SEABADGE UNDERWAY
Advanced Course for Sea Scout Adult Leaders Conduced at Sea

Mission Statement

It is the mission of this course to provide basic training to prepare Sea Scout adult leaders to teach and manage their Ship for the safe operation of a Sea Scout vessel underway in moderate conditions.

The adult unit leader (Skipper) may or may not be the vessel operator. Many experienced small vessel skippers, including USCG licensed vessel operators, are untrained in the proper methods of operating a Sea Scout Ship on underway vessels.

Course Management

This course is offered under national control and sponsored by local councils. The course is open only to registered Sea Scout leaders and BSA professional staff. The course is taught in various areas of the United States. The location of the course will be made available and persons wishing to take the course may apply to a course near their location. For course availability and location contact Jim Elroy at seawolf410@aol.com or (305) 798-8130.

Course Objectives

By the end of this course the student will be able to:

• Properly inspect a vessel to determine if it is properly equipped to get underway and has aboard the safety equipment that is required by law and is recommended for prudent operation;
• Navigate using dead reckoning, GPS, and basic radar;
• Demonstrate basic deck skills including tying basic knots, handling ground tackle, and deploying line utilized for coming along side;
• Set the watch and supervise the navigator, helmsman, lookouts;
• Properly identify aids to navigation;
• Conduct safety drills including man overboard, fire, abandon ship, and rescue;
• Know the international and inland rules of the road;
• Have a working knowledge of the responsibilities of the Sea Scout Skipper and other adult leaders and proper Ship operations including relationships with Sea Scout youth leaders;
• Develop the ability to determine if an adult vessel operator is competent, safe, and in compliance with local and federal law and is managing the vessel in accordance with BSA and Sea Scout policy;
• Identify tools available to assist in training Sea Scout youth leaders;
• Safely operate a small vessel with outboard (dinghy);
• Know and demonstrate Sea Scout customs while underway.

Course Design

This course serves two types of Sea Scout adult leaders:

1. The experienced vessel operator who is new to Sea Scouting and must learn proper Sea Scout Ship and vessel operation procedures.
2. The adult Ship leader who must learn both unit operations and safe vessel operations, and who comes to the course with prerequisite seamanship skills.

A student does not need sea experience but must be prepared.

Student Prerequisites

1. Applicants must have a good working knowledge of basic coastal navigation. This may be obtained by reading the Sea Scout Manual, taking a U.S. Power Squadron or U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary course in piloting. It is highly recommended that the student successfully complete the USPS Piloting Course or Coast Guard Auxiliary Basic Coastal Navigation Course prior to taking this course. Applicants will be given a navigation test to be completed at home and must pass this test. Mastery of these basic skills is imperative for applicants to successfully complete the course.
2. Applicants must be able to tie all the knots required for Sea Scout Apprentice and Ordinary ranks including a cleat hitch within a three minute time period.
3. Applicants must be in good physical condition, able to manage 16 hour days, and must submit a pre-qualification BSA Class III Physical Examination Form.
4. Applicants must currently be registered as the Skipper or as an adult leader of a Sea Scout Ship.
5. Applicants must study and master the contents of Chapter 4 of the Sea Scout Manual. A test covering Chapter 4 will be given to applicants to complete at home. Applicants must pass this test prior to attending this course. The final test will be administered during the course.
6. Applicants must have completed Sea Scout Adult Leader Basic Training, Youth Protection, First Aid and CPR certification and state required boat operator's course.
7. Applicants must have complete dress white official Sea Scout Leader's uniforms with insignia placed as prescribed in the Sea Scout Manual.

Completion of the Course

The student will have successfully completed the course when he or she has done the following:

• Completed the entire three day course;
• Passed the navigation test with a score of 70 percent or higher;
• Passed the seamanship test with a score of 70 percent or higher;
• Passed the deck and vessel management practical evaluation with 70 percent or higher;
• Passed inspection in a dress white official uniform as prescribed in the Sea Scout Manual;
• Passed the knot-tying test in 3 minutes of less;
• Able to pipe certain basic calls.

