Hands-On/On-the-Water Training

1. Hands-On/On-the-Water Training IS THERE A NEW WAVE COMING? National Boating Safety Advisory Council Orlando, FL January 14, 2011

2. Hands-On/On-the-Water Training: • BACKGROUND/CURRENT STATE: • Boating Public Lack Formalized Boat Handling Skills • No nationally recognized standard for on-water boat training • USCG Statistics indicate that only 14% of boat deaths occurred on boats where the operator had received boating safety instruction • Capacity to Deliver?

3. The Education Involved in Boating Accidents

4. NASBLA Survey of Members – On-the-Water Training • 16 States definitively responded that either they had courses or other organizations conducted programs with on-the-water components in their state • 533 courses were identified in the NASBLA survey • 44 plus an additional 489 from the State of California • List included youth courses, sailing courses, and paddling courses

5. Capacity to Deliver • How are all operators going to be reached? • Over 12.7 million registered boats in 2009. • Using one organization as an example: U.S. Power Squadrons • To date - approximately 500 USPS instructors have been certified for on-water teaching. • In 2009 – only 24 USPS instructors had completed the US Sailing training that certified them in the On-Water program.

6. Nationally Recognized Standards for Power Boating Safety Courses Classroom, Internet, Distance On-the-Water • NASBLA approval • Standard 1 through 7 and 9, with 8 being state specific • NASBLA approval is NOT the same as NASBLA Seal of Safe Boating Practices! • NO nationally recognized standards exist

7. What Is The NASBLA Seal of Safe Boating Practices? • The NASBLA Seal of Safe Boating Practices is not intended for training courses. • The purpose of the NASBLA Seal of Safe Boating Practices is to encourage producers of boating media to adhere to the highest standards in quality boating safety information. • PSAs, Brochures, DVDs, CD-ROMs

8. On-the-Water/Hands-On Training WAYPOINTS to DESIRED STATE: • US Sailing initiated on-water Power boat handling that serves as the genesis today ... For more than 20 years “On-the-Water” powerboat training has been a part of US SAILING's educational offerings, initially incorporated into courses used to train sailing instructors and later developed into separate powerboat-handling courses . • Need formalization of “Best Practices for On-Water Education Standards”, in keeping with Nat’l RBS Strategic Plan Objective 3.

9. GRANTSPractical “On-the-Water” Course • The Boating Safety Division solicited grantees to carry out a program to encourage and develop a small boat practical “On-the-Water” course curriculum. • Current: • The National Safe Boating Council - “Close Quarters Boat Handling” Course. • USPS - Practical On-the-Water Training Course. • American Red Cross – “Small Craft” Course. • US Sailing - Expanded On-the-Water Boater Safety Training Through Drivers Education for Boaters. • Follow-up: • CEERI, Inc. - “Implement Dealer Standardized On-Water Training Program”

10. “Close Quarter Boat Control” Course • Teaches maneuvering in tight spaces, i.e. along docks/slips etc. • There have been several pilot courses taught with great success and positive feedback. • NSBC is making corrections from feedback they have received.

11. “Practical On-the-Water Training” Course. • Everything a recreational boater needs - developed for vessels 16 to 26 ft in length. • Sought help from USCG Boating Safety Division’s Program Operations Branch for On-the-Water standards. • Community wide think tank helped establish curriculum to be taught. • Created a companion video. • Ready to conduct final round of beta testing.

12. “Blended Learning for Small Craft Safety” Course. • St. Louis Chapter is developing a Basic Water-Rescue and Small Craft Safety (BWRSCS) Web-Based Blended Learning Educational Program Course. • What you need to practice will be web-based. • At a later date, individuals will complete the on-water skills/demonstration portion for the final certification process in person.

13. Expand On-the-Water Boater Safety Training Through “Drivers Ed for Boaters” Course. • Grow the footprint of their existing NASBLA –approved Safe Powerboat course. • Certify extensive network of instructors/waterfront training centers to offer this On-the-Water course.

14. GRANT STAGE: Implementation • Center for Environmental Education and Research (CEERI), Inc. • Previous Grant developed On-the-Water component offered at the dealership. • Subsequent Grant to “implement” program. • Currently eight states have ongoing training, 32 certified dealerships, 3 trade associations, 3 boat rental locations. In addition, 2 additional train-the-trainer courses were conducted. A total of 53 instructors are trained to date.

15. On-the-Water/Hands-On Training Courses • PROPOSED NEXT STEPS: • USCG to facilitate a meeting/symposium to bring Implementing Partners together to develop ‘best practices” for agreement and establish minimum nationally accepted training standards. • Continue to monitor trends and numbers of organizations who offer on-the-water training. • NASBLA will measure effectiveness of on-the-water courses (survey conducted via USCG Grant).