Start learning about boats with this quick, affordable beginner course

 Here's what you get in SSNT's beginner course:

In Planning the Boat Trip, you will learn how to describe boats and the names of the main parts of a boat. You will find out the essential equipment that must be on board a boat for a safe trip. You will find out the purpose of some navigation equipment commonly carried on pleasure craft. You will find out the distress signals and life-saving equipment used on boats and how to use the boat's radio to make a distress call.

In checking the machinery, you are introduced to outboard engines and their main components and features. You will find out how to check inboard engines prior to a voyage. You find out the function of and the need to check the boat's batteries. You also find out how to check running machinery.

In Identifying lights, shapes and sounds, you find out the important visual signals used at sea that affect small boats. You are introduced to the navigation lights used by small boats and how to identify large ships by lights at night. You find out the sound signals used by boats in port and at sea.

In avoiding collisions, you find out how to describe the direction of objects relative to the boat they are on. You are introduced to some key terms used in the International Regulations for the Prevention of Collisions at Sea. You find out how to determine if risk of collision exists. You find out how to determine which vessel should take action if risk of collision exists. And you find out how to take action to avoid collision when risk of collision exists.

In mooring the boat and rope work, you are introduced to the basics of rope commonly used on boats. You also learn useful knots, bends, hitches and splices and how to use ropes safely. You learn the mooring equipment on boats and docks and how to use them safely when mooring on a dock or to a buoy.

In anchoring the boat, you find out how to select a position to anchor a boat and how to anchor a boat. You are introduced to some key components of anchoring equipment carried on boats. You find out how to stow anchoring equipment on the boat.

In using charts and publications, you find out how nautical charts assist with navigation. You are introduced to some of the key symbols and abbreviations used on nautical charts. You are introduced to the compass rose and the magnetic compass. And you are introduced to the latitude and longitude scales.

In identifying buoyage, you find out about the buoyage system used on the T&T coasts. You find out how to identify buoys that mark dangers and the path to safety by day or night. You will be able to identify channel marker, isolated danger and cardinal marker buoys.

In using tide and current information, you are introduced to the basics of tide and current. You will find out where to find information about tides and currents and how to use tide tables to find the time of high and low tides. You find out how to use current prediction information and what effect current from various directions has on the boat.

In navigating with GPS, you are introduced to latitude and longitude, position lines in navigation and satellite navigation. You find out some of the features of GPS that assist boats to navigate safely from one waypoint to another.

In interpreting weather forecasts, you will find out how to interpret the language used in weather forecasts. You are introduced to some key terms used in weather forecasts and bulletins. You find out how hurricanes move across the Caribbean. And you find out sources of weather information.

In boat handling theory, you find out the basic rules of motion as they apply to small boats, as well as the external forces that act on boats. You are introduced to boat handling equipment and the mechanics of how a rudder and propeller interact to turn a boat. You find out the theory of steering a boat in a current and are introduced to several berthing and unberthing scenarios. You find out the basic theory of manoeuvring a boat to recover a person in the water.