Virginia Gun Owners Forum - VGOF

by **Jakeiscrazy** » Fri, 08 Jul 2011 01:05:19

So I just finished my Boater's Safety Course. Now I can say with confidence that it is almost completely useless and already mostly forgotten. I chose to take it, for free, online thru Boat US. The course overall took about 6 hours. It has 6 chapters each with a quiz at the end of each chapter. You most score %90 percent or better on all of the quizzes.

The course was full of stuff the average recreational boater will never use. Because it's so full of this useless info the important stuff will be lost in the mix. But to make it worse I just want to drive a JetSki! Seriously there was one sub chapter on jetskis and it was full of things that most people already know! So it was pretty much a waste of time and would be for most boaters but it possibly saved me $100 fine. This course has hardly any "life saving" potential because most people will forget most of it. Alright that's all off my soap box now. :soapzip:

PS I know it isn't gun related but just putting it out there.

by **jdonovan** » Fri, 08 Jul 2011 06:53:01

its all about compliance, not teaching anything.

by **allingeneral** » Fri, 08 Jul 2011 07:09:08

I took that same course about 6 months ago, and I wouldn't say it was a complete waste of time - even though I already knew most of the material.

One thing I'll say about jet skis...a lady was killed near my local marina over the July 4th weekend because of a guy on a jet ski cutting off a small jon boat. The jon boat had to come to an abrupt stop to avoid a collision, and another much larger boat behind them ran over them.

Now, granted - the guy in the astern boat should have been paying more attention, but it was all precipitated by a jet ski being where he shouldn't have been - zipping by in front of a boat.

The older couple (in their 60's) was on vacation from West Virginia. The guy has pretty severe head injuries, and his wife was pronounced dead at the scene.

Be careful out there.

by **ProShooter** » Fri, 08 Jul 2011 07:22:50

Jakeiscrazy wrote: Now I can say with confidence that it is almost completely useless and already mostly forgotten.

Yep, and that's exactly what I tell people will happen when they take an online gun safety class to apply for a CHP.

Scary, ain't it?

by **allingeneral** » Fri, 08 Jul 2011 07:46:36

ProShooter wrote:
Jakeiscrazy wrote: Now I can say with confidence that it is almost completely useless and already mostly forgotten.

Yep, and that's exactly what I tell people will happen when they take an online gun safety class to apply for a CHP.

Scary, ain't it?

Really, any of these online safety courses should be followed up with practical training of some sort - specifically hands-on practice with someone who already knows the material. Boating - shooting - driving - all require some physical practice for proficiency and a real understanding of the rules and requirements.

by **zephyp** » Fri, 08 Jul 2011 07:47:30

ProShooter wrote:
Jakeiscrazy wrote: Now I can say with confidence that it is almost completely useless and already mostly forgotten.

Yep, and that's exactly what I tell people will happen when they take an online gun safety class to apply for a CHP.

Scary, ain't it?

But its the law Jim and we are all supposed to be law abiding citizens...that my scholarly friend is scary...

by **zephyp** » Fri, 08 Jul 2011 07:49:24

allingeneral wrote:Really, any of these online safety courses should be followed up with practical training of some sort - specifically hands-on practice with someone who already knows the material. Boating - shooting - driving - all require some physical practice for proficiency and a real understanding of the rules and requirements.

Hey, we could double up with the hands on experience...jet skis and shooting...turn some yahoo loose on a jet ski buzzing around where you're trying to fish and ya got an instant target... :whistle:

by **allingeneral** » Fri, 08 Jul 2011 07:56:02

I don't really mind them buzzing around when I'm fishing...it's when I' have 5 tons of fiberglass cruising along at 20 or 25 knots that I don't much care for them zipping around in front of me.

Do you know how hard it is to hold sights steady while bouncing along at 25 knots? :roll:

by **zephyp** » Fri, 08 Jul 2011 08:10:44

That would be difficult to hold on something cruising that fast but you could get a great laugh watching their bright red trunks turning brown...

The reason I pick on this with fishing is an incident a few years ago while fishing on a private beach at the Nice bridge. The beach is for fishermen and there were 2 jet skiers buzzing right over where we were fishing...around and around they went right over my spot. I found out after heaving my line back out to where they were jetting around that the 2 people next to me were their parents. Once they saw I was checking my bait and recasting every 2 minutes they got pretty angry. I won the short argument...twits...I almost caught one... :whistle:

by **gregj** » Fri, 08 Jul 2011 09:19:57

I took the same test this past winter, I feel like I did pick up a few things from it, but it was pretty much a waste of time - basically just filling someone's checkbox.

