All Public Education classes are offered to the public in an effort to increase boating knowledge in the community. Please browse our course offerings and schedules and take advantage of our classes to increase your knowledge and skills as a boater. Flotilla 1-4 holds its classes at the West Marine store in Point Loma. This page also lists courses held throughout many locations in Southern California

Course Descriptions

Boating Skills & Seamanship – BS&S

This eight-lesson course is directed toward the power boater, but also has applications for the sailing enthusiast, emphasizing safe boating practices. The course covers such topics as boat characteristics and structure, nautical nomenclature, legal requirements and necessary equipment, boat handling, aids to navigation, navigation rules, marine radiotelephone and trailering.

Boating Skills & Seamanship II – BS&S II

This five-lesson course is designed for boaters who already have a basic knowledge of water safety practices, boating equipment, boat handling, aids to navigation, and rules for vessel travel upon the water. This course is particularly valuable for those who leave the bay for open water where an understanding of weather, radio procedures, engine reliability, and basic navigation skills are critical to safe boating. Completion of this course will better prepare boaters for advanced coastal navigation and extended cruising training.


Basic Coastal Navigation – BCN
Basic Coastal Navigation covers coastal (within sight of land) navigation, proper use of the mariner's magnetic compass, course plotting and dead reckoning, using nautical charts, and one session on electronic navigation systems. It does not cover the use of a sextant or celestial navigation. This is a 7-lesson course.



Navigating With GPS
This four-lesson course provides an introduction to the Global Positioning System. It is not intended to teach the operation of or endorse any particular GPS receiver.



Advanced Coastal Navigation – ACN
This 13- to 15- lesson course covers the same topics as BCN, but more in depth. Advanced Coastal Navigation provides additional instruction in the use of tide and current tables, extended outer waters and offshore navigation, radio instruments for use in navigation, radar, and GPS. Other topics covered include the full use and characteristics of navigational lighting.



Personal Watercraft – PWC
Personal Watercraft is a convenient and short one (1) hour for PWC riders. This course is not NASBLA approved and does not meet state mandatory education requirements. Pre-registration is required.

• First Monday of each month
  Conference Room, 201 S. Magnolia, El Cajon
  For further information call Michael Saverson, (619) 445-2804
  

Sailing Fundamentals – SF
This course is recommended for people primarily interested in sailboats and sailing. The topics are much like those in the Boating Skills and Seamanship course, but with emphasis on sailing theory and sailboat handling maneuvers. This safe boating practices course is given in a seven to eight lesson format. The Sailing Fundamentals course is the same as the "ashore" course presented by the American Sailing Association.



Boating Safely – BSC
This four lesson course stresses safe boating practices designed to be completed in eight hours. Although the course can be given in one day, the course may also be given in any combination of two hour segments. The course is for boat operators, operators of Personal Watercraft, youth, and non-traditional boaters. It may serve as a beginning course to BS&S. This course is National Association of State Boating Law Administrators (NASBLA) approved to meet mandatory safety education requirements of certain states.

• Saturday Class time, 0900-1330 Chula Vista Yacht Club
  Call to schedule, Don Johnson at (619) 425-0183

Boating Fun – Adventure on the Water
Boating Fun is designed for students in grades K–3. An activity learning book introduces basic precautions for safety in and around water and boats. A 16-page coloring book is provided.



Waypoints – A Guide to Boating Safety
Waypoints is designed for students in grades 4–6 and includes the main safety points found in the basic adult course, Boating Safely. The 16-page book contains the fundamentals of safe boating in a simplified form.