Q: Can I continue to advance towards Eagle Scout and be in Sea Scouts?
A: YES! Boy Scouts ranked 1st Class and above can continue to advance towards the rank of Eagle Scout by earning merit badges, doing service, and demonstrating leadership in the Ship.
Q: Do I need to know how to sail?
A: NO. We will teach you what you need to know. The Sea Scout advancement program emphasizes skills, service, and leadership. As part of this, Marlinspike Seamanship-- the core skills needed to sail and navigate a boat on the high seas-- is a central part of the program.
Q: Can I be both a Boy Scout and a Sea Scout?
A: Absolutely. Sea Scouting is part of the BSA Venturing program. It's also one of the oldest programs within the BSA movement.
Q: Do I need to buy any special equipment?
A: NO. Some members may wish to purchase their own personal floatation devices (i.e. life-jackets) based upon personal preferences. Deck shoes or shoes with non-marking soles must be worn on board our boats.
Q: Can my Scout Troop borrow one of your boats?
A: Depends. We are currently developing a procedure for this. In general, anyone wishing to take out a boat must satisfy both BSA and State of California guidelines for boating.
Q: Do I need any special training?
A: Yes and no. BSA requires all adults take the YPT course specifically designed for Venture/Sea Scouts. We also require that any adult wishing to lead a boating activity take and pass the California Boater Education Course. State law requires that any water craft or PWD operating in state waters have at least one person on board with this training. We highly encourage everyone (youth and adult) participating in our program to take this course. It takes 3 hrs, it's all on-line, and a certificate indicating that you have passed this course costs $20.
We also require adult leaders to be current in their CPR and Adult AED training.
Q: How long as Sea Scouting been around?
A: Sea Scouts have been around for 100 years. In fact, Baden-Powel's brother founded Sea Scouts in the UK as a parallel program for Scouts interested in sailing and boating.
Q: What are the ranks in Sea Scouting?
A: Rank advancement is a central part of the Scouting program and Sea Scouts are no different. Young men and young women can earn advancement by demonstrating skills, service, and leadership.
The Sea Scout rank system consists of Apprentice, Ordinary, Able and Quartermaster. The first rank of Apprentice shows basic marlinspike seamanship skills, safety and basic ideals. To earn Ordinary, the Sea Scout must know, the Ideals of Sea Scouting, be an active member for six months, learn specials skills relating to boats, marlinspike seamanship, piloting, communicating, swimming, safety, and cooking. In addition three of seven electives need to be completed such as, close order drill, signaling in semaphore, boxing a compass, yacht racing, sailing, ornamental ropework, and engine maintenance. For the Able rank, the Sea Scout must be able to explain and demonstrate a complete knowledge seamanship skills, earn the Lifesaving merit badge, complete a long cruise, and must and be a petty officer in his or her ship. Quartermaster is the highest rank attainable by a Sea Scout and is equivalent to Eagle Scout. The Sea Scout must attend at least three quarters of all Ship meetings and special activities over eighteen months, demonstrate marlinspike seamanship and leadership skills, demonstrate the ability to teach Sea Scouting skills, complete a Quartermaster Leadership Service Project (community service project) and pass a council level board of review. The Quartermaster emblem is a medal consisting of the Sea Scout emblem on a ship's wheel that is suspended from a solid dark blue ribbon that is in turn suspended from a bar bearing the design of a double carrick bend knot.
In 2011, 40 Sea Scouts attained the rank of Quartermaster, compared with over 51000 Eagle Scouts
Sea Scouts who earn this rank are entitled to wear a uniform similar to that of a United States Navy Chief Petty Officer (CPO), and can earn advanced rates upon enlistment into the U.S. Navy or United States Coast Guard.