Whaler Central - Boston Whaler Boat Information and Photos

Posted by Dauntless17LI on 01/31/21 - 7:15 AM

Good morning all - new 170 Dauntless owner here that will primarily be run by my kids. I have always used the local USCG Power Squadron to get there safety certificates that satisfy the NYS age 10 requirements for boat operation. I liked that course and the squadron members were great. Now my youngest is turning 10, and there is a new online 3 hour course certified by NYS (versus the two 4 hour sittings now done virtually due to COVID by the USCGPS). Has anyone taken the 3 hour NYS course and was it effective? As much as my daughter has been boating her whole life and probably knows enough now to pass the test, I want her to learn more, not just the quickest way to her certificate. Any thoughts appreciated. Thanks!

Posted by wrangler on 02/02/21 - 3:35 AM

The U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary is part of the U.S. Coast Guard and is a semi military uniformed service.

The U.S. Power Squadron is Not the same. They are civilian boaters with vast boating knowledge.

So there is No USCGPS. They are 2 different organizations.

As a USCG, USCG Aux and a USPS instructor since 1998, our students Always want the Live (or virtual now) course.

You can ask people questions, You cannot a computer the same way. Instructors provide a "local" knowledge background and often add "sea stories" to relate to the subject better. They can answer questions about a specific area, because they boat there as well.
A computer is programed to provide the info and that's it. Students who took the computer course always wanted more info and took the live course because the computer did not satisfy them.