The Auxiliary offers a number of different boating safety classes. This is a list of upcoming classes in this area:

About Boating Safely

America's Boating Course

Boating Skills and Seamanship

Advanced Coastal Navigation

America's Boating Course is a unique study program covering the fundamentals of boating. The course is designed for skippers and crew of all types of watercraft. The course material is covered in seven chapters, which touch on:

• General information about boats and maintenance
• Information to make your boating experience safer and more enjoyable
• Tips on being a more courteous boat operator
• Laws and regulations to which you must adhere

More information on the America's Boating Course can be found by clicking here.

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 12^th edition published in 2002, consists of 6 core required two- to four-hour lessons 2 added optional lessons that are normally included in the core course, plus five elective lessons, providing up-to-date knowledge for handling boats in all conditions.

More information on the Boating Skills and Seamanship Course can be found by clicking here.

Advanced Coastal Navigation is a course currently only available to members of the U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary. Please note, there may be a public offering in the near future. ACN is one of the required courses for an Auxiliarist to receive the AUXOP designation.

The ACN course covers all of the issues in coastal navigation from understanding the magnetic compass to sophisticated marine electronics. Representative chapters include:

• Magnetic compass; description of principles of operation, deviation and variation, compass error, calculations for accurate conversions.
• Charts, the different types of chart projections, how to plot positions, measurement of direction and distance, soundings, bottom characteristics, aids to navigation, chart scales.
• Navigation tools, how to select and use these tools, plotters, dividers, navigational slide rule, computer applications, calculators, timepieces, night vision equipment, depth sounders.
• Dead Reckoning (DR). What it is, how it is used, why it is used, what it shows, accuracy of DR, time, speed, distance relationships.
• Piloting, Lines of Position (LOP) by range and bearing, use of radar for LOP, the navigational fix, running fixes, danger bearings.
• Current Sailing. Use of the Maneuvering Board, current triangle vectors, determining set and drift, determining a course to steer, current compensation to arrive at a certain time.
• Tides and tidal currents, tidal patterns, sources of information, use of Tide Tables, use of tide worksheet, Tidal Current Tables, tidal current worksheets, slack water, sunrise/sunset.
• Radio Navigation, Loran-C, principles, charts, plotting; GPS, accuracy, use of waypoints; Radar, radarscope interpretation, radar plotting, relative motion plots, vector diagrams.
• Navigational Reference Publications. Coast Pilots, Light Lists, Notice to Mariners.
• Fuel and Voyage Planning, fuel consumption charts, efficiency vs. speed, factors affecting fuel efficiency.