In January, the U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary celebrated a major anniversary: Boating education turned sixty years old. Today, more than a half-century after the Coast Guard Auxiliary’s public education program began, the organization continues to help boaters learn about boating and boating safety by educating more than 100,000 people annually. And the story of how its education program began is steeped in American history.

After the Civil War ended, recreational boating grew by leaps and bounds as the West expanded and railroads brought vacationers to shore areas. At the turn of the 20th century, boating experienced another surge in popularity with the invention of the outboard engine and the single-operator motorboat. By the ‘30s, motorboats were being mass-manufactured, and the cabin cruiser had been developed.

During the Great Depression, the federal government began to construct large dams, reservoirs and lake systems, which added thousands of miles of new waterways. In 1939, the Coast Guard reported that there were more than 300,000 boats operating on federal waters. With the increased number of boats on the water came more problems, however. That year, the Coast Guard received a whopping 14,000 calls for assistance and handled 8,600 “in peril” cases. Recreational boaters had to be better trained in seamanship and federal law. The answer? The creation of the Coast Guard Auxiliary.


It wasn’t long after the formation of the Coast Guard Auxiliary, however, that a duty bigger than boating safety called: World War II. During the war, the Auxiliary helped defend America’s coastlines and ports from enemy submarine attacks and sabotage, in addition to recruiting and training temporary members of the Coast Guard Reserve. When the war ended, the Coast Guard Auxiliary returned its focus to encouraging “universal safe and courteous operation of vessels by precept and example of members of the Auxiliary and to assist in dissemination of safe marine practices.”

To this end, the Auxiliary’s public education program was launched in January 1948. Auxiliarists first offered free public instruction at the National Motorboat Show held in New York City’s Grand Central Palace. Boaters responded with enthusiasm, and in January 1950, the Auxiliary initiated its eight-lesson “Basic Seamanship” course. By the mid-’50s, more than 30,000 men and women had taken part in Auxiliary education programs.

The program continued to evolve during the next few decades, and a youth education program began in 1973 with the development of the “Water ’N Kids” course. Today, the Auxiliary’s public education program trains boaters in seamanship, piloting, aids to navigation and more. Newer parts of its core curricula include instruction in maritime homeland security, dangers of carbon monoxide, and perils of cold-water immersion.

The Auxiliary offers different courses to correspond to different levels of experience, and as added bonus, many marine insurance companies provide discounts on premiums for passing the Auxiliary’s boating course. The classes are a great way to learn new information and sharpen your boating knowledge. For more information about the U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary and how to enroll in a course, visit www.cgaux.org.