, but these courses have NO bearing on someone's ability to pilot a boat. To make this complete, folks need to log hours at the helm, just like young drivers have to do to get their driver's license.

Yeah, you can learn how to read channel markers, but if you can't read the water you can find yourself up on an unmarked bar even though you're "in the channel". If you want adventure, com'on up here where there are few navigational aids. Major ledges and reefs are unmarked, tidal currents are very strong considering the average height between MHW and MLW is 10 feet, and playing lobster buoy slalom is a constant challenge. I sincerely doubt that "book learning" would help these circumstances.

 

[poorrichard]

The class touches on many topics over 15 chapters of material. To drive a car, you take a written test to get a learners permit. Then practice driving till you pass a road test, No class can offer "wheel time". Nor can it teach how boats handle in different sea conditions. The class does give one the basic requirements to operate safely. DO you have a PFD for everyone on board. How it is used, who HAS to wear a PFD, fire fighting and the number of fire extinguishers needed on board, ect. number of flares needed ect.

 

[Scupper]

The class touches on many topics over 15 chapters of material. To drive a car, you take a written test to get a learners permit. Then practice driving till you pass a road test, No class can offer "wheel time". Nor can it teach how boats handle in different sea conditions. The class does give one the basic requirements to operate safely. DO you have a PFD for everyone on board. How it is used, who HAS to wear a PFD, fire fighting and the number of fire extinguishers needed on board, ect. number of flares needed ect.

Not a bad idea to have boaters take a basic safety class ...Plenty of folks could use a dose of common sense ....

 

[Roccus7]

Not a bad idea to have boaters take a basic safety class ...Plenty of folks could use a dose of common sense ....

Sad, but true. It is better than nothing, but I'm just worried that taking this course gives some the false impression that they know how to pilot a boat.

"OK, I got it launched, got it started and here we go. It's mid-ebb and the wind is blowing out of SW at 15 kts, let's start out of Shinnecock. OMG WTH do I do with those big azz waves????"

 

[BennyV]

Sad, but true. It is better than nothing, but I'm just worried that taking this course gives some the false impression that they know how to pilot a boat.

"OK, I got it launched, got it started and here we go. It's mid-ebb and the wind is blowing out of SW at 15 kts, let's start out of Shinnecock. OMG WTH do I do with those big azz waves????"

In the words of Jack Hoffman - “No guts, no glory!”

 

[Scupper]

In the words of Jack Hoffman - “No guts, no glory!”
[/QUOT

Sad, but true. It is better than nothing, but I'm just worried that taking this course gives some the false impression that they know how to pilot a boat.

"OK, I got it launched, got it started and here we go. It's mid-ebb and the wind is blowing out of SW at 15 kts, let's start out of Shinnecock. OMG WTH do I do with those big azz waves????"

With the current crop of many teenaged males locked in their darkened bedrooms playing video games , it might do them some good to get in the Sound with a 25 knot Easterly and an Outgoing tide or a South Shore Inlet on the Ebb with a SW breeze ....
Some Sea Spray might do them some good .....

 

[Roccus7]

The "experience" may short out those cell phones that are surgically attached to them!!

 

[BennyV]

As many of you know I just passed my 6 pack. It was amazing to see the amount of people who had no chance when it came to plotting and charting a literally could careless about it. Their response “I have electronics for that”. This is true but what if they magically stopped working.

Then on the flip side you have guys with 5, 10, 20 years experience working on commercial boats with not a clue when it came to some of the rules of the road. Book wise not the smartest bunch but get them out on the water and they are masters at their craft.

It can really go either way. I’d rather see most people take a boating safety course though. If it prevents a few accidents a year it’s worth it.

 

[Capt13]

Sad, but true. It is better than nothing, but I'm just worried that taking this course gives some the false impression that they know how to pilot a boat.

I have known quite a few "new" boaters over the years. I delivered new boats for a local marina for one season. I truly believe that most of theses new to boating people already had the false impression that "driving a boat around" took no special skills.

 

[Fishing Nerd]

As many of you know I just passed my 6 pack. It was amazing to see the amount of people who had no chance when it came to plotting and charting a literally could careless about it. Their response “I have electronics for that”. This is true but what if they magically stopped working.

Then on the flip side you have guys with 5, 10, 20 years experience working on commercial boats with not a clue when it came to some of the rules of the road. Book wise not the smartest bunch but get them out on the water and they are masters at their craft.

It can really go either way. I’d rather see most people take a boating safety course though. If it prevents a few accidents a year it’s worth it.

