The following is the text of a news release from the National Marine Electronics Association (NMEA):
(SEVERNA PARK, Md.) — The National Marine Electronics Association and the American Boat & Yacht Council (ABYC) have released the schedule of NMEA/ABYC combined training classes for 2017. Students who successfully complete the four-day course earn three certifications: ABYC Electrical, Basic NMEA Marine Electronics Installer (MEI), and Basic NMEA 2000 Network Installer.
The event is the marine industry's premier training opportunity that is specifically designed as a one-stop shop for boat builders, installers, technicians, marine mechanics and surveyors to get trained on ABYC and NMEA standards. Two of the days focus on ABYC marine electrical standards and training, and two days on NMEA marine electronics standards and training.
"We launched the NMEA/ABYC combined course last year in Fort Lauderdale to a sold-out classroom and repeated it at three other locations, including the NMEA Conference & Expo in Naples, Fla. The feedback from attendees was fantastic," said NMEA President and Executive Director Mark Reedenauer. "All of our instructors are seasoned veterans who are committed to expanding and improving the electronics and electrical knowledge of all students who take the course."
Ed Sherman, ABYC education vice president, said, "This program covers a lot of ground in its four-day duration but we have noticed that the attendees are more than up to the task. The students we're attracting are generally highly experienced technicians that have never bothered to sit for the certification exams or have let them expire and have realized the error in their ways. They're getting back into the fold with this program and we are seeing great success."
2017 NMEA/ABYC combined training schedule
January 2017
Location: Great Lakes/Chicago area
Larsen Marine, Waukegan, Ill.
Jan. 24 – ