Sea Scouting

Sea Scouting is a co-education program offered to young adults between the ages of 14 and 21. It's a chance to learn and have fun at the same time. Sea Scouts learn to sail, to row, and to keep a boat in shape. Scouts cruise local waters or go sailing on long cruises far from home. They can learn to Scuba dive and take care of boats. They'll be active in camping, social events, tours, regattas, excursions, and seamanship contests. Scouts also have a chance to develop maritime skills that can lead to careers later on.

Purposes of Sea Scouting

Sea Scouting is organized to promote better citizenship and to improve members' boating skills and knowledge through instruction and practice in water safety, boating skills, outdoor, social, and service experiences, and knowledge of our maritime heritage.

Sailing and Cruising

Most Sea Scouting units, called ships, have sailboats or power vessels for learning to sail and cruise. During the boating seasons, every member has a change to try his hand at the tiller, to trim the sails, and all members are taught safe and proper methods of handling boats. Sea Scouts also learn the meaning of buoys and lights, how to take advantage of wind and tide, and how to drop anchor or approach a dock. Day, weekend, and long cruises are held for all ship members.

Maintenance and Repair

A boat owner takes pride in the condition of his boat. Each spring he sands, scrapes, caulks, and paints until it is trim and shipshape. Sea Scout vessels are no exception. A significant part of our Sea Scouting program is teaching and learning methods of boat maintenance. Most ships center at least a portion of their program around maintaining their ship's floating equipment.

Meetings

Most ships hold regular, weekly meetings either at their chartered institution or aboard their vessel. Many are formal meetings conducted in either full dress of work uniforms with ceremony. Swimming, lifesaving, first aid, Coast Guard Auxiliary Sailing and Seamanship, and cardiopulmonary resuscitation courses are taught with the ship by our own officers. The state safe boating course is also offered by many ships. These courses are open to the public. Occasionally movies are shown, contests between crews are held, or inter-ship visits are arranged.

Skills Taught

• Sailing, cruising
• Marlinspike seamanship -- use of line, knots and splicing
• Piloting — learning the aids to navigation, reading charts
• Rules of the Road
• Small Boat handler
• Radio — qualify for Marine radiotelephone F.C.C. operator license
• Boat maintenance
• Engines — maintenance of inboard and outboard engines
• Maritime careers
• Electricity
• Weather
• Sailing — technique and parts of the boat
• Boats — identification of boats, teaching and commanding a crew under oars and sail
• Ground Tackle — anchoring, proper use of anchors, identification and use of fittings on board
• Galley — learning to prepare food and to buy provisions for a long cruise
  Safety — fire, man overboard, etc.
• Sea History
• Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation
• State Safe Boating course
• First Aid
• Swimming, Lifesaving, SCUBA certification

Entry Requirements

• Be at least 14 years of age
• Attend and observe one meeting before filling out application form
• Pay new member fee

A wealth of information is available over the Internet at the Sea Scouting web site. The web site includes program, training, activities, and contact information for your help. It also includes an extensive library of training and program materials and artwork for downloading.