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America's Boating Club - America's Boating Club: Boating Safety, Education, on-the-water activities, fun and comraderie. What We Do Education We teach a boating safety course called the America's Boating Course. During that course, you’ll receive a comprehensive introduction to recreational boating. Whether you enjoy power boating, sailing, paddle sports, or personal watercraft, we’ve got you and your family covered. We offer both a one-day class and also a 2-1/2 hour class in the evening once a week over three consecutive weeks. Once you complete the class and pass the exam, you will receive a GA or SC Boater Education Card. We also teach a variety of other boating courses that are targeted at audiences from first-time boaters to very experienced boaters. Courses such as boat handling, navigation and marine environments are just a short list of all of the courses we teach. You can find a more complete description of our courses on the Education page. Community Service Our club performs a number of community service projects during the year. Below are a brief description of some of the things we do. Cooperative Charting. Our members inspect the Aids to Navigation (ATONs) on Lake Keowee and Lake Hartwell. On our lakes, the ATONs are the buoys that identify hazard areas (e.g., shallow areas), no-wake zones, swim areas, and centers of channels. As part the inspections, we record the condition of each buoy. The inspection records are reported to SC Department of Natural Resources (DNR) for Lake Keowee and the Army Corp of Engineers for Lake Hartwell. We also inspect the survey markers located in our area and their condition are reported to the National Geodetic Society. Vessel Safety Checks (VSCs). We offer a free and voluntary annual inspection of watercraft in partnership with the U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary. These inspections ensure the watercraft meet all federal and state boating laws and ensure that they are safe to operate. Our certified Vessel Examiners do these inspections with the watercraft owner and provide them with a checklist at completion. If the watercraft passes the inspection, we provide the owner with a sticker showing that the watercraft has been inspected. If it doesn’t, the owner is advised of what needs to be done to meet all requirements. If you would like a VSC done on your watercraft, contact our VSC Chair, at vsc.chair@abclubgcl.org . Island Cleanup. In support of the Friends of Lake Keowee Society (FOLKS), our members do a monthly cleanup of an island on Lake Keowee during the boating season. Tribble Center Self-Advocates Boat Rides and Picnic Lunch. Over the last several years, our members have given boat rides and a picnic lunch to the Self-Advocates at the Tribble Center. More information on the Tribble Center is available on their website, at www.thetribblecenter.com . Social Events Our members get together for a number of social events throughout the year. Some examples of these events include beach-ups during the boating season (we meet at an island, and sip, dip and enjoy a potluck dinner), member meetings that typically include lunch or dinner with an interesting speaker, a progressive dinner by boat or car, day cruises on nearby lakes, an annual Christmas Party, land cruises (which is what we call events planned at local, land-based establishments, such as a winery, theater, etc.) and sometimes a weekend getaway. We also do events with our sister clubs in our district, District 26 (D26), which includes all America’s Boating Clubs in SC and on the coast of GA. The most popular of those events is the annual cruise and rendezvous events, where you get to visit various communities in our district, experience boating on various lakes, on the intercoastal waterway and out in the ocean, and meet club members from these different areas. Check out our Upcoming Events page to see what we have planned in the near future. If you are interested in attending one of our events (guests are welcome!), contact our Administrative Officer, at admin@abclubgcl.org .

Contact America's Boating Club - Golden Corner Lakes about boating education, boating safety, vessel safety check, club membership, or events on and off the water! We would love to hear from you... Contacting us is easy. Complete th e form below and our Membership Chair will contact you. First Name Last Name Email Message Thanks for contacting us! Send

Discover boating safety education with ABClubGCL | Boating Safety | Education in Upstate SC. Join our classes and community events today. Club Headlines Good News! We now offer on-line signups for ABC classes via this websites Upcoming Classes page and FaceBook ! Upcoming Classes: Boating Safety Classes: April 14, 21, 28 - America's Boating Course (ABC) See the Upcoming Classes page for more information including online enrollment. Upcoming Events Our Upcoming Events page lists the upcoming events, including boating activities, meetings and land events, during the next two months. Below are the upcoming events that we would like to highlight: January 24 , Member Meeting & Potluck Lunch 2025 Vessel Safety Checks (VSCs ): Don't leave the dock without it. Contact our VSC Chair to schedule your free watercraft inspection. Welcome! America's Boating Club - Golden Corner Lakes Boating, Classes, Community Service, and Fun on Lake Keowee and Lake Hartwell

