That's fine, but those type of classes aren't racing clinics. They just don't work you that hard, because you're supposed to be having fun learning to sail, not attending boot camp or working out at spring football camp.
ASA 101 class...
- Thread starter kendyoozed
- Start date
Sailing gloves with the open fingers and thumb are not good protection against rope burns of the hand/fingers. If you are trying to hold on to a line paying out it will migrate onto the fingers and burn your finger between the joints; where glove finger stops. These gloves are more fashion statements than hand protection.
That has not been my experience with open finger gloves. I’ve never really felt like the line was going to move further down my hand. I also prefer having my fingertips available for touchscreens and general feel. Could be a matter of personal preference and how you’re used to handling lines.
My instructor required reading the boating safety book prior to class and we took the test before getting on the boat. He then collected the answers and put them below and we dropped the lines and sailed away. While on the water he explained why every question was important while having three of us swap positions on the boat. At the end of two days we corrected each other’s test answers and were able to include when we found the answers to be important. I wonder if that old man would have been proud to know how his student has been doing?
Same here David. Never had an issue with gloves. I don’t wear them all the time, but do use them when deploying & dousing my roller furled Genoa & main. I have two pair that over ten years old!
You’ve got my attention. What brand? My Harken gloves only go about 3 seasons before they come apart at the seams of the wear pads, even with pretty limited use.
I switched Gill gloves they seem to hold up better and the strap is on the underside of the wrist so it doesn’t interfere with using a watch.
Thanks for all the tips guys. We will start the class in two weeks. I can't wait! But I hate test. I have such bad test anxiety. I'm a RN and have to take test all the time for my license and the hospitals I work at. It never gets any easier for me when it comes to a test no matter what....
Just generic west marine gloves. They have likely cheaped out and reduced quality over time like so many things.
Deep breathes. Your job does not depend on this test. Nothing but obtaining a piece of paper that says you took the course depends on this test. You can still buy a boat and you can still sail even if you get a goose egg on the test. There are many competent sailors who never took a course or had to pass a test. What matters is what you learn and learning what you need to learn yet.
Also remember, the ASA programs are a business, not a licensing agency. If the tests are too difficult or too many participants fail the test, it would be bad for business.
Thanks for the kind words. Just an over achiever here, but truly I can't wait. I have been a power boater, 25' tritoon for several years, then added an 18' center console bay boat for fishing and got a Macgregor 26D end of last summer. Largest "trailer sailer" I could find. It will be used mainly as a floating camper so we can have a base to explore the gulf islands. Surprisingly the family is more exited about sailing than they are wakeboarding/tubing with the pontoon or fishing the bay. So hopefully they will enjoy it as much as I know I will.
jssailem
SBO Weather and Forecasting Forum Jim & John
- Oct 22, 2014
- 22,790
Sailign tests are not a competition. 
on everything that Dave just said about the ASA tests.
Gloves. I have had a pair of Gill gloves for 5 years. They are open fingertips. The wear showing up is on one or two fingers. I think that happens when I pull them wet and tired off my hands. I'll buy another pair when these no longer serve to protect my hands.
on everything that Dave just said about the ASA tests.Gloves. I have had a pair of Gill gloves for 5 years. They are open fingertips. The wear showing up is on one or two fingers. I think that happens when I pull them wet and tired off my hands. I'll buy another pair when these no longer serve to protect my hands.
Don’t stress about the test. After all, you’re not going to lose your professional license here! I have taken a bunch of the ASA courses and the written tests always aggrevate me because two or three of the test questions are poorly written. You may know the subject matter thoroughly but because of the manner in which the question is stated, more than one of the multiple choice answers may be applicable and in some instances, asked questions that were not covered in the text or on water experiences. One example on the bareboat charter course was a test question about use of hand held flares that wasn’t in the text or mentioned on water! In any case, no way will you fail the test, so read / study the course materials and you will do fine. The 101 test is simple, after all, as someone previously mentioned, they want you coming back for more courses! Weather has been beautiful lately, so hopefully y’all will have same.
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The questions haven’t changed since my father-in-law took the power squadron’s test in the 60’s. If you read the book you have all the answers. No worries, West Marine used to have it online for practice.
I was referring to line that is running out fast, not to line that your grip is actually holding, or that you are controlling the speed that it is running out, etc. I’ve had a few instances where it was clear that full-finger gloves would have been preferable. The sail gloves also “deteriorate” after much wet use, etc. Actually, I don’t wear any glove most of the time, but when I do it’s not one of the open finger type.
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