[niftyc]

Hi Lake St. Clair: I'm teaching an in-person course on marine communications at the Detroit Yacht Club next month, and I wanted to post it here to invite boaters on lakestclair.net to enroll -- and I also wanted to point out that there are a variety of boating courses in the Detroit area coming up. Boating courses have been scarce for the past few years due to the pandemic but now things are happening again.

The course I am teaching is a comprehensive class about radios and communications on your boat. You do not need to be a member of the DYC to attend. These courses are part of the US Power Squadron / America's Boating Club curriculum and are put on by an educational nonprofit. I hope to see you there! Here is the flyer with more information: Marine Communications Course Flyer DPS.pdf

In addition, here is a list of upcoming classes from the same organization, including those I am not teaching -- just thought it might be of interest: >Education<
Boaters born after 1996 and most personal watercraft operators who operate a boat in Michigan must have a boater education card (boating safety certificate). The courses titled "America's Boating Course" in the link above will get you that certificate. The other classes (like mine) are more advanced or they are electives to improve your skills. It is also possible to get the certificate online, but in my opinion the online classes are not very good.

Happy to answer any questions about the class.

Hope to see you in class and out on the lake.

 

[Iggyw]

So am I correct in assuming that in 1996 they made the boating safety certificate course mandatory? I have taken the coast guard auxiliary course way back in the early 70's, and before my two sons were able to take my boat out on their own, I made it mandatory for them to take (and pass) the course as well. I have always said that it should be mandatory for ALL boaters to take the course, as there are sooooo many boaters out there that just do not know "the rules of the road" so to speak.

Just how far back would the coast guard auxiliary records go back? I ask this because I have no idea whatever happened to my card that I was proud to have from taking the course. Do you know if it is possible to get my card replaced from that many years ago? I clicked on the link above, and if I cannot get my card replaced, I will likely sign up for the course as indicated in the link above for the $40 price tag and just the course again. (Me AND my sons). LOL
Probably would not be a bad idea to take a brush up course again anyway.

 

[niftyc]

It's boaters born after 1996 that need the card, so if you took a class in the 1970s my guess is that your birth date means you are ok.

If it was a US Coast Guard Auxiliary course, to get a replacement card you have to contact the local flotilla that offered it, but they are not required to keep records indefinitely and I think they would not have anything going back that far.

I've had great luck with the US Power Squadrons courses that I've taken and I always recommend those, if you want to brush up on things. A few things do change over the years such as the US Coast Guard's relatively new fire extinguisher and kill switch rules. The basic course is also available from many other organizations: the US Coast Guard Auxiliary (as you mentioned), Michigan DNR, and boatEd.

 

[Iggyw]

It's boaters born after 1996 that need the card, so if you took a class in the 1970s my guess is that your birth date means you are ok.

If it was a US Coast Guard Auxiliary course, to get a replacement card you have to contact the local flotilla that offered it, but they are not required to keep records indefinitely and I think they would not have anything going back that far.

I've had great luck with the US Power Squadrons courses that I've taken and I always recommend those, if you want to brush up on things. A few things do change over the years such as the US Coast Guard's relatively new fire extinguisher and kill switch rules. The basic course is also available from many other organizations: the US Coast Guard Auxiliary (as you mentioned), Michigan DNR, and boatEd.

I realize that it's just the people that are born after 1996 that the card is required for, but I am thinking about just taking a "Brush up" course to learn the new rules & requirements for boating. I think it is a great idea for ALL boaters to take the course. There are many boaters out on the lake that think they know the rules of the water ways but don't. Thanks for the information that you supplied here, and I hope that a lot of boaters take advantage of the many classes that are available for boating for everyones safety on the lakes.