Hi: I have recently purchased a used Edgewater 185, which will be my first real "adult" boat (had a 13 foot whaler as a kid). I will using it with family for recreation/fishing in and around Cape Cod Bay.
Because I will be taking family and especially children with me from time to time, I figured it was time to take a boaters safety class, and I wanted to share what I have found in case it is useful or interesting to someone else.
I had first considered taking a Coast Guard class that is offerred locally, and visited the Coast Guard web site for schedules. On the web site I came across a class that can be purchased online. The class is a combination CD-Rom and online tutorials. For me, this is a great advantage over having to travel to/from a scheduled class and risk missing a class due to work/family demands. The class is entitled "America's Boating Class", and cost me about 40 bucks. It is approved and sponsered in part by the Coast Guard and looks like it covers many if not most of the basics for beginning boaters. I have not yet received it, so cannot give a review, but will post again after taking the class.
Here is the link for anyone interested:
http://www.americasboatingcourse.com/intro/intro.htm
One last word for anyone who has not taken a class or seriously considered safety---last summer I was hauled in from Cape Cod Bay by a passing boater after falling unconsious from my Kayak. Details are not important, but it was an act of pure stupitiy on my part that put me in that situation. I;m not sure I would feel as strongly about taking a class right now had it not been for that experience. I think it is important that we all error on the side of safety in these matters.
Jim
Easy Boaters Safety Class 
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