121.5/243 MHZ EPIRBs Discontinued

BOATERS MUST NOT OPERATE 121.5/243 MHZ EPIRBs AFTER 31 DECEMBER 2006

The Coast Guard reminds all boaters that beginning January 1, 2007, both 121.5 and 243 MHz Emergency Position Indicating Radio Beacons (EPIRBs) are prohibited from use in both commercial and recreational watercraft.  Boaters wishing to have an emergency rescue beacon aboard their vessel must have a digital 406 MHz model.

 

DID YOU KNOW-New Jersey has

  • 1,960 square miles of coastline, fresh water lakes and rivers,
  • 127 miles of Atlantic Ocean coastline, up to three nautical miles offshore,
  • 1,750 miles of interior tidal shoreline,
  • 100 inland bays, creeks, coves, and rivers, and
  • over 800 lakes and ponds totaling over 700 square miles of surface area
    		•

    Welcome

    Captain Marty's School of Boat Safety is a school for the New Jersey Boat Safety Course in New Jersey and The U.S.C.G Captains Licensing Course on the West Coast of Florida.
     
    We are a New Jersey State Police approved school providing the Boating Safety course "Boat New Jersey; A Course On Responsible Boating".  Successful completion of a New Jersey approved boating course is required for all persons who operate a power driven watercraft upon New Jersey waters. All boaters needing their New Jersey Boating Safety Certificate MUST take an approved New Jersey Boating Safety Course.

    Check the course schedule page for dates of up-coming courses. 

    Course Fees are $60 if paid by the Thursday prior to the date of the course and $65 if paid after Thursday or at the door.  Pre-Registration is required.

    U.S.C.G. Captain's License Course (OUPV)

    We are also an approved instructor for the Mariner's School Captain's Licensing Course in the Tampa Bay area of the Florida West Coast.
     
    Captain Marty's boating experience spans over 3 decades on various size vessels upon the waters of New Jersey, Delaware, Maryland, Virginia and Florida.
     
    Our Operator of Uninspected Passenger Vessel (OUPV) (Six Pack/Charter Boat Captain's License) Course is a 56 hour course held on 3 consecutive weekends with no Exam at the Coast Guard.  Friday evenings 6:30 PM to 9:30 PM.  Saturday and Sunday 9:00 AM to 6:00 PM.
     
    Check the course schedule page for dates of up-coming courses.
     
    Course fees are $575* and must be paid in full at least one week prior to the start of the course.
     
    *If paid by PayPal a 2.9% fee will be added.
     
     

    – A "Boat Responsibly!" Reminder from the United States Coast Guard –

     

    Knowing How a Boat Handles Can Help Avoid Collisions

     

    “I’ve been piloting boats since before I could walk!” Maybe so – but no matter how experienced you may be as a boater, it’s worth paying attention to the handling characteristics of every boat you own or operate. Every boat – even boats of the same type, from the same manufacturer – handles differently.

    Your own boat responds differently from day to day as a result of weather, current, temperature, load, and other factors.

     

    The boater who ignores handling characteristics is risking his safety. Coast Guard data show that “collision with another vessel” is the number one type of recreational boating accident; “collision with a fixed object” is second. 

     

    If you’re interested in the technical factors that influence handling characteristics – things like side force, frictional wake current, and drag – a review of one of the many boat handling and seamanship

    publications, or the specifications supplied with your boat, will provide a wealth of useful information.

    But in the meantime, there are simple steps that the U.S. Coast Guard recommends that every boater – including experienced boaters –go over as a matter of routine.

     

    Drill It In

    Whether you’ve been operating a particular boat for three years or three minutes, it’s a good idea to try some drills related to boat handling. Pick an open area on a calm day. Practice turning, stopping, and reversing course at various speeds, and pay attention to your turning radius, stopping distance, and maneuverability when the boat has more or less momentum.

     

    Later, try the same drills in rougher water, with more wind, and with more or less weight in the boat.  You may be surprised how much these variables can change the way your boat handles. At a minimum, these drills should be conducted on an annual basis, especially if you live in an area of the country where your boat is stored during the winter. Once your boat has been launched for the summer boating season, take some time to reacquaint yourself with your vessel’s handling characteristics.

     

    A Weighty Issue

    Do you know how much you weigh? Not trying to ask personal questions – but as the boat owner or operator, it’s important that you know the total weight of the equipment and persons you bring on board, and make sure that it’s within the limits listed on your boat’s capacity plate (if one is provided). You must take into consideration everything you’ve taken on board, such as fishing gear, a cooler, water (8.34 pounds per gallon), food, and fuel (Gasoline, 6.07 pounds per gallon; Diesel 7.1 pounds per gallon). Exceeding your boat’s rated capacity is dangerous and can severely affect safe handling.

     

    Even if you’re within the appropriate weight limit for your vessel, that weight must be properly distributed. Power trim and trim tabs are useful tools – but it’s better to carefully balance weight fore an aft, port and starboard, to avoid listing or “porpoising” – both of which make handling a vessel more difficult.

     

    NOAA News is Good News

    Finally, check the weather before you go out – and not just to find out whether or not you’ll need a sweater. Wind and waves, in particular, can drastically change a boat’s handling characteristics. Take a few minutes to listen to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) marine forecast on your VHF radio, even if it’s currently bright and sunny. You’ll be much better off making the conscious decision not to pilot your boat in 30-mile-per-hour winds than accidentally finding out you’re incapable of it. For further information on NOAA, check out http://www.noaa.gov.

     

    Yes, you may be an experienced boater, but even if you were born with tiller in hand, it’s worth taking a little extra time to make sure you’ve mastered the handling of this boat on this day under these conditions.

     

    Contact Information

    Telephone 
         NJ - 732-920-8200,   FL - 941-201-7293
    Postal address 
         Brick, New Jersey 08723,   Palmetto, Florida 34221
    Electronic mail
         General Information: Capt.Marty@Verizon.Net      

    What We Do

    Boating Safety is important to ALL boaters.  Even if you don't own a boat, but occasionally go out as a passenger on a boat, you should know what to do in case of emergency or the Captain becomes incapacitated.

     

    Important Information

    Limited Recall Notice ACR GlobalFix iPro EPIRBs

    Kidde recalls fire extinguishers due to failure to operate

     

    News and Events

    All Children 12 years of age or younger must wear a PFD whenever they are on a vessel that is underway unless they are in a fully enclosed, non-removable cabin.  Also person riding a PWC or water skiing, must wear an approved PWC.

    New Jersey Law - No One under the age of 16 is permitted to operate a Personal Watercraft - Persons 13 to 15 years old may operate a vessel powered by an electric trolling motor, or a vessel 12 feet or longer powered by less than 10 total horsepower, if they successfully completed an approved boating safety course and have the certificate in their possession.
    Copyright © Captain Marty's School of Boat Safety, All rights reserved.
    This website was built by Ewisoft eCommerce Website Builder.