The US Coast Guard Auxiliary also teaches navigation courses. Locally they are night courses in a classroom so you get all the instructor interaction you need. The cost is in the $30-$40 range. Good for you to take the course. Now buy a chartkit for your boat. A chartkit book is much easier to use that full navigation charts simply because it is much more compact. Personally I can't imagine going out on the water without the ability to read charts and navigate. Of course the college I went to college had marine navigation as a required course series. It is also useful to learn how to use your radar as a navigation aid since radar will give you both bearings and ranges to things. So a radar bearing on a buoy will tell you where you are.
Excellent information Todd the US Coast Guard Auxiliary has great courses as well. We do have the chartkit and you are right it helps a lot instead of all the individual charts. Thanks for watching.
I am Basic Keelboat (101), Basic Coastal Cruising (103), and Bateboat Chartering (104) certified and none of them make me a competent sailor or ensure I know how to sail. Knowing how to navigate on paper charts is essential to plot a course accurately but I doubt taking this course and gaining this certification will ensure my competency .
The US Coast Guard Auxiliary also teaches navigation courses. Locally they are night courses in a classroom so you get all the instructor interaction you need. The cost is in the $30-$40 range. Good for you to take the course. Now buy a chartkit for your boat. A chartkit book is much easier to use that full navigation charts simply because it is much more compact.
Personally I can't imagine going out on the water without the ability to read charts and navigate. Of course the college I went to college had marine navigation as a required course series. It is also useful to learn how to use your radar as a navigation aid since radar will give you both bearings and ranges to things. So a radar bearing on a buoy will tell you where you are.
Excellent information Todd the US Coast Guard Auxiliary has great courses as well. We do have the chartkit and you are right it helps a lot instead of all the individual charts. Thanks for watching.
I am Basic Keelboat (101), Basic Coastal Cruising (103), and Bateboat Chartering (104) certified and none of them make me a competent sailor or ensure I know how to sail.
Knowing how to navigate on paper charts is essential to plot a course accurately but I doubt taking this course and gaining this certification will ensure my competency .
I agree Vincent it all comes together when you can apply the book knowledge with actual experience.
It’s not a map. It is a CHART
You are correct I stand corrected.