Some dumb questions

[Bishop169]

I'm looking to buy my first boat.. I have a good grasp on what I want and what I want to do with it.

What I don’t know is I hear allot about maritime law and the rules of the ocean. Can anyone point me to a website or something where I can learn more about this?

I don’t want my switch from surf casting to boating to be a deadly one



Thank you again for any help you can offer

[outnumbered]

Boat US web site has an online course and you could do a search on boating courses online I think the Caoast Guard has one also. Taking a local course offered by the CG auxillary is worth every minute as you get to ask questions and hear real experiances.

The first rule I learned after hitting the water was that many people don't know or care about the rules, so always be wary when operating close to others. However this small minority tends to give the boating world a bad name as most people are knowledgable about the rules and try to follow them.

Good Luck

[Bishop169]

Thanks I will check them out

I dont know about everyone but I dont just want to get a boat and dump it in the water and play bumper boats with others....

I would hate to send "most" of my fishing buddies to a watery grave

[bobfishgerald]

I second the recommedation on the CG auxillary class. This is my first season on a boat and I feel much more safe and under control because of what I learned in class.

[MakoMike]

Both the C.G. Auxilliary and the Power Squadron off basic boating classes, sign upfor one or the other and you'll learn most of what you need to know.