Boat education now bilingual

A 2017 study published by the National Marine Manufacturers Association (NMMA), Recreational Boating & Fishing Foundation (RBFF), and Discover Boating revealed that Hispanic boaters in the USA represent a fast-growing, emerging market of first-time boat buyers.

To meet this growth and expand on its mission to provide education to responsible boaters, the United States Power Squadrons have released its comprehensive, all-encompassing America’s Boating Course in Spanish.

The course has helped thousands of boaters across the United States achieve state boating licensure and seeks to ensure that new boaters are well-prepared and practicing safe standards on the water. Now the Course provides Spanish-speaking boaters with education on a variety of boating and boat handling topics.

Through the online format, students will learn using interactive videos and graphics for a fun, innovative learning experience. The printed full-color, 288-page guidebook serves as an important supplement to the online course that offers expansive imaging and broad coverage of all topics that boaters will be able to keep with them on their vessels for reference.

“America’s Boating Club tries to adapt to an ever-changing, growing boating community,” said Gary Cheney, chief commander, United States Power Squadrons. “As soon as we learned of the recent NMMA study, we knew that we wanted to try to meet the needs of Spanish-speaking boaters.

“America’s Boating Club, with the help of the Coast Guard, wants to extend necessary boating knowledge to as many people as possible and this is one step towards that overall goal. If we can get new boaters excited about spreading their knowledge and joining their local Squadrons, this is a bonus for us.”

The Course can be accessed online through the America’s Boating Club website. Those interested in taking the course don’t need to be members. With a cost of $34.95 in most states, America’s Boating Course includes an online exam that assesses a thorough understanding of covered material before course completion – proof of education that is a pre-requisite to some state operating permits.

More information… click here.