Public Courses Roadmap

We are out of inventory for Chart Smart.  It will not be reprinted.  Here’s the roadmap for courses and some recommended alternatives.

Currently our Basic Boating Courses include: The Squadron Boating Course, Boat Smart, and America’s Boating Course.  The latter two do not include any basic piloting and navigation information.  That information had been provided by the optional Chart Smart program.  The Squadron Boating Course covers the full content.

Boat Smart will be out of inventory by approximately April 2007.  It will not be reprinted.  At that time, your needs will be fulfilled by using The Squadron Boating Course book.  As most of you are aware, the same content of Boat Smart is covered in The Squadron Boating Course, but in a slightly different order. A new syllabus and PowerPoint presentation are being prepared so that you can more easily use The Squadron Boating Course book in an 8-hour format akin to Boat Smart.

In the meantime, we recommend that those who have been offering Boat Smart followed by Chart Smart immediately transition to The Squadron Boating Course book.  The Chart Smart material was almost a direct lift from The Squadron Boating Course book, so little adjustment is required other than sequencing the topics you present. 

Why are we doing this?

1. First of all, it is very expensive to prepare, certify, and stock different products covering the same material, so we are reducing the number of books and the associated complexity.
2. Second, we have a stock of The Squadron Boating Course books that are current, quality material, and provide the required material in an excellent format.  A supplement has been prepared for additional hot topics and is currently being reviewed by NASBLA to extend the certification for The Squadron Boating Course.
3. The larger The Squadron Boating Course book contains much more material than the Chart Smart book.  It also includes the Maptech CD and an appendix on the use of digital charting, and a number of other useful appendices.  Even in an 8-hour format, students will see that there is more than the basic material being instructed.  They will get to take the books home and use them for reference. It is a matter of perceived value and The Squadron Boating Course book ranks high.
4. Lastly, our next The Squadron Boating Course currently under development will be one book containing the entire content currently within Boat Smart and Chart Smart in two distinct parts lending itself to either an 8-hour format or 12-hour format. The current transition sets the stage for this new format.  These new books will be available in 2008. You can expect the same content in a somewhat more graphical format.

An explanatory roadmap is being packed with each order of boating course materials delivered, but we felt it was essential to get the information out.  We ask you to convey this information to your course chairs, members, and squadron leadership.