I was thinking of taking the 6 pack license as well - if you don't mind me asking, did you use a school or just do each of the steps individually?

On the safety class - I think it should be mandatory. I know some will get upset at that notion - but just understand that anyone with no experience at all can walk in and pick up a boat and hit the water with literally no experience and no expertise at all. When I registered my boat for the first time, I was floored that there was no licensing process, let alone no requirement for a safety class. I'm responsible though - I paid someone to show me the ropes, and I did a lot of reading. I'd rather not bet my safety that most people will be just as responsible.

For that same reason, I hate that we have reciprocity on drivers licenses with so many different countries that have bupkus for drivers license testing, and we unleash those people on our roads with no frikkin clue what they're doing.

 

[BennyV]

I was thinking of taking the 6 pack license as well - if you don't mind me asking, did you use a school or just do each of the steps individually?

On the safety class - I think it should be mandatory. I know some will get upset at that notion - but just understand that anyone with no experience at all can walk in and pick up a boat and hit the water with literally no experience and no expertise at all. When I registered my boat for the first time, I was floored that there was no licensing process, let alone no requirement for a safety class. I'm responsible though - I paid someone to show me the ropes, and I did a lot of reading. I'd rather not bet my safety that most people will be just as responsible.

For that same reason, I hate that we have reciprocity on drivers licenses with so many different countries that have bupkus for drivers license testing, and we unleash those people on our roads with no frikkin clue what they're doing.

I went to nautical school. You can definitely do it on your own, but I tend to overthink things sometimes. So it was definitely worth the price for me.

 

[Fishing Nerd]

Sad, but true. It is better than nothing, but I'm just worried that taking this course gives some the false impression that they know how to pilot a boat.

"OK, I got it launched, got it started and here we go. It's mid-ebb and the wind is blowing out of SW at 15 kts, let's start out of Shinnecock. OMG WTH do I do with those big azz waves????"

That's going to happen with or without a class. When I got my boat I had almost no boating experience - what little I did have I got as a teenager with a 15' Whaler.

I went looking for a captain willing to do some instruction until I got the hang of it, and one of my friends asked me 'it's a boat, what is it going to do, sink?!'.

I think a lot of people don't understand that boating isn't exactly simple, especially when the conditions turn in ways that novice boaters lack the experience to fear.

 

[Fishing Nerd]

I went to nautical school. You can definitely do it on your own, but I tend to overthink things sometimes. So it was definitely worth the price for me.

That's what I'm looking to do as well. Someone recommended an online school, but that seemed a little tedious. Would you recommend the one you went to?

 

[Roccus7]

That's going to happen with or without a class. When I got my boat I had almost no boating experience - what little I did have I got as a teenager with a 15' Whaler.

I went looking for a captain willing to do some instruction until I got the hang of it, and one of my friends asked me 'it's a boat, what is it going to do, sink?!'.

I think a lot of people don't understand that boating isn't exactly simple, especially when the conditions turn in ways that novice boaters lack the experience to fear.

True. Reminds me a few years back when my son was here and told me he was going to buy a boat. I was trying to dissuade him and miraculously a neighbor pops over, "My boat broke off its mooring. Can we hop on yours and find it???" As we went out I told my neighbor, a Texan, that my son wanted a boat. He put his arm around my son and said, "Son, boats are always trying to do two things, run away from you and kill you!" That just about sums it up!!

 

[BennyV]

That's what I'm looking to do as well. Someone recommended an online school, but that seemed a little tedious. Would you recommend the one you went to?

The online schools/captain in a box are good on paper. In real life not so much. I’d definitely recommend the school I went to. I know they have one in Lindenhurst (home office) and also all around the city.

 

[poorrichard]

Very Difficult to learn and study some of the class material "on line". I did mine in Nautical School in Lindenhurst as well. We teamed up( the students) and worked together as small group. Made learning much easier. Students were able to help each other. Some understood some of the lessons better than others. The teaming up in small groups made the difficult parts of the class easier. My Captains class was the last one at the old West Marine in Babylon. Almost 15 years ago

 

[BennyV]

Very Difficult to learn and study some of the class material "on line". I did mine in Nautical School in Lindenhurst as well. We teamed up( the students) and worked together as small group. Made learning much easier. Students were able to help each other. Some understood some of the lessons better than others. The teaming up in small groups made the difficult parts of the class easier. My Captains class was the last one at the old West Marine in Babylon. Almost 15 years ago

We did the same during class. I had one classmate really help with the charting. He was a flight instructor of some kind and the other guy at my desk was in the CG.