When I was looking to buy my first boat I started coming
to this newsgroup and decided to take a boating safety
course. I took, and passed with flying colors, the local
Coast Gurard Power Squardon course. (Or some such
name, don't have the cert handy.)

And yes, it was very useful and the people teaching it are
not to blame for anything that happened to me and I'd
certainly reccomend it.

But there are a few things that I wish they'd covered or
stressed more. I offer these now and ask others to
add to the list in hopes it will help someone else.

The Power Squadron and Coast Guard Auxiliary courses are, indeed, useful.
They can make a novice aware of some important safety concepts. Many of the
courses are based on a quick skim through Chapmans, and I have always felt that
if a newbie had the self discipline to sit and read Chapman's carefully,
(skipping
on those few parts, such as sail handling, that might not apply to a particular
situation), he or she would probably know
as much or more than the typical mass-pro graduate of an entry level boating
course.

If asked, I would recommend a new boater take the course in addition to
whatever else that boater might be doing to learn the required skills.

Of course you passed with flying colors.
Undoubtedly, you studied hard and mastered the material.

Were there many in your course who completed all the assignments but then
failed to pass?

The downside of some of this instruction is that there is no requirement that
the instructors have any amount of practical boating experience. One could
start with
an entry level course, move on to study advanced charting, coastal navigation,
and other topics, and ultimately become an instructor. All without documenting
any sea time, or possibly without ever setting foot on a boat. Some people join
these organizations for the companionship and organized social events.

Your observation about the way weather was presented is symptomatic of a case
where the almost blind attempt to help the absolutely blind. Some of the almost
blind have never been across the street and couldn't describe anything there
from a first person perspective, but they can read a map that tells everybody
where the other side of the street should, theoretically, be.

When the instructors talk about weather,
the discussion needs to go beyond how many knots wind speed is where on the
Beaufort scale. It has to go beyond, "don't go out if the weather is
questionable or if the short term forecast is bad." It should cover topics
such as how to respond if you
do find yourself, unexpectedly, in a pocket of fog. The instruction should
include recommended operating adjustments to adapt to heavy weather. An
instructor with practical boating experience can share some insight into those
issues. Some of the instructors have little or no boating experience, and the
class surely suffers as a result.

Probably not the fault of the Power Squadron of the USCG Aux entirely, though.
Likely there's a shortage of experienced boaters willing to volunteer to teach
these classes.