PLEASE NOTE:

The following information is from the 2013 Grand Rapids Boat Show.  The 2014 Show information will be coming soon.

Grand Haven / Spring Lake / Ferrysburg Night - WEDNESDAY, February 13

It may be hard to think of sunshine, beach days and boating during the winter months, but that's exactly what's on the minds of those in the Grand Haven area!  This special evening (TIME: 6:30pm - 8:30pm) will consist of local eateries, vendors and entertainment - including musician Don Middlebrook.  CLICK HERE for more details!

Boating Safety Certification Course

Get your Certification done in one day by the Kent County Sheriff Dept. Marine Division on Saturday, February 16, and be ready to hit the water this summer!  Typically these classes take multiple evenings.  Here is your opportunity to get certified, a legal necessity in order to command a motorized vessel without supervision for anyone born after 1978, and those between the ages of 12 and 16 years old.  (And simply a smart thing to do!)

There is no fee to attend the Boating Safety Class.  Participants should gather in the main entrance lobby of DeVos Place and will be directed to the seminar room just before 12 noon.

Marine Electronics - Greg Hoffman

Greg has worked in the marine electronic field for over 25 years.  He holds a commercial FCC license and is certified for factory repair and installation.  He has held posts with the National Marine Electronics Association and has authored numerous standards and industry testing criteria.

Getting the Most From Your Marine Electronics

Greg Hoffman will give you tips on how to step-up and tune your equipment to get the best accuracy and features, as well as what to look for when purchasing new equipment.  Topics include chart plotters, radar, autopilot, and new items for 2013.

Navigational Charting - Ralph Fairbanks

Ralph is the Flotilla Staff Officer for Public Education in the United States Coast Guard Auxiliary.  He has been teaching boating safety classes for many years and is a certified instructor for the Auxiliary.  He has navigated the Great Lakes and oceans by boat and by aircraft on standard patrols in Search and Rescue missions.  Ralph tries to make the classroom experience as much fun as the on-the-water experience!

How to Read a Nautical Chart

Presented by Ralph Fairbanks of the US Coast Guard Auxiliary

Whether you're a power boater or a sailor, you need to have a good grasp of the limits of chart accuracy - paper or electronic.  What's the difference between a map and a chart?  What are all those squiggley lines and colors on a chart?  Why do I need to know how to read a chart if I have the latest chart plotter?  In this introductory class, you'll learn how charts are made and how to understand the wealth of information on them.  Ralph will also teach you some of the fundamentals that more advance navigational skills are built upon.