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Author Topic:   taking a boating course...but which one?

flyguy posted 02-05-2003 04:02 PM ET (US)
our local high school offers 2 boating and seamanship courses. one is basic boating by the us power squadron and the other is basic power boating and seamanship by the us coast guard auxiliary. i can only take one. i was leaning towards taking the one taught by the coast guard and since my cousin is in the auxiliary that kind of put a lock on it. do you guys have any thoughts one way or the other?
triblet posted 02-05-2003 06:29 PM ET (US)
As near as I can tell, they are interchangeable,
except that the USCGA course will include a bit
of marketing to get you to join the USCGA, and
the USPS course will include a bit of marketing
to get you to join the USPS. ;-)
I would check out what kind of boating the
instructors do, and see if one set is closer
to the type of boating I do. But even if it's
not the same, there's a lot to learn. And it
will get you a break on your boat insurance.

Chuck
jimh posted 02-05-2003 07:11 PM ET (US)
I very much enjoyed all the classes I took in the Power Squadron, although ironically I was into sailing at the time. (I have the NAVIGATOR rating.)
I think much depends on your local groups. Here in SE Michigan the Birmingham Power Squadron is a very active outfit. They offer all the courses available all the time. They have good meetings, and good rendezvous.
The USCG-Auxillary might appeal more to boaters who like to dress up in uniforms, etc., although they do offer a chance to go aboard real USCG vessels and become qualitifed watch-standers. I know at least one guy in the Auxillary who worked his way up to watchstander on the bridge of rather large USCG ship. He had plenty of fun building up that rating and got to go out with them on some interesting cruises.
It sounds like you already made your choice.
Monnas Rock posted 02-05-2003 07:59 PM ET (US)
As a former Power Squadron member, I've taken several of their courses. Some have been very benificial, some havn't. The deciding factor is the quality of instruction. Both orginizations offer great, and similar, courses. The material is not the variable, it's the individual instructors that make the difference My questions would be directed toward the quality of instructors available in each.
WOW Jim, Navigator, that's impressive. I think there is only one navigator in the Las Vegas Power Squadron. Congratulations.
Regards,
Gary
flyguy posted 02-05-2003 08:15 PM ET (US)
it doesn't specify who the teacher is for either one. they're both given each semester so maybe i'll take one this spring and the other in the fall. they're so cheap.

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Author	Topic: taking a boating course...but which one?
flyguy	posted 02-05-2003 04:02 PM ET (US) our local high school offers 2 boating and seamanship courses. one is basic boating by the us power squadron and the other is basic power boating and seamanship by the us coast guard auxiliary. i can only take one. i was leaning towards taking the one taught by the coast guard and since my cousin is in the auxiliary that kind of put a lock on it. do you guys have any thoughts one way or the other?
triblet	posted 02-05-2003 06:29 PM ET (US) As near as I can tell, they are interchangeable, except that the USCGA course will include a bit of marketing to get you to join the USCGA, and the USPS course will include a bit of marketing to get you to join the USPS. ;-) I would check out what kind of boating the instructors do, and see if one set is closer to the type of boating I do. But even if it's not the same, there's a lot to learn. And it will get you a break on your boat insurance. Chuck
jimh	posted 02-05-2003 07:11 PM ET (US) I very much enjoyed all the classes I took in the Power Squadron, although ironically I was into sailing at the time. (I have the NAVIGATOR rating.) I think much depends on your local groups. Here in SE Michigan the Birmingham Power Squadron is a very active outfit. They offer all the courses available all the time. They have good meetings, and good rendezvous. The USCG-Auxillary might appeal more to boaters who like to dress up in uniforms, etc., although they do offer a chance to go aboard real USCG vessels and become qualitifed watch-standers. I know at least one guy in the Auxillary who worked his way up to watchstander on the bridge of rather large USCG ship. He had plenty of fun building up that rating and got to go out with them on some interesting cruises. It sounds like you already made your choice.
Monnas Rock	posted 02-05-2003 07:59 PM ET (US) As a former Power Squadron member, I've taken several of their courses. Some have been very benificial, some havn't. The deciding factor is the quality of instruction. Both orginizations offer great, and similar, courses. The material is not the variable, it's the individual instructors that make the difference My questions would be directed toward the quality of instructors available in each. WOW Jim, Navigator, that's impressive. I think there is only one navigator in the Las Vegas Power Squadron. Congratulations. Regards, Gary
flyguy	posted 02-05-2003 08:15 PM ET (US) it doesn't specify who the teacher is for either one. they're both given each semester so maybe i'll take one this spring and the other in the fall. they're so cheap.