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By Rob Alway, Editor-in-Chief
LUDINGTON — Members of Boy Scout Troop 1155 of Hart got hands-on experience with sailing, boating and water safety Wednesday, Aug. 19, during a visit to the headquarters of the Mason County Sheriff’s Office Marine Patrol, located in the inactive Ludington Coast Guard Station.
Mason County sheriff’s deputy Mike Fort, who commands the marine patrol and is the father of one of the scouts, helped lead the activities.
Troop 1155 is based in Hart and includes scouts from Hart, Pentwater and Ludington. The boys were working toward sailing and motorboating merit badges.
“We’re learning boater safety,” Fort said. “All of them had to take boater safety before they could be eligible for this badge.”
During the afternoon, scouts learned how to rig and set a sail and practiced tying knots. They also learned about channel markers, rules of navigation and the operation of motorized boats.
Some of the scouts put those lessons into practice on the water aboard the sheriff’s office Marine Patrol boat, a 25-foot SAFE Boat RB-S designated 5348. The patrol boat gave the scouts an opportunity to experience the operation of a larger motor vessel on Ludington harbor and Lake Michigan.
Fort said the activities were designed to give the scouts practical experience with the skills required for their merit badges while reinforcing safe boating practices.
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