A boaters’ course will be offered Saturday, March 5, and Saturday, March 12, at DeTour Public School from 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. each day.

Preregistration and course material is available by calling Bob Jones at (906) 297-5019 or Davey Crockett at (906) 484-3512. Workbooks cost $30.

Topics for “America’s Boating Course” include an introduction to boating, different types and uses of boats, outboard, stern-drive, and inboard engines, and jet drives. Information will be given on safe boat handling, including bow riding, entering, loading, and trimming a boat, fueling portable and permanent tanks, steering with tiller and wheel, docking and mooring, knots, and using charts. The U.S. Aids to Navigation System, types of buoys and beacons, and navigation rules will be covered. Boating laws, personal safety equipment, trailering a boat, boating problems, hunting and fishing, waterskiing, and river boating will also be discussed.

Many insurance companies offer discounts on boat insurance to those who complete this course.

The eight-lesson, eight-hour course is designed for boaters, youth, operators of personal watercraft, and non-traditional boaters like duck hunterst, kayakers, and canoeist.

Individuals who successfully complete the course and exam are awarded certificates and cards.

The course is sponsored by the Coast Guard Auxiliary.