According to the North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission, “ On or after May 1, 2010 any person under the age of 26 must successfully complete a NASBLA approved boating education course before operating any vessel propelled by a motor of 10 HP or greater.”
Of course, Rob is an experienced captain (and at least 26 years old, I am sure), but he found the certification "a good thing to have...whether you need it or not." I decided to take Rob's advice, and enroll in the course.
Although there was much that did not pertain to my situation (e.g. my 18' open wooden skiff does not need much of the gear, safety equipment, or placards that larger vessels require), and some of the lessons included rather self-evident or "roll-your-eyes" instructions ("in general the best time to wear your life jacket is when you are near the water" and "death" [a "symptom" of hypothermia] must be "treated."), by and large it was helpful to be reminded of safety procedures and precautions, state and federal boating rules and regulations, ways boaters can protect the environment, and much more. The lessons were presented in a conversational, easy to understand format, making the course even more appealing,
 |
| You can see Rob's Certificate with his Article |
The course offered by "Boat US" is free, and easy & convenient to take. You can find out more here: https://elearning.boatus.org/
Our latest Ocracoke Newsletter is the story of the "Joe Bell" flower. You can read it here: http://www.villagecraftsmen.com/news012112.htm.
can you discuss tide charts. why are there tide charts how important is knowledge of tides does it have anything to do with launching a boat from a trailer
ReplyDeleteWhen the tide is low it can mean grounding on shoals or difficulty launching a boat from a trailer (depending on the site, you might have to back your vehicle through soft bottom in order to reach deep enough water for launching).
ReplyDelete