1. Instructors: George Crowl
APP-7
Apprentice
Boat Handling
This PowerPoint is provided for those who may not have appropriate training aids available in a ship or location. This generally follows a companion lesson plan available at I expect you to modify it to fit your situation and teaching style. I am more concerned that Scouts learn than this fit a specific style. I am, however, a fan of the Effective Teaching model. Teaching EDGE is somewhat simplistic in its approach, but that has some advantages.
This and other plans are for Sea Scout and leaders to teach maritime and leadership skills. They are based on the 2010 Sea Scout Manual and requirements. Some lessons have an accompanying PowerPoint presentation. I consider PowerPoint an introduction the topic, to be followed by hands-on practice. Several lessons will not have PowerPoint, usually because it is my judgement that PowerPoint is not an appropriate aid to teaching that lesson. Lesson plans and presentations will be added and modified when ready.
Each plan and presentation has the rank, requirement number and short name. LP means lesson plan, PPT means PowerPoint. APP means Apprentice, the number is the number of the requirement. ORD = Ordinary. ABL = Able. QM = Quartermaster. There are a few miscellaneous items as well.
I created these lesson plans primarily for the Houston area Sea Scout Academy. However, I hope that they are also useful for other Sea Scout situations and venues. So, I expect everyone using the lesson plans to modify them to fit their audience and their style. There are also other resources in the DVD with the Sea Scout Manual, and on
I invite comments from those that use these lesson plans, so we can have continuous improvement. If you are aware of a better example, or a great illustration that is not in them, please send them to me for inclusion. Especially, if I miss applying a change from the Sea Scout Manual, Guide to Safe Scouting, or a Coast Guard publication, please contact me so we can keep these current and accurate.
You may contact me at or
George Crowl; Skipper, Ship 1996; Sam Houston Area Council
Philosophy: Sea Scout Academy’s primary purpose is to teach the material to the Sea Scout. If the Sea Scout demonstrates mastery of parts of the subject, then the instructor should annotate on the class roster what has been passed, in the instructor’s opinion. Skippers have the right to re-examine any Sea Scout in any requirement. (Knots are not a good subject to give a pass in.)
Instructors: George Crowl

2. Course Outline
7a. Name the principal parts of a typical sailboat and a runabout.
b. Describethe identifying characteristics of a sloop, ketch, yawl, cutter and schooner.
c. Demonstrate the ability to use a heaving line.
Requirements:
6. Marlinspike Seamanship
Using both large and small lines, tie and explain the use of the following knots: overhand, square, figure eight, bowline, two half hitches, clove hitch, sheet bend, and cleat hitch.
7. Boat Handling
Demonstrate the ability to use a heaving line.
Reference: See "Knots" on pp and "Heaving a line" on page 143.
Equipment Required: Each student should be provided a “belly rope” ¼” by six feet long.
Several ½” to ¾” lines from a boat should be obtained. Some should be long enough to use as a heaving line.
A cleat is necessary. S24, S1996, S502 and Dan Wilson have cleats.
A knot board is desirable. S1996, Dan Wilson, S502 and S24 have those.
Recommend that you preview the knot portion of the SSM DVD and determine if it will help you. Note that the DVD is in error where it says the overhand knot is an Ordinary knot.
Ratio: 1:6 Instructor:Student, youth make good assistants.

3. APP-7a
Name the principal parts of a typical sailboat and runabout. D

4. Parts of a Runabout Main parts of a motor boat
Let's start with the motorboat. There are fewer named parts to a motor boat or runabout. All of these parts can apply to a sailboat, so this is a first step to learning a sailboat.
7a. Name the principal parts of a typical sailboat and a runabout.
Have the students point out all the vessel parts they know, identify the remainder to them.
Principal parts: Depends, but
Bow
Stern
Port
Starboard
Hull
Freeboard
Draft
Keel
Above are listed in the book. Also reference p. 127, outboard boat illustration.

5. Parts of a Sailboat Main parts of a sailboat
These are many of the parts of a sailboat. You may not feel the need to expect a youth to know all of them, but they should know quite a few of them. If you do not use a sailbat, perhaps your standards might be a little lower.

6. APP-7b
Name the identifying characteristis of a sloop, ketch, yawl, cutter, and schooner.
Read from right to left!
This is the progression of types of rigs. We will show photos, but this illustration is in the Sea Scout Manual and the Sea Scout Pocket Reference.
After thinking about this lesson, it seemed better to teach the rig types, which are mast and rudder post driven, before teaching the parts of sails – which want to use the rig names when doing so. If you disagree, feel free to reorder the slides.

7. Catboat Rig
Single mast, well forward
Not required, but good to know A

8. Sloop
Single mast, two sails, one fore, one aft A

9. Cutter Rigged
Single mast, single mainsail, two (+) jibs A

10. Ketch
Two masts, mizzen mast somewhat shorter, mizzen mast forward of the rudder post, mizzen sail somewhat smaller. A

11. Yawl
Two masts, mizzen mast much shorter, mizzen mast aft of rudder post, mizzen sail much smaller. A

12. Schooner
For-and-aft sails on two or more masts, main taller than foremast(s) A

13. Types of Rigs
Identify the rigs below. List their identifying characteristics. A

14. APP-7c c. Demonstrate the ability to use a heaving line.
7. Boat Handling
Demonstrate the ability to use a heaving line.

15. Heaving a Line Secure one end – attach to wrist or step on it
Coil it into left hand. Half turns for good loops.
Split into two coils, left and right hands
Throw underhanded for accuracy
May use a monkey's fist or heaving line knot
Heaving line: Drop one end of the line on the ground/deck and step on it with left foot, or attach one end to your left wrist. Coil rope into left hand, smooth untwisted loops about 2-3 feet long. When completely coiled, split into two coils. Throw several loops directly underhanded toward a target feet away, letting the rope uncoil from the left hand. A monkey’s fist may be used. Students retrieve and throw several times, so they practice making smooth coils and managing the uncoiling. Target should be about 6 feet across, simulating a person in trouble. Laid rope is more difficult to throw, and will take more practice. Reverse hands for left-handed people. (p. 143)

16. Heaving Line Video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yj35pNItyMQ A

17. Questions? R