It is highly recommended that the student take the U.S. Power Squadrons navigation courses through the Piloting Course or the U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary's navigation courses through Advanced Coastal Navigation or AUXNAV-B.

If the student does not pass the written test, s/he will be given an opportunity to pass a make-up test. The make up-test will be administered by the course director. Except for extreme and very unusual circumstances, no one will be allowed to repeat the course.

Cost of the Course

The cost of this course will be set by the course director. The cost may include the cost of fuel, food, dockage, and course materials.

Course Philosophy

Each student will function as Sea Scout youth would function when following the Sea Scout program. Each will be boatswain for half a day and will serve as crew for the remainder of the training. The course director will model the Sea Scout skipper's responsibilities to train, monitor, and ensure the safety of the vessel and crew.

Uniform

The uniform for this course will consist of:

1. Navy blue ball cap;
2. Khaki cargo shorts or khaki long pants;
3. Khaki web belt with silver military style buckle;
4. Deck shoes and white socks;
5. Khaki Sea Scout shirt (may be provided with logo);
6. Dress white uniform exactly as prescribed in the Sea Scout Manual, with all insignia properly placed.

Vessel Selection

The vessel to be used may be a power or sailboat. It must be at least 40 feet in length and able to sleep eight people. It must be equipped with a VHF radio, first aid kit, ship's bell, flag holder on the stern and flag holder or gaff above the bridge. In the case of a sailboat, the back stay may serve to fly the United States ensign while in port or underway. The vessel must have all equipment required by law and must have passed a U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary or U.S. Power Squadrons vessel safety check during the current calendar year.

What We are Teaching

The course is designed to teach Sea Scout adult leaders the procedures for operating a vessel safely and also teach them the Sea Scout way to operate the vessel. The Sea Scout program's foundation is the development of youth leadership skills, youth management skills, and safe boating practices. There is no better leadership laboratory than a vessel underway, so our youth must be given the opportunity to accept maximum responsibility for the operation of the unit and the vessel underway. The notion that the adult leader serves as the captain and the Sea Scouts as the crew is contrary to Sea Scout philosophy. The best skipper is one who trains his crew and develops youth leadership so well that he or she appears to be doing nothing while underway.

Preparation is everything for this course. It is not possible to complete this course unless the student has a very good knowledge of coastal navigation. This is best accomplished by taking a U.S. Power Squadrons or U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary piloting course. The student also must thoroughly study Chapter 4 of the Sea Scout Manual. He or she must actually have mastery of the material in Chapter 4. No practical experience is necessary.

The instructors will not stress or harass the students. The vessel will be stress enough. No one will be belittled. Mistakes will be addressed as they occur so that the entire crew is aware of the problem and solution.

As with any scouting event, tobacco, alcohol or drugs will not be possessed or used during this course.

Upcoming Seabadge Underway Conferences

	Western Region SBU-8-CA-11 Date: February 18-21, 2011 Location: Newport Seabase, Newport Beach, California Vessel/type: SSTV (41 Formosa ketch) Cost: $140 Contact: Skipper Philip McNamee, 714-608-7686
	Western Region SBU-9-CA-11 Date: May 20-23, 2011 Location: Newport Seabase, Newport Beach, California Vessel/type: SSTV (41 Formosa ketch) Cost: $140 Contact: Skipper Philip McNamee, 714-608-7686
	Northeast Region SBU-10-NY-11 Date: May 20-23, 2011 Location: Long Island Sound, Southport, Connecticut Vessel/type: SSTV Resolution (Hinckley 40 Bermuda yawl) Cost: $150 Contact: Skipper Noel E. Guzman, 718-507-0910
	Northeast Region SBU-11-MD-11 Date: September 3-6, 2011 Location: Henderson's Wharf Marine, Baltimore, Maryland Vessel/type: SSTV Der PeLiKan (44' Morgan ketch) Cost: $150 Contact: Skipper Steve Nichols, 703-408-8247
	Northeast Region SBU-12-NY-11 Date: October 21-24, 2011 Location: Long Island Sound, Southport, Connecticut Vessel/type: SSTV Resolution (Hinckley 40 Bermuda yawl) Cost: $150 Contact: Skipper Noel E. Guzman, 718-507-0910

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