The Coos Bay Power Squadron, the local unit of the U.S. Power Squadron, will begin its 49th-annual boating course on Monday, March 3.

“The Power Squadron is a nationwide organization that teaches safe boating habits to others,” said Arthur Schuldt, acting commander of the Coos Bay branch.

Boaters who are looking to obtain their Oregon Boaters Education Card will be required to complete 16 hours of classroom instruction, which will be provided in two-hour sessions on Mondays and Thursdays at 7 p.m. in the Squadron building at the Charleston Boat Basin.  

Each session will be taught by a certified Power Squadron instructor through a series of presentations as well as the use of individual handbooks.

Overall, the Coos Bay course exceeds the requirements for the Oregon Boaters Card, Schuldt explained.

One useful addition to the course this year is the explanation of the conversions from compass directions to true directions using the new electronic chart plotters. Shipboard, or compass, navigation is based on the magnetic North Pole, while map navigation uses the North Pole as north, which provides the “true” directions — meaning based on true north. The in and outs of these conversions will be properly covered in the course.

Once the 16-hour requirement is met, participants must take and pass the 85 question multiple-choice exam to earn their boaters’ cards.  

The mandatory boater education requirement, which has been law since 1999, states that all boaters between the ages of 16 and 70 are required to have their Oregon boater education card on board while operating a vessel.

 As of Jan. 1, 2009, all recreational boaters will be required to have a Boater Education Card.

There also are special requirements for youth operators. In order to operate a craft, a boater must be 12 years of age or older. Youths 12 to 15 must have a boaters card to operate boats with engines of 10 horsepower and less alone. When operating boats greater than 10 horsepower, youths must have a boaters card and must be supervised by a card-holding adult age 16 or older.

The necessity of this legislation is due to the concern of increasing safety on Oregon waterways. U.S. Coast Guard statistics show that an educated boater is five times less likely to be involved in a boating accident, according to the Oregon State Marine Board. Requiring all powerboat operators to learn the basics of safe boating should lead to a reduction in boating accidents, injuries, deaths and property damage the Marine Board Web site said.

Only boaters operating crafts more than 10 horsepower are required to maintain an Oregon boaters card. Those operating boats less than 10 horsepower are not.

“Now, most personal watercrafts are over 10 horsepower anyway,” said Schuldt. “That includes Jet Skis.”

Those interested in taking the Coos Bay Power Squadron boating course are welcome to attend the March 3, meeting. The cost of the course is $30 per person. For more information, those interested can call 266-8178 or 756-4408.