What training do you need to cruise?

[sinnerman]

Originally Posted by BeneG

Does a marine diesel and marine electrical ONLINE course make sense? I’d like something more structured and in-depth than a few quick YouTube videos and can’t find any courses in my area. It seems like not having access to an engine to apply what you learn and not having an instructor to ask questions is a massive disadvantage. But maybe it’s still worth it to create a good foundation of knowledge, and I have zero to very little knowledge atm.

Oddly enough there are no courses in my popular coastal sailing area of Tampa. you’d need to travel an hour and a half south or inland to Orlando to find a class. If anyone has a dream of starting a marine diesel school, Tampa/ St Pete would be a great place to think about.

The US Power Squadron (now called "Americas Boating Club..) has a marine electrical course which is excellent.
It was held via the web with an instructor. I am an engineer with electrical background and I learned a lot.

Link: https://americasboatingclub.org/cour...trical-systems

Some of their courses are online, others are either via a webinar (Microsoft teams) or in a classroom .

Here is the link for the online courses:
https://americasboatingclub.org/inde...ailable-online

The Boat Handling course is excellent. I did this online (also taught in classroom, I believe). The book is outstanding.

I am going through their weather course (online) at the moment which is intense...

They have an engine maintenance course as well which I have not taken.

You can find locations near Tampa via their site. Doing a search with St. Pete's zip code, there were class locations in Clearwater, St. Pete and Sarasota, with Sarasota having the most courses listed.

Link: https://americasboatingclub.org/inde...33710&range=50

Their courses are not expensive.

BTW , I lived in St. Pete for a few years. I miss the place...

Cheers..

[donradcliffe]

Originally Posted by sailingharry

Curious how many jibs you've seen with a headboard? The Hood jibs that my boat came with didn't have headboards (but I don't recall the specific construction), and the North jibs that I replaced them with have a nice wedding strap at the top. I realize that both Hood and North are bottom tier sail makers with no experience making quality sails, so that may be why I have been short-changed so badly.

Actually, the webbing strap on my North jib chafed through while beating up the Red Sea, and I wished I had insisted on a grommet.

[sailingharry]

Originally Posted by donradcliffe

Actually, the webbing strap on my North jib chafed through while beating up the Red Sea, and I wished I had insisted on a grommet.

That's fair. But Thomm stated that a headboard was the ideal top for a jib. I've never seen one.

[timbowers]

Originally Posted by sinnerman

The US Power Squadron (now called "Americas Boating Club..) has a marine electrical course which is excellent.
It was held via the web with an instructor. I am an engineer with electrical background and I learned a lot.
Link: https://americasboatingclub.org/cour...trical-systems
Some of their courses are online, others are either via a webinar (Microsoft teams) or in a classroom .
Here is the link for the online courses:
https://americasboatingclub.org/inde...ailable-online
The Boat Handling course is excellent. I did this online (also taught in classroom, I believe). The book is outstanding.
I am going through their weather course (online) at the moment which is intense... I combine this course with my studies at the university, and it's good that with the help of the https://essays.edubirdie.com/thesis-writing service I take off most of the load from myself. They have an engine maintenance course as well which I have not taken. You can find locations near Tampa via their site. Doing a search with St. Pete's zip code, there were class locations in Clearwater, St. Pete, and Sarasota, with Sarasota having the most courses listed.
Link: https://americasboatingclub.org/inde...33710&range=50
Their courses are not expensive.
BTW , I lived in St. Pete for a few years. I miss the place...
Cheers..

Thanks for the advice! I found that the nearest class location is not far from me, I'll take a closer look at their courses.