Boat Licence anyone? It's so easy ...
The continuing farce, known as the Proof of Boating Proficiency or Pleasure Craft Operator Card (PCOC), was highlighted by columnist Roy MacGregor, writing in Canada's national newspaper, the Globe and Mail, recently. In his article: "Will boater's licence make a difference? Take a guess" (July 16, 2007), he describes his experience writing the exam for the PCOC at a local hardware store.
Without any prior study and admitting to little knowledge of the aids to navigation system, Mr. MacGregor wrote and passed his exam, correctly answering 29 of the 36 multiple-choice questions. The seven missed answers were the "hard ones" according to the salesperson. He now has a "licence" to operate a power vessel that is good for his lifetime. So have thousands of other boaters across the country, operating everything from tiny fishing dinghies to huge, multi-engined yachts.
In theory, the testing procedure might introduce inexperienced boaters to safety concepts contained in the Safe Boating Guide, a Transport Canada publication. In the guide are 149 points of knowledge that may be tested, but with only 36 questions (50 questions in the upgraded Canadian Power & Sail Squadrons' version*), only a small amount of these points can be touched upon.
The PCOC exam is available from a wide range of "for-profit" and non-profit organizations. Each had to submit their exams (they must have more than one version available) to Transport Canada (or previously to the Canadian Coast Guard) for approval. As well, they were supposed to produce a study manual and course of study. Some of the for-profit organizations ignored the manual requirement and instead used the free Safe Boating Guide, and many of them offer a "Pay if you pass" deal. Some also offer on-line exams with dubious invigilation procedures.
This farce could be swept away if the regulators would simply make a basic safety course mandatory. The "licence", as it stands, is ludicrous and does precious little to improve the standards of safety on Canadian waters.
As a volunteer instructor with Toronto Power & Sail Squadron, I have taught hundreds of new boaters, mainly through the 13-week Boating course, but also with the short Boat Pro course. At TPS we regard the Boating course as the absolute minimum for any boater venturing onto "big" water, such as the Great Lakes or inshore coastal waters. Transport Canada, a ministry with safety as its prime mandate, would perform a valuable service by re-thinking the PCOC testing and moving to upgrade the safety knowledge of all Canadian boaters.
* The CPS card, based on 50 questions, is the only card recognized by United States boating authorities. It also includes associate membership in CPS with accompanying benefits.
Links:
http://www.cps-ecp.ca/
www.theglobeandmail.com
www.tc.gc.ca/BoatingSafety/menu.htm
Episode V17 - Planning an ICW Cruise
1 month ago
2 comments:
I just recently wrote my boating license, and although I felt I should have been exempt given my age I was glad I did it. I wrote it online at http://boatsmartexam.com/EN/ with the help of my neighbor. I read the study guide provided and it was a great refresher. I only got two wrong believe it or not.
"With the help of your neighbour...."?
If your neighbour helped you to answer the questions, then that surely adds credence to my assertion that this method of testing is a fiasco.
As it is, Transport Canada is changing the rules as of April 15, 2011, thankfully for the better. Emphasis will henceforth be on learning as opposed to passing a simplistic and practically meaningless 36-question test.
Post a Comment