However, I do think my two sons will learn a few things from it. They are 21 and 17, and I told them they cant take the boat out by themselves until they both pass the test. :whistle:

by **dorminWS** » Fri, 08 Jul 2011 10:29:15

If you want a worthwhile course, find a US Power Squadron somewhere and take theirs.

by **justsumstuff** » Fri, 08 Jul 2011 16:03:55

I could say the same thing about the NRA hunter safety class that gave me my "proof of safety instruction".
If your "boys" are in VA waters, I believe they must have the card this year or get a fine.
I see the boat safety & gun safety very similar, you get out of it what you put into it. I knew very little about boats so my daughter & I attended the VA boaters class. I took a local class & since we are inland, the instruction was geared to the James above the fall line.
My husband knows about boats, but he had to take it and he learned something new.

The positive spin: We made a "family affair" to be safe on the water. (Just like shooting)

by **Kreutz** » Fri, 08 Jul 2011 17:19:31

ProShooter wrote:
Jakeiscrazy wrote: Now I can say with confidence that it is almost completely useless and already mostly forgotten.

Yep, and that's exactly what I tell people will happen when they take an online gun safety class to apply for a CHP.

Scary, ain't it?

I found my online course informative and "good enough" for the CHP. Plenty of time for the range since it took 43 days to get to me anyway.

by **mrjam2jab** » Sat, 09 Jul 2011 13:31:46

Jakeiscrazy wrote:So I just finished my Boater's Safety Course. Now I can say with confidence that it is almost completely useless and already mostly forgotten. I chose to take it, for free, online thru Boat US. The course overall took about 6 hours. It has 6 chapters each with a quiz at the end of each chapter. You most score %90 percent or better on all of the quizzes.

The course was full of stuff the average recreational boater will never use. Because it's so full of this useless info the important stuff will be lost in the mix. But to make it worse I just want to drive a JetSki! Seriously there was one sub chapter on jetskis and it was full of things that most people already know! So it was pretty much a waste of time and would be for most boaters but it possibly saved me $100 fine. This course has hardly any "life saving" potential because most people will forget most of it. Alright that's all off my soap box now.

PS I know it isn't gun related but just putting it out there.

I took the same course back in 1994. At the time I don't think it was required in PA, and NJ only required it for PWC. Now NJ requires for any water craft, not sure about PA. I took it only because I wanted it, not that I had any use for it. I did learn quite a bit as I had no boating history at all...and still don't so i'm sure I've forgotten most of it.

ProShooter wrote:
Jakeiscrazy wrote: Now I can say with confidence that it is almost completely useless and already mostly forgotten.

Yep, and that's exactly what I tell people will happen when they take an online gun safety class to apply for a CHP.

Scary, ain't it?

Not knocking you...Honestly, could say that exact same thing about in-class training. Unless it's info that a person uses frequently, it's not going to be remembered. I took the NRA Basic in 2009 and UT course in 2010...I only remember bits and pieces of each...and that's not from not paying attention.

by **Diomed** » Sun, 10 Jul 2011 00:18:23

Meh. Just more rent-seeking, like pretty much everything else government requires.

by **allingeneral** » Sun, 10 Jul 2011 10:19:17

Here's the current Virginia requirement for the boater safety course. Next July 1st, the requirement age will increase, until in 2016, all boaters and PWC operators will require it.

In 2007, the Virginia General Assembly enacted a law to establish a boating safety education compliance requirement. This requirement will be phased in over the next several years and by 2016, all operators of PWCs (Personal Watercraft such as jet skis, Sea Doos, Wave Runners) and operators of Motorboats with a 10 hp or greater motor, will be required to have a boating safety education course completion card on board when operating a PWC or Motorboat.

As of July 1, 2011, all PWC operators 50 and younger must take a boating safety course and Boat operators ages 20 and younger need to take a boating safety course.

PWC Age Restriction: No person under the age of 14 may operate a PWC. Those operators 14 and 15 MUST show proof of completing an approved and accepted boating safety course either in a classroom or online. The challenge exam or other provisions of the Education Compliance Requirement do not meet the requirements of the age restriction law.

http://www.dgif.virginia.gov/boating/ed ... quirement/