(SEAWORTHY PUBLICATIONS, 2003; CD AND BOOK; $59.95.)
REVIEWED BY S. MERRILL HALL
The ultimate guide to the collision regulations” — “Memorable learning tool.” This is supposedly everything you need to study and learn the Rules of the Road. The package includes the Rules of the Road at Sea CD, The Skipper’s Pocketbook, A Seaman’s Guide Pocket Book of The International Regulations for Preventing Collisions at Sea, and the U.S. Navigation Rules CD touted to be a “Bonus Worth $25!” I was initially impressed.
The Skipper’s Pocketbook is filled with information on many boating topics similar to many other handbooks of this type. However, it’s printed in the United Kingdom, and some information is not appropriate for operating in U.S. waters and could be confusing to the novice. The Rules of the Road section refers only to the International Rules. In the U.S., where we operate under both the International and the Inland Rules, its value for quick reference to the Rules is diminished.
The Seaman’s Guide Pocket Book isn’t a guide at all but a pocket version of the International Rules without illustrations. Its practical value is minimal.
My expectations were high for both CDs. A well-done CD can be a powerful self-teaching tool. I fired up the “Bonus” U.S. Nav. Rules CD. The “U.S. Navigation Rules and the Great Lakes, St. Lawrence Seaway Rules” headings bring up copies of the Rules identical to USCG books currently in print. There is no attempt to be instructive. You’re on your own to read and study the text. In my opinion, this would be more conveniently done using a book. The “Apply the Rules” heading opens up seven sections where each contains a Q&A series to test your knowledge. Roughly 50 questions in Sections 1 through 3 on the International and Inland Rules could be helpful to learning. Those in Sections 4 through 7 have absolutely nothing to do with the Rules. They seem to have been taken from a professional mariner’s exam with questions regarding commercial vessel operations. Perhaps the publisher ran out of Rules questions and had to quickly do something to “bulk up” the content. This CD is, for the most part, not much of a bonus at all.
Ever hopeful, I loaded the Rules of the Road at Sea CD. The table of contents lists seven chapters of which five have instructional material. These cover the International Rules with explanations and questions and help-links regarding their application. The graphics are sometimes animated and include sounds and lights. This works quite well. However, several of the examples are somewhat whimsical and not reflective of common circumstances. The CD can be of learning assistance for the International Rules but, without inclusion of the Inland Rules, it is incomplete and therefore unacceptable for learning the rules that apply to U.S. waters.
In my opinion, the Rules of the Road at Sea package is over-priced for something of such limited practical value. The USCG Navigation Rules International — Inland can be bought for less than $15, and there are better self-teaching courses available at a fraction of the cost. That would be the way to go.
