1. Instructors: George Crowl
ABL-7
Able
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.
Note: These lesson plans may also be used for teaching in the ship. For administrative convenience, they cover the entire specific numbered requirement (except one, where Galley is covered separately!). Individual Sea Scout Academy lessons may only cover part of the requirements. Similarly, ships may find that even just a portion of a subrequirement is all that can be done during a particular ship meeting. Adapt these lessons as needed to fit your youth and your situation. Share these plans with your youth who are teaching.
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.) SSA may schedule only portions of ORD-8.
Instructors: George Crowl

2. Course Outline
a. Demonstrate your ability to properly operate a small boat equipped with a motor. Included should be fueling, starting, leaving a dock, maneuvering, docking and coming alongside.
b. Know the names and functions of the lines used to secure a vessel to a wharf or pier. Understand and execute docking commands used in handling lines on your ship's primary vessel.
Requirements: above
Reference: SSM "Underway in a Powerboat" pp , "Wharfs, Piers, Docks, and Slips" p. 139, "Motorboating" merit badge pamphlet.

3. ABL-7a
Demonstrate your ability to properly operate a small boat equipped with a motor. Included should be fueling, starting, leaving a dock, maneuvering, docking and coming alongside.

4. General Considerations
Use a checklist!
Rainwater out
Drain plug in !
Required equipment installed and serviceable
Life jackets (wear 'em), radio, lights, etc.
Transom OK for motor
Motor installed (on land if possible), tilted
Safety chain attached to boat
The assumption is that this is an outboard-powered boat. The outboard is generally better installed on land, before launching the boat. Insure that it is in the up (launch) position before launching.
Have the Scouts follow the directions on pages There is additional information to impart.
Explain the difference in fuel for 2-stroke and 4-stroke engines. Explain the difference in lubrication for the engines. Caution the Scouts about the damage that will occur if the engine and fuel is confused. Remind them of fueling precautions.
Expect the Scouts to use a checklist for both boat and motor. Most Scouts do not get to use a boat often enough to trust to memory for preparation and/or shutdown. Insure the safety switch/cutoff switch is activated. Sample checklists for boats with outboard motors can be requested from They will have to be modified to fit your vessels, but are a start in preparing checklists.

5. General Considerations (2)
2-stroke OR 4-stroke? Different fuels! Can ruin an engine if wrong fuel is used.
Young men can earn Motorboating MB if desired
Insure youth know about need for oil in 2-stroke engines.
Young men can earn the Motorboating merit badge, they will be doing many of the requirements when completing this ABL-7 requirement.

6. Launching
Do all launch preparations in a parking place away from the launch ramp
Practice your backing beforehand
Use a spotter, with agreed hand signals
Have a dock line, held by someone or attached
No one in the boat on the trailer
Back slowly, carefully. If jackknifing, pull forward try again.
Let the boat float off the trailer A

7. Fueling All electrical and motors off All hatches and vents closed
All people off the boat
Portable fuel tank on dock or ground
Ground self and fuel nozzle, prevent sparks
Have cleanup materials at hand
Nozzle and receptacle in contact
Cool fuel expands, leave room for expansion A

8. Starting Engine straight up and down Shift lever neutral (straight up)
Choke a cold engine, not a hot one
Throttle to “Start” position
Pull starter rope slowly until resisted
Pull starter rope hard as needed
Push choke in slowly until runs smoothly
Throttle to “Run” or “Idle”
Engage shift lever carefully, move out slowly
Safety lanyard attached to helmsman
1. Make sure the shift lever is in the neutral position. This is usually straight up.
2. If the engine is cold, pull out the choke before attempting to start. If the motor is warm, don't use the choke unless the engine does not start after a few pulls.
3. On the throttle control arm, turn the hand grip until the arrow aligns with the start position.
4. Pull the starter rope slowly until you get resistance from the starter gear, then pull forcefully. Repeat if needed.
5. When the engine starts, if you used the choke push it in slowly until the engine runs smoothly.
6. Turn the throttle control arm until the arrow lines up with the run or shift mark.
From Boat Safe.com
Do not stand up in the boat to pull the starter rope, might fall overboard

9. Leaving the Dock SLOWLY! Have someone push the bow out and move off
Push the stern out, and back out slowly
Use spring lines, as taught in other sections
No wake
Get clear of the marina before opening up the throttle A

10. Maneuvering Find clear area Maneuver at slower speeds, then increase
Set up a slalom course with buoys (not posts)
Show why not to chop throttle too quickly, stern wake could swamp you
Maneuver at docking speeds, often harder to do A

11. Coming Alongside Prep your boat first – fenders, lines, boathooks
Preplan for wind effect – if approaching downwind you will be blown into wharf, position further out. If upwind, carry power a little longer
Position your rudder BEFORE you engage propeller or throttle
Short bursts of idle power
Do not stop engine until all lines secure A

12. Coming Alongside (2) SLOWLY!
Don't let the boat go faster than the velocity that you want to hit the dock ;-)
The stern moves first, remember that
Plan A – boat parallel to dock, throttle idle, rudder AWAY from dock, one second FWD, shift, one second REV, repeat
Plan B – boat angled to dock, in contact, crew steps off with line, rudder AWAY from dock, one second FWD, wait, again, etc. A

13. Docking with Various Winds

14. Retrieving to Trailer Drop your driver off to get the tow rig
Keep the launch ramp clear until trailer is ready, bunks should be ½ or more submerged
Empty the boat of people
Drive on: Apply power, center bow on trailer
Pull on: Snap winch strap on bow eye, crank on trailer to stop. This is final step of Drive On.
Drive out slowly, raising motor
Park, remove gear, open drain plug A

15. ABL-8b
b. Know the names and functions of the lines used to secure a vessel to a wharf or pier. Understand and execute docking commands used in handling lines on your ship's primary vessel.
(You have to actually handle the lines when undocking and docking.) T

16. Names and Functions Bow line(s) – secure the bow in and out
Stern line(s) – secure the stern in and out
Spring line(s) – secure the boat fore and aft A

17. Names and Functions (2) Different spring lines – do same job
Breast line at midships – keeps boat tight to fenders
Quarter line at stern – keeps boat tight
Two stern lines – keeps stern in place A

18. Docking Commands
STAND BY TO DOCK – Everyone get ready. Fenders out, boathook ready, people positioned
HEAVE THE ____ LINE – Deckhand heaves the line to person on dock to receive it
TAKE UP SLACK – Pull in the slack in the line
TAKE A STRAIN – Pull the line in, pulling boat
EASE OFF – Let the line out slowly
HOLD – Hold the line there, use a cleat or bitt
SECURE LINES – Cleat them, proper tension A

19. Undocking Commands
STAND BY THE LINES – People in place to cast off the lines to the dock
CAST OFF _____ LINE – Cast off the specific line, such as spring, starboard bow, starboard stern, port bow and port stern.
Lines are laid or thrown on the dock, hung on posts or hooks, and kept out of the water A

20. Questions? R