Online coastal navigation course

[icedog11]

researching online course for asa 105. Seems like there is a lot of choices. The local sailing schools to me offer the live class room course only once or twice a year. I feel this is a course that I can take that does not actually require on water experience and would like to do it over the winter.

Does anyone have any practical experience with any of the online companies that offer coastal navigation classes, or can make a recommendation of a company that you have used for an online course that is quality and thorough?

[Stu Jackson]

Different people learn differently. Some like courses while others can learn by themselves.

Boatsafe.com may still have an online course. Have you tried a Google search?

There are a few excellent books, too, which I find superior to online material 'cuz it's easier for me to go back a page than scroll back through screens.

Good luck. If you remember any high school math you'll be fine.

[icedog11]

I have used google the problem is there are a fair number of companies offering the course, each with claims of if you can't learn it from us, you can't learn it. Looking to weed out the good from the bad. Obviously each has glowing reviews posted on the site. Some require the purchase of charts to complete the course from their associated chart sale site, but fail to say how many charts are required to be purchased. Many of them have what I would call dubious and hidden charges. So someone who has done a online course and their experience would be helpful.

[meatservo]

NauticED

[Badsanta]

http://www.mdschool.com/Navigation.htm#Coastal_Home

[GordMay]

Advanced online course on marine navigation:
➥ Advanced navigation courses - sailing schools Greece and the Greek islands

[PatSea]

Check out US Power Squadrons

Sent from my SM-T813 using Cruisers Sailing Forum mobile app

[icedog11]

Originally Posted by Badsanta

Navigation Classes Online

thank you. This is what I was looking for and looks far more legitimate than what I was looking at, have bookmarked the page and will likely take take this course in the near future.

you have taken courses with them before. Recommend the live webinar course over the home study? the cost differential is close to 200.00. wondering if its worth it.

[Stu Jackson]

Originally Posted by icedog11

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Recommend the live webinar course over the home study? the cost differential is close to 200.00. wondering if its worth it.

Would this not go back to my earlier post? So much depends on how YOU like and/or need to learn. And how deep your pocketbook is for this.

Good luck.

But have you tried a book first?

[sck5]

I used the Maryland School of Sailing back when I did it. Their guy, Tom Tursi, wrote the ASA's curriculum for this. You do the course on line (they also send you written stuff to study and a very useful DVD walking you through the exercises) and then go to their base in Rock Hall MD to take the certification test. This ought to be possible if you are near Philadelphia since it is only an hour or an hour and a half away.

[icedog11]

Originally Posted by Stu Jackson

Would this not go back to my earlier post? So much depends on how YOU like and/or need to learn. And how deep your pocketbook is for this.

Good luck.

But have you tried a book first?

I would likely learn best in a live classroom format. But have never attempted a live webinar class. I'm fairly old school and a business owner, I prefer to do nearly everything face to face. Without actually seeing a persons facial expressions and body language you lose a lot of information. I value the personal interaction. That all being said the timing and availability of a live course for me in my current location and time restraints. Live is not really an option. So any personal experience others have had is to gives me a base to draw on. Monetary considerations are only in terms of value I'm getting. I would rather pay more than twice as much initially, than less than half and have to pay again multiple times due to inferior quality. While not rich by some standards I have done well in life.

[Badsanta]

Originally Posted by icedog11

thank you. This is what I was looking for and looks far more legitimate than what I was looking at, have bookmarked the page and will likely take take this course in the near future.

you have taken courses with them before. Recommend the live webinar course over the home study? the cost differential is close to 200.00. wondering if its worth it.

I have not taken the online course. But have taken several sailing, docking classes that were excellent. The navigation class test can be taken at any public library. No need to travel. They have the lower cost home study course you can do anytime or the online one starting now, just receved a last call notice today, for the one that will be taught buy the guy that wrote the asa book on it. If I had the extra Christmas money I would take it.

[jackdale]

Just remember that ASA has decreed that they will not recognize other boating organizations standards. So if you need coastal nav as pre-requisite for another course you may be hooped.

[Time2Go]

Boatsafe.com
Coastal Navigation Course
125.00 including a set of,
dividers, parallel ruler, speed:time/distance
circular slide rule, practice charts.
Invest 20 hours and your done
Forget the on line nonsense
If you don't practice and then practice
some more with real charts
and real tools, no talking head
on the internet is gonna do it for you
Cheers
Neil

[Suijin]

Some may disagree but I don't believe introductory coastal navigation to be rocket science.

If I were you before I shelled out for a class I would read a good book on the subject. This one is excellent:

Basic Coastal Navigation - An Introduction to Piloting for Sail and Power