All Public Boating Classes offered by the Fort Myers Power Squadron meet state specific and National Association of State Boating Law Administrators (NASBLA) requirements for certification. Plus completion of the course is accepted by most insurance companies.

The Fort Myers Power Squadron offers the following courses to the public:

• America's Boating Course 3rd edition
• USPS Seminars

America's Boating Course 3rd edition is a course that can be taken any of three ways: in a classroom setting, on the internet, or via home study. Regardless of which method is used to take the course, a proctored exam is required. The course covers the fundamentals of safe boat handling and operation, and optionally basic piloting in one comprehensive classroom course. During the course, you will learn the basics of what you need to safely and comfortably go on the water with your boat. The comprehensive course includes lessons on boat types, family boating basics, federal boating law, state boating law, boat safety equipment, safe boating, fueling, docking, rules of the road, navigation aids, regulations, adverse conditions, marine VHF radio, knots, trailering and introductory piloting. This course covers local regulations. For more information on America's Boating Course, visit America's Boating Course 3rd edition on the USPS web site.

All courses are taught by qualified and experienced instructors as a civic service. The Power Squadron® does not charge for instruction. The only costs are for the materials and overhead costs.

USPS Seminars include GPS, Chart Reading, Anchoring, Basic Coastal Navigation, Hurricanes and Boats, Onboard Weather Forecasting, and other seminars developed by USPS. The Seminars are taught during one 2 hour session.

All classes are held at our clubhouse. You must attend all sessions to get credit for the course® See calendar for class schedules.

The cost of the course is $ 40.00 for a single participant and $ 60.00 for a couple (husband / wife/ etc.) sharing the course manual and other materials. To register for an upcoming class, fill out a copy of our registration form for each person and mail to: Fort Myers Power Squadron, P. O. Box 632, Fort Myers, FL 33902 with a check to cover the cost of the materials. (You must have Adobe Reader installed on your machine to view the form.) Advance registrations are not required. No student is turned away.

For a map to the clubhouse

e-mail FMPS

or to talk to our Squadron Education Officer, call (239) 785-0505.