America's Boating Club

09/08/2026

Navigating open waters with confidence starts with mastering traditional and digital seamanship skills. While modern electronic chart plotters are convenient, relying solely on screens can leave you unprepared if equipment fails.

Our Marine Navigation course teaches fundamental skills every captain should know:

- Reading nautical charts and symbols accurately 🗺️
- Plotting precise courses and dead reckoning 📐
- Calculating speed, time, and distance on the water ⏱️
- Accounting for compass variation and deviation 🧭

Whether you are a new boater or an experienced skipper looking to refresh your knowledge, building safe navigation habits ensures peace of mind for you and your crew.

https://uspsonline.enrolmart.com/courses/marine-navigation

09/03/2026

It can be hard to tell what another boat is doing in crowded harbors, shipping lanes, or foggy weather. With an Automatic Identification System (AIS), you’ll know what all commercial vessels and many private boats are doing—even before you can see them.

Our online seminar, AIS Electronics for Boaters, can help you decide if AIS is right for you. You’ll learn
✅how AIS works
✅how you can use it to navigate more safely
✅how AIS and radar differ
✅how to integrate AIS with your current electronics

Improve your ability to avoid a collision; take AIS Electronics for Boaters today! https://bit.ly/ABCAISforBoaters

Avoid collisions with other boats. AIS will show you where other vessels are and how close they will come. How to integrate AIS with radar and other marine electronics.

08/27/2026

Need emergency help while boating? Or do you simply need to get your dock assignment from the marina? Whatever the situation, you need a good marine radio and the knowledge to operate it effectively.

Learn which VHF marine radio best fits your boating style and how to operate it with confidence. Take our online seminar All About Marine Radio today!

https://bit.ly/AllAboutMarineRadio

Marine radio is a lot more reliable than cellphones on the water. Learn how radios work, which channels to use, correct procedures, and how DSC can be a lifesaver in emergencies.

08/06/2026

Docking can be stressful, but it doesn't have to be. Take our online seminar, Confidence in Docking and Undocking, to take the mystery out of docking. You'll learn how to maintain control of your boat at slow speed in close proximity to other boats and fixed objects.

With the knowledge gained from this online seminar, coupled with your on-the-water practice, your confidence in docking will increase, and your boating will be both safer and more enjoyable.

With this class, your confidence in docking will increase, and your boating will be both safer and more enjoyable. Sign up today! https://bit.ly/ABCDocking

The dock is near but have no fear! Leave the anxiety on shore and learn to handle your boat slowly, safely, and confidently in tight quarters. Then practice, practice, practice!

07/27/2026

Did you know there's an easier way to stay connected to your boat's engine cutoff switch without being tethered by a lanyard?

America's Boating Channel® has released a new video explaining cordless (wireless) engine cutoff switch systems—how they work, their benefits, and why using an engine cutoff switch every time you operate your boat can help prevent runaway vessels and save lives.

Whether you're considering upgrading to a wireless system or simply want to learn more about this important boating safety technology, this short video has you covered.

▶️ Watch now and share it with your fellow boaters!
https://youtu.be/EVAwXn64PlY

The video discusses the advantages and limitations of cordless syst...

07/23/2026

Know where you are and where you are going. By taking our seminar, How to Use GPS, you'll learn how to:

✅how to use waypoints, build and execute routes, and monitor progress
✅how to interpret location information and tracking data
✅how GPS integrates with your boat’s electronic systems

You'll also get tips on connecting your GPS to your VHF marine radio—opening up a new world of digital hailing and distress signaling.

Make the best of your GPS and take How to Use GPS today! https://bit.ly/ABCHowtoUseGPS

Car and marine GPS aren’t the same. Learn how to choose a chart plotter and use this tool to create waypoints, build and execute routes, and check your progress along the way.

07/21/2026

While sailing to Cape May, one boater encounters deteriorating weather on the water.

In 1992, I headed north for the summer aboard my sailboat, SMAY. After traversing the Chesapeake & Delaware Canal, I emerged into the top of Delaware

07/21/2026

Watch America's Boating Channel latest video on chart plotting apps to understand how they can enhance situational awareness while navigating on the water. The video covers essential features of chart plotting apps, including GPS positioning, electronic nautical charts, route planning, waypoint creation, speed and course monitoring, and real-time navigation.

With thousands of boating apps to choose from, this video highlight...

07/20/2026

Members of districts 22 and 28 traveled to Madrid for a once-in-a-lifetime cruise on Portugal’s Douro River.

In May 2025, 12 friends from districts 22 and 28 traveled to Madrid for a once-in-a-lifetime cruise on Portugal’s Douro River. After a three-day stay at

07/19/2026

Calculated risk is a worthy method to achieve success in dangerous situations, but confirmation bias while boating can sway you to make bad decisions.

Calculated risk is the process of evaluating potential losses and rewards to make an informed decision. When a task is challenging, calculated risk can