Sea Base - Merit Badges - Small Boat Sailing Merit Badge

 

Are you going on the Florida Keys Sea Base high adventure sailing, snorkeling trip and thinking, I'll bet I could get a number merit badge requirements completed?  You are RIGHT!  Here's what you could get signed off on the small boat sailing merit badge!

Be sure to get your Blue Card and a counselor assigned BEFORE you leave for Sea Base! Then document completion of anything you do on the trip.  Be prepared to show your counselor photos, if he or she is not there with you, whenever possible, to demonstrate you competency and completion  of requirements.

Note - we are NOT affiliated with BSA or Sea Base, just scouts and scouters trying to help other scouts and scouters!

Small Boat Sailing Merit Badge

You can find and print to bring with you,

• Small Boat Sailing merit badge on Scouting.org
• the full, free PDF of the Small Boat Sailing Merit Badge pamphlet here.  and
• the Small Boat Sailing Merit Badge workbook here.

The requirements below are almost exactly what you’ll be doing all week, anyway, so this is a perfect merit badge to work on at Sea Base.

✅ Requirements you can likely complete at Sea Base

Below is a summary and checklist. See the pamphlet or workbook above for details.

Req. 1
Explain hazards of sailing and precautions; include weather, equipment, and water conditions.

Req. 2
Successfully complete the BSA swimmer test. ✅ You need this to attend Sea Base!

Req. 3
Demonstrate proper fitting and use of a PFD.

Req. 4a–e

• 4a: Parts of a sailboat and rigging
• 4b: “Explain the rules of the road…”
• 4c: “Explain how water conditions… and heavy winds affect safety and performance…”
• 4d: Weather hazards, “Discuss warning signs of inclement weather…”
• 4e: “Prepare a typical float plan.”

✅ All directly tied to daily sailing briefings

Req. 5
Demonstrate proper launching and landing procedures.

Req. 6a–j (CORE SKILLS)

• 6a: Prepare a boat for sailing
• 6b: Get underway from dock/beach
• 6c: Sail a course including running, beating, reaching
• 6d: Tack and jibe
• 6e: Controlling speed and direction
• 6g: “Demonstrate capsize procedures and rescue of a person overboard”
• 6h: Procedure after running aground
• 6i: Take a single line or side tow and maneuver the craft being towed safely for 20 boat lengths
• 6j: Secure and stow equipment after sailing, (Upon returning to the dock, mooring, or beach, properly secure all equipment, furl or stow sails, and prepare the craft for unattended docking or beaching overnight or longer.)

✅ This is basically your entire Sea Base week

Requirement 7 (knots/seamanship)

• 7a: Tie knots (bowline, clove hitch, etc.)
• 7b: Heave/coil lines
• 7c: Discuss line types

✅ Constantly used on a sailboat

Requirement 9

• “Review sailing terminology and the points of sail.”

✅ Learned naturally while sailing

 

⚠ Remaining requirements (less likely or need extra work - do before or after Sea Base)

These are usually discussion-based (those which say discuss or explain) and may need a counselor session after Sea Base. So, if your assigned merit badge counselor is present, you can do during down time! Otherwiuse, learn all you can, and remember it, take photos, document it!

Req. 8
Discuss nautical rules, right-of-way, and possibly navigation aids in more depth.

Req. 10+ (varies by edition)
May include more advanced discussion, terminology, or planning.

⚓ Small Boat Sailing Checklist

This is only a checklist and  a summary of requirements - you must see the BSA pamphlet or workbook for the detailed requirements!