America's Boating Club - Golden Corner Lakes teaches marine navigation skills usings and OpenCPN software. These piloting skills are very useful on the Intercoastal waterway and major rivers. Course Description for Marine Navigation We are excited to offer the new Marine Navigation course. America's Boating Club has updated its Piloting course to become more relevant to today’s boater. Learn the essentials of safe coastal and inland navigation using basic GPS in conjunction with charts and other available marine data. The Marine Navigation course teaches you how to use the GPS along with traditional dead reckoning techniques for planning and laying out safe routes, as well as ensuring that you are on-course while underway. In this course you will learn: Charts and their interpretation How to interpret landmarks and other navigation aids How to plot a course and determine distance and direction Basic compass fundamentals Use of basic GPS displays and how to interpret the information they provide The use of OpenCPN, a software tool for preplanning a course How to monitor your progress using the tools available to you The Seaman’s Eye – simple skills for safe navigation This is a 10 week class. Cost includes either the printed book or E-Book in PDF format. Upon completion of the exam you will receive credit for Marine Navigation and Club members will have an P grade after your name. Worried about making a 10-week commitment? Don’t be. Our instructor team has the flexibility and work with your schedule should you miss some classes. This class is also available for self-study online (E-Book only) at America's Boating Club on-line education . Go to our Upcoming Classes page to see the current schedule of classes. If you are interested in this class, please fill out our Course Interest Form .

America's Boating Club - Golden Corner Lakes offers classes for new and experienced boaters. We also offer online classes and seminars. Check them out today. Get Started, Become a Better Boater, Expand Your Boating Horizons The America's Boating Course trifold shares the benefits and features of this great course. The Become a Better Boater trifold provides an overview of USPS/ABClub educational programs. Our Offerings Want to be a safer, more confident boater? Whether you're looking to get started or to expand your boating knowledge and skills as the primary boat operator or crew, our educational programs are here to help. If you're new to boating or need a refresher , start with America's Boating Course , taught by volunteers who have a passion for helping students learn, certified instructor credentials, strong technical knowledge, and real-world experience. Graduates receive their state Boater Education card. Continue your education with c ourses and seminars on specialized topics such as: Boat Handling Marine Navigation All About Marine Radio Seminar Using GPS Seminar Weather for Boaters Seminar Test your knowledge and skills against the standards of our Boat Operator Certification (BOC) program and earn BOC certification as an inland or coastal navigator. How to start: Talk to our Educational Officer. Check out our trifolds, course and seminar descriptions , and overview of our OTW/BOC programs. Start planning your educational path with the help of our club's detailed How to Plan Your Courses and Seminars guide. See our list of Upcoming Classes to register and participate. UPCOMING CLASSES

America's Boating Club - Golden Corner Lakes and teach your more about VHF radio. They are used when boating on the Intercoastal waterway or on major rivers. Seminar Description for All About Marine Radio Getting comfortable with the marine electronics available today can be intimidating to new, and even experienced, boaters. One of the most common electronic devices on board today is a VHF marine radio. This seminar will take the mystery out of these units and show you how to set your units up to get the most out of them. What you will learn How to use a VHF radio like a pro, including proper radio protocol The proper uses of the various channels How the digital selective calling (DSC) rescue feature works with the Maritime Mobile Service Identity (MMSI) Number Explanation of AIS (automated identification system) available on the latest VHF radios. You'll also get tips on purchasing and installing a VHF to get the most out of your investment. This seminar is also available for self-study online (E-Book only) at America's Boating Club on-line education Go to our Upcoming Classes page to see the current schedule of classes. If you are interested in this class, please fill out our Course Interest Form .

Become a member of America's Boating Club - Golden Corner Lakes. Join our boating club for education, friendships, and boating fun. How to Join It's Easy to Join: Fill out and submit this online New Member Registration form - OR - Contact our Membership Chair at: membership@abclubgcl.org. We will contact you, answer any questions you have, and help with the rest of the process. We look forward to welcoming you on board and helping you to meet other members and begin enjoying the benefits of membership. New Member Registration Membership in America's Boating Club (United States Power Squadron) provides you with a series of benefits and opportunities to experience expanded boating activities, enhancement of your boating education, and the chance to socialize with people with the same boating and sailing interests. First name Last name Email Home Address Address Line 2 City State Zip Phone Number Gender * Male Female Birthday Are there other members of your household interested in membership? Tell us about your boating experience... If you own a boat, tell us about it... Tell us about you... Submit

