"Ed" wrote in message ...
I would make one additional suggestion....

Know the maritime law for the area you are in......

I have been boating in IL for 20 years and now in FL for 20 years and I
come across MANY officers who do not know the USCG rules of the road or
common marine etiquite. The biggest error I have seen is the difference
in NO WAKE IDLE SPEED and SLOW SPEED MINIMUM WAKE. I have a 48 ft
sport fish and during manatee season, the ICWW is SLOW SPEED MINIMUM
WAKE. A 48' Boat can go almost 2x the speed of a smaller boat and meet
the legal definition of SLOW SPEED. The way it was expained to me by
USCG officals was that a vessel can go as fast as they want, as long as
the boat does not "begin to go on a plane" Which means the bow does not
begin to rise.

Most also have no clue as to signalling rules for passing. I have hit
the horn before expecting a response and they just look at me funny...

Have fun and stay safe.

I agree that most people don't know anything about the USCG rules, which is
exactly why I attended the USCG "Basic Skills and Seamanship" course. It
covers all of the points that you made, and I certainly know a lot more
about boating than I did before taking the course. Thank you for your input.
--
-= swatcop =-

"If it wasn't for stupid people I'd be unemployed."