Boater Safety / Courtesy Course - Give your input

If you were to put together items to cover in a boater safety/courtesy course, what items would you feel are important to include?

I thought of these items off the top of my head but I'm sure I'm missed a few:

Backing down launch ramp
Launching the boat
Re-loading your boat onto the trailer
General functions on the boat (covering all switches and boat functions)
General maintenance of the boat and trailer (including each use, and general upkeep)
Proper weighting and speeds of the boat for wakeboarding, surfing, etc.

Convenient options to put on a boat (such as perfect pass, a heater, bimini, newt juice sprayer, gator grip, etc.)

I also thought of general courtesy / safety items such as:

Not pulling up in front of other riders
Not doing power turns (and why)
Keeping a respectable distance from other boats, docks, riders, etc
Towing a wakeboarder, surfer, other water sports
Driving double-ups
State / Coastguard rules and regulations


What else do you feel is important?

ya i wish some people would think of these things here, i was riding this summer on the river and i was getting ready to be pulled up when a cabin cruiser seriously flew past 5 ft away from me doing about 25.

well i know in ND. you must be 100 ft from a boat towing someone. must have enough coast guard aproved life vests for every one in the boat., the ne one being towed must be wearing one.

Steve, dont forget the "delta wave" to signal that you(the driver) see the rider in the water; and the tow boat pulling the rider down see's that you see the rider in the water.

Right of way between sailboats/kayaks/motorboats etc

Why not go with the Coast Guard boater safety course, includes more nagivation info than needed on inland lakes but has all of the safety material. You can take a practice test at http://www.boat-ed.com/tn/index.htm

How to drive a line in tandem with other boats so everyone gets good water (i.e., straight lines, stay in line, turn around at end, sharing good water, no powerturns, etc.) and, if there are other areas to ski/ride, don't invade someone else's line.