America's Boating Education

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Time to earn the Seamanship grade (S) by taking the 7-week Boat Handling Course.

Learn how to handle your boat in a variety of situations and become the skipper you want to be. Gain confidence in docking, underway, anchoring and other seamanship skills.

This course is the best introduction or review of boating being offered. Great family course. It covers the basic boating terms, rules of the road, the Maritime laws you need to know and fundamentals of boating. 

The book is in both E-Book and hard copy format. 

Our well anticipated Seamanship Class is about to start, taught by Lt/C Education Officer, Darrell Walker. It is essential that you register so that we can order and receive class materials on time before the class starts on March 19Th.

Please help us with registration by clicking on the link below to register for the Seamanship Class by filling out the form that we created for this class.

We are very excited to welcome you to this new and exciting education seminar.

Darrell and I would like to thank you very much for your willingness to participate.

Please click on the link below to register.

https://form.jotform.com/260636163945058

America's Boating Course - (ABC III)

Dates: March 19, 26, April 2, 9,16, 23

7 weeks program Time: 06:00pm – 8:00pm Where: 3106 Kiwanis Lane, Lake Charles, LA  (Live Instruction) Materials: ABC Boating Course Book Cost:

Printed version: $65.00 - $55.00 E-Book Instructor: Darrell Walker, AP

BOAT HANDLING COVER THESE TOPICS

Week 1

Rules of the Road

Dates: Thursday, March 19
Time: 06:00pm – 8:00pm
Location: 3106 Kiwanis Lane, Lake Charles, LA  (Live Instruction)
Instructor: Education Officer, PC Darrell L. Walker, AP

Week 2

Confidence in docking and undocking

Dates: Thursday, March 26
Time: 06:00pm – 8:00pm
Location: 3106 Kiwanis Lane, Lake Charles, LA  (Live Instruction)

Instructor: Education Officer, PC Darrell L. Walker, AP

Week 3

Boating with confidence

Dates: Thursday, April 2
Time: 06:00pm – 8:00pm
Location: 3106 Kiwanis Lane, Lake Charles, LA  (Live Instruction)
Instructor: Education Officer, PC Darrell L. Walker, AP

Week 4

Anchoring with assurance

Dates: Thursday, April 9
Time: 06:00pm – 8:00pm
Location: 3106 Kiwanis Lane, Lake Charles, LA  (Live Instruction)
Instructor: TBA

Week 5

Emergencies onboard

Dates: Thursday, April 16
Time: 06:00pm – 8:00pm
Location: 3106 Kiwanis Lane, Lake Charles, LA  (Live Instruction)
Instructor: Education Officer, PC Darrell L. Walker, AP

Week 6

Knots and Line Handling

Dates: Thursday, April 23
Time: 06:00pm – 8:00pm
Location: 3106 Kiwanis Lane, Lake Charles, LA  (Live Instruction)
Instructor: Education Officer, PC Darrell L. Walker, AP

Week 7

Review and Test

Dates: Thursday, April 30
Time: 06:00pm – 8:00pm
Location: 3106 Kiwanis Lane, Lake Charles, LA  (Live Instruction)
Instructor: Education Officer, PC Darrell L. Walker, AP

A test will be required to complete that will be graded by National Headquarters.

If your birthday is after July 01, 1972, a Boating Safety Course Card is required to legally operate a recreation vessel in Maritime waters. America's Boating Clubs offers the America's Boating Course III to fill that requirement. The course is 8 hours of instruction and a test. Passing the test with an 80% or better gets you the Boating Safety Card. Experienced instructors will teach this course.

Course Description: The basic boating knowledge topics include:

• Introduction to Boating: types of boats - power, sail, outboards, paddle boats, and houseboats. Also, different uses of boats, various power boating engines, jet drives, and family boating basics.
• Boating Law: boat registration, boating regulation, hull identification number, required boat safety equipment, operating safely and reporting accident, protecting the marine environment, Federal boat law, state boating law, personal watercraft requirements.
• Boat Safety Equipment: personal flotation devices (life jackets), fire extinguishers, sound-producing devices, visual distress signals, dock lines and rope, first aid kit, anchors and anchor lines, and other boating safety equipment.
• Navigation: the U.S. Aids to Navigation system - types of buoys and beacons, navigation rules (sometimes referred to as right-of-way rules), avoiding collisions, sound signals, PWC "tunnel vision."
• Boating Problems: hypothermia, boating accidents and rescues, man overboard recovery, capsizing, running aground, river hazards, strainers: emergency radio calls, engine problems, equipment failures, carbon monoxide (CO), other boating and PWC problems.
• Trailering, Storing and Protecting Your Boat: types of trailers, trailer brakes, lights, hitches, tires, and bearings, loading, balancing, and towing (and backing) a trailer, boat launching and retrieving, boat storage and theft protection, launching, retrieving and storing a PWC.
• Hunting and Fishing, Water-Skiing and River Boating: carrying hunting gear and weapons in a boat, fishing from a boat, water-skiing safety guidelines and hand signals, water-skiing with a PWC, navigating rivers, and other boating tips.

The basic boating knowledge class will be announced, and details will be provided soon.

IMPORTANT: This course requires registration so books and materials can be provided before the first night of class. RSVP by March 10, 2026, by texting Darrell Walker at 337-802-8529.