If you're interested in an exciting and highly interactive boating safety course, check out  America’s Boating Course.   ABC can be completed by purchasing this CD-based course, which you can take as a family, in the privacy of your home  The course is fun and it's very comprehensive.  America's Boating Course is a joint project between The United States Coast Guard Auxiliary and the United States Power Squadrons.  In addition, the course has been approved by the National Association of State Boating Law Administrators.  Upon successful completion of this course you will also receive the Louisiana State Boater's Card, which is required for all residents born after 1 January 1988 in order to operate a powerboat.

Topics include:
  INTRODUCTION TO BOATING -- types of boats; different uses of boats; outboard, stern-drive, and inboard engines; jet drives.
  BOATING LAWS -- boat registration; hull identification number; required safety equipment; operating safely and reporting accidents; protecting the marine environment; Federal boating laws; and PWCs.
   PERSONAL SAFETY EQUIPMENT -- personal flotation devices ("life jackets"); fire extinguishers; sound-producing devices; visual-distress signals; first aid kit; anchor; safety equipment and PWC.
   SAFE BOAT HANDLING -- bow riding; substance abuse; entering, loading, and trimming a boat; fueling portable and permanent tanks; steering with a tiller and a wheel; docking and mooring; knots; filing a float plan; checking equipment, fuel, weather, and tide; using charts; choosing and using an anchor; safe PWC handling.
  NAVIGATION -- the U.S. Aids to Navigation system; types of buoys and beacons; navigation rules; avoiding collisions; sound signals; PWX "tunnel vision."
  BOATING PROBLEMS -- hypothermia; boating accidents and rescues; capsizing; running aground; emergency radio calls; engine problems; boating problems and PWC.
  TRAILERING, STORING, AND PROTECTING YOUR BOAT -- types of trailers; trailer brakes, lights, hitches, tires, and bearings; loading, balancing, and towing a trailer; towing (and backing) a trailer; boat launching and retrieving; boat storage and theft protection; launching, retrieving, and storing a PWC.
  HUNTING AND FISHING, WATERSKIING, AND RIVER BOATING -- carrying hunting gear and weapons in a boat; fishing from a boat; watersking safety guidelines and hand signals; watersking with a PWC; navigating rivers.
Many insurance companies will offer discounts of 15-20% on boat insurance to individuals who successfully complete boating courses such as this.

Additionally, you will be provided with copies of training booklets which parents can use to teach water and boating safety to their children.  These courses, especially designed for kids include:

      Boating Fun - Adventure on the Water, which was written in partnership with the Army Corps of Engineers.  It is a storybook/coloring book (targeted to children in grades K-3) with pictures.  A guide to the safe boating messages in the book, as well as a list of activities (with short explanations), can be found in the book on Pages 1-2.  The story contains all the safe boating messages and, in addition, Key Messages for the pictures are separately listed on each page where the related picture is found.  The book is designed to be used in traditional, instructor-led classes as well as stand-alone study by a single user.   And,

      Waypoints - A Guide to Boating Safely, which was written in partnership with the Army Corps of Engineers.  It is targeted to youth in grades 4-6.  Its look and reading style (as well as the "One Minute Mysteries," which foster discussion) appeal to the 10-12 year old age range.  It includes many of the main points of the ABC Course.

 
For Additional information, or to obtain copies of this course please contact USCG Auxiliary Flotilla 66 in Lake Charles by calling (337) 491-7846.  OR email LCFlotilla66@aol.com