America's Boating Club - Golden Corner Lakes teaches this class about boat handling, docking your boat, dealing with emergencies, anchoring, and line handling. Course Description for Boat Handling Course Our Boat Handling course is intended for recreational boaters who have completed a basic boating class like America's Boating Course, and want to gain more knowledge, skill, and confidence to boat safely and have more fun in a variety of situations. Boat Handling covers these topics: Rules of the Road: A Practical Approach Confidence in Docking and Undocking: Slow-Speed Maneuvering Boating with Confidence: Handling Your Boat Under Way Anchoring with Assurance: Don't Get Carried Away Emergencies on Board: Preparation for Handling Common Problems Knots and Line Handling: The Knots You Need to Know Building on the basics of recreational boating as presented in the public boating course (ABC), Boat Handling adds foundational information for continuing boater education. Emphasis within the course has been placed on more advanced boating skills, especially docking and boat handling, rules of the road, and marlinspike. Our small course format allows for informal questions and dialogue to ensure complete understanding of the concepts and principles. This is a 7-week course and includes On the Water training option at the end. Cost includes the printed book or E-Book in PDF format. Upon completion of the exam you will receive credit for Boat Handling/Seamanship and Club members will have an S grade after your name. As an option, each topic is also available as a free-standing seminar although we encourage taking the full suite of offerings. Worried about making a 7-week commitment? Don’t be. Our instructor team has the flexibility to work with your schedule should you miss some classes. This class is also available for self-paced learning online at America's Boating Club Online Learning (E-Book only) . Go to our Upcoming Classes page to see the current schedule of classes. If you are interested in this class, please fill out our Course Interest Form .

The Golden Anchor is the online newsletter for America's Boating Club - Golden Corner Lakes. Golden Anchor and Other Publications Our Club Newsletter: Golden Anchor Current Issue Archive District 26 Website Newsletter: 026 ° True Current Issue USPS/ABClub Website Publications: Compass Newsletter The Ensign Magazine

America's Boating Club - Golden Corner Lakes teaches this seminar about how weather systems form, how to recognize storms threats on the lakes in upstate South Carolina. Seminar Description for Weather for Boaters Boating in the South Carolina Update and Northeast Geogia regions almost always involves making some weather decisions. Our weather seminar will help you have more confidence around forecasting and predicting the weather. This seminar will whet your appetite to learn more about weather systems and ensure your boating safety in a variety of situations. The Weather Seminar covers these topics: What causes weather How weather systems move Why the wind blows What clouds tell us How storms and fronts create foul weather Why fog forms Where to get the best forecasts This is a 2-1/2 hour seminar. Our small session format allows for informal dialogue and excellent Q&A. Club Members receive a PDF of the Seminar materials for free. Non-members pay $10. This seminar is also available for self-study online (E-Book only) at America's Boating Club on-line education Go to our Upcoming Classes page to see the current schedule of classes. If you are interested in this class, please fill out our Course Interest Form .

America's Boating Club - Golden Corner Lakes looks forward to seeing you at one of these upcoming events. Here is a summary of the events coming up in the next two months. Upcoming Events With South Carolina's year-round boating season, our club has an active program of boating activities. From beach ups to weekend adventures, there's something for everyone. Have an idea that is not on our schedule? Email our Administrative Officer at admin@abclubgcl.org . Go to our Events Calendar On Deck for January & February... January 6, 9:30 am, Newcomer Club Meeting , St. Mark United Methodist Church January 8, 4:00 pm, ExCom Meeting, Seneca Library January 24, 10:30 am, Member Meeting & Potluck Lunch , Lakeview Room at Keowee Key North Marina. Brett Garrison (Duke Energy) will be our guest speaker. February 3, 9:30 am, Newcomer Club Meeting , St. Mark United Methodist Church February 5, 4:00 pm, ExCom Meeting, Seneca Library Save these Dates... March 27-29, District 26 Spring 2026 Conference and Change of Watch, Columbia April 18-19, Keowee Marina In-Water Boat Show October 16-18, District 26 Cruise & Rendezvous, St. Simon Island, GA GET YOUR VSC

Review descriptions and online signups for upcoming classes and seminars. America's Boating Club - Golden Corner Lakes is your boating education provider. Upcoming Classes Class Schedule Click on the class link for details and to register online to save your seat! America's Boating Course: April 14, 21, 28, 2026 - America's Boating Course (3 weeknight ABC) May 16, 2026 - America's Boating Course for Keowee Key (One full Saturday ABC) June 20, 2026 - America's Boating Course (One full Saturday ABC) Sept 15, 22, 29, 2026 - America's Boating Course (3 weeknight ABC) Seminars and Advanced Courses: Please use the Course Interest Form to let us know what classes or seminars you are interested in! On-the-Water Classes: On-the-Water sessions for recent ABC class graduates are on hold due to National ABClub insurance issues.. GA and SC References Click on Georgia Wildlife and South Carolina Department of Natural Resources to access their website pages for recreational boaters. Click on the images below to access the latest Georgia and South Carolina Boater Handbooks .