Watercraft (Ranger Award elective)

Watercraft (Ranger Award elective) requirements

Requirement 1. Take BSA Safety Afloat Training.

a. Explain the BSA Safety Afloat plan.

b. Demonstrate during a watercraft activity that you know the BSA Safety Afloat plan.

Requirement 2. Complete a basic boating safety course provided by the U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary, U.S. Power Squadrons, US Sailing, American Red Cross, or your state's boating law administrator.

Requirement 3. Rescue and hypothermia

a. Learn and demonstrate water rescue techniques, including self rescue, group rescue, boat-assisted rescue, short-line rescue, and boat-over-boat rescue.

b. Learn and demonstrate that you know the rules for avoiding water-caused hypothermia and what to do in case of hypothermia.

Requirement 4. Present the American Canoe Association Start Smart Program or another program on boating safety to your crew, another crew, a Cub or Boy Scout group, or another youth group on boating safety.

Do 5, 6, or 7.

Requirement 5. Paddle Craft

a. Learn the American Whitewater Affiliation Safety Code and demonstrate your knowledge during a paddle craft activity.

b. Learn about the International Scale of River Difficulty by describing the six classifications of rivers.

c. On a whitewater river map of your choice, be able to show why different sections are classified the way they are.

d. Learn and describe the differences of the following paddle craft and explain which are appropriate for one, two, or more paddlers:

Canoes: recreational, touring, whitewater, freestyle, decked, C1

Kayaks: recreational, touring, sit-on-top, downriver, race, whitewater playboat, whitewater creek

Rafts: self bailing, paddle, frame, cataraft, inflatable kayak

e. Learn and use paddling techniques and maneuvers for one of the following craft:

• Canoe, both single and double passenger
• Kayak, single or double passenger
• Raft, be the paddling captain

f. Using an appropriate canoe, kayak, or raft, paddle a slow river, lake, or coastal waterway, a distance of at least eight miles, or run a whitewater river, a distance of six miles with at least one class II rapid. If using a paddle raft, be the paddle captain.

Requirement 6. Board Sailing

a. Learn and demonstrate the BSA rules for boardsailing.

b. Learn how to boardsail.

Requirement 7. Sail Boating

Become certified as a US Sailing Small Boat Sailor or US Sailing Instructor.

The official source for the information shown in this article or section is: Venturer Handbook, 2006 Edition (BSA Supply SKU #637685)

• Cub Scouts
  • Tiger Elective Adventure: Floats and Boats
  • Bear Elective Adventure: Salmon Run
  • Wolf Elective Adventure: Spirit of the Water
  • Webelos/Arrow of Light Elective Adventure: Aquanaut
• Boy Scouts/Venturers/Sea Scouts:
  • Awards for everyone older than Cub Scouts (Boy Scouts/Venturers/Sea Scouts): Boardsailing BSA - BSA Lifeguard - BSA Stand Up Paddleboarding - BSA Swim Test - Kayaking BSA - Mile Swim BSA - Scuba BSA - Snorkeling BSA - Whitewater Rafting BSA - National Outdoor Award for Aquatics
  • Boy Scout Merit Badges: Canoeing - Kayaking - Lifesaving - Motorboating - Rowing - Scuba Diving - Small-Boat Sailing - Swimming - Water Sports - Whitewater
  • Boy Scout Awards: BSA Complete Angler
  • Boy Scout ranks: Second Class - First Class
  • Venturer: Ranger Award electives: Lifesaving - Scuba - Watercraft
  • Sea Scout Ranks: Apprentice - Ordinary - Able - Quartermaster
  • Sea Scout Awards: Small Boat Handler - Qualified Seaman - Long Cruise Award