Boat License Course

Lesson 1 • Required Safety Equipment

Details mandatory onboard equipment, inspection standards, and proper storage. Students learn to conduct a pre-departure safety check.

Lesson 2 • Types of Recreational Vessels

Covers hull designs, propulsion systems, and vessel classifications by size and use. Provides the vocabulary needed for all subsequent technical chapters.

Lesson 3 • Core Boating Safety Principles

Introduces the safety mindset, risk awareness, and accident prevention habits. Connects personal responsibility to regulatory compliance throughout the course.

Lesson 1 • Buoys and Lateral Markers

Covers the lateral and non-lateral marker systems used on inland and coastal waters. Students learn color, shape, and numbering conventions for safe channel navigation.

Lesson 2 • Lights and Shapes for Vessels

Teaches required navigation lights and day shapes for various vessel types and conditions. Prepares students to identify vessel status and intent at a distance.

Lesson 3 • Reading Nautical Charts

Explains chart symbols, depth soundings, and scale interpretation. Directly supports route planning and hazard avoidance covered in later chapters.

Lesson 1 • Sound Signals and Communication

Covers required sound signals for maneuvering, restricted visibility, and distress. Connects signal knowledge to real-time collision avoidance decisions.

Lesson 2 • Meeting, Crossing, and Overtaking Situations

Applies right-of-way rules to the three primary encounter types between powered vessels. Students practice identifying each situation and selecting the correct action.

Lesson 3 • Anchoring and Mooring Rules

Details legal anchoring locations, scope requirements, and mooring etiquette. Students learn how anchoring decisions affect traffic flow and safety.

Lesson 4 • Stand-On and Give-Way Vessel Roles

Defines the stand-on and give-way hierarchy and the duties of each role. Establishes the decision-making framework used in all encounter scenarios.

Lesson 1 • Operating at Speed and in Traffic

Addresses wake management, speed selection, and situational awareness at higher speeds. Connects maneuvering skills to collision-avoidance rules from Chapter 3.

Lesson 2 • Anchoring Techniques in Practice

Applies anchoring rules to real-world technique including setting, dragging detection, and retrieval. Reinforces scope and equipment knowledge from earlier chapters.

Lesson 3 • Understanding Propulsion and Steering

Explains how propellers, rudders, and outboard motors create thrust and steering response. Provides the mechanical foundation for all maneuvering techniques.

Lesson 4 • Turning and Maneuvering in Tight Spaces

Covers pivot-point concepts, short-turning techniques, and backing maneuvers. Prepares students for marina environments and congested waterways.

Lesson 1 • Basic Troubleshooting Underway

Covers diagnosis of common failures including overheating, fuel starvation, and electrical faults. Prepares students to manage breakdowns without immediate outside assistance.

Lesson 2 • Safe Fueling Procedures

Details the fueling sequence, vapor purging, and spill prevention required before starting an engine. Directly reduces the fire and explosion risk addressed in Chapter 6.

Lesson 3 • Marine Engine Types and Systems

Explains inboard, outboard, and sterndrive engine configurations and their cooling and fuel systems. Provides the mechanical literacy needed for maintenance and troubleshooting.

Lesson 4 • Pre-Departure Engine Checks

Walks through oil, coolant, belt, and battery checks performed before every outing. Reinforces the safety-check habit established in Chapter 1.

Lesson 1 • Environmental Regulations and Stewardship

Covers discharge rules, no-discharge zones, and wildlife protection requirements. Students learn how environmental compliance integrates with daily boating operations.

Lesson 2 • Reading Marine Weather Forecasts

Explains forecast sources, wind terminology, and sea-state descriptions used in marine bulletins. Students learn to access and interpret official forecasts before departure.

Lesson 3 • Tides and Tidal Currents

Covers tidal cycles, tidal range, and current direction effects on navigation and anchoring. Connects tidal knowledge to route planning and fuel management.

Lesson 4 • River and Inland Current Navigation

Addresses upstream and downstream current effects on speed, steering, and fuel consumption. Prepares students operating on rivers, lakes, and estuaries.

Lesson 1 • Onboard Fire Prevention and Response

Identifies fire sources, prevention practices, and extinguisher deployment techniques. Connects required equipment knowledge from Chapter 1 to active emergency use.

Lesson 2 • Capsizing and Swamping Survival

Covers self-rescue techniques, staying with the vessel, and signaling after capsizing. Reinforces life jacket use and cold-water survival from earlier safety chapters.

Lesson 3 • Man Overboard Response

Teaches the immediate actions, recovery maneuvers, and retrieval methods for a person in the water. Builds the most time-critical emergency skill in recreational boating.

Lesson 4 • Distress Signaling and Coast Guard Contact

Covers Mayday procedures, flare use, and EPIRB activation for summoning assistance. Students learn the correct sequence for escalating a distress call.

Lesson 1 • Route Planning and Fuel Management

Applies chart reading, tidal data, and fuel calculations to build a complete route plan. Connects navigation, weather, and mechanical knowledge from all prior chapters.

Lesson 2 • Float Plan Preparation

Teaches the components of a float plan and the process of filing it with a responsible party. Establishes the planning habit that enables effective search and rescue.

Lesson 3 • Post-Trip Debrief and Continuous Improvement

Introduces structured debrief practices for reviewing decisions, near-misses, and equipment performance. Develops the reflective habit that advances long-term boating competence.

Lesson 4 • Passenger Safety Briefing

Covers the operator's duty to brief passengers on safety equipment, procedures, and conduct. Builds leadership and communication skills for managing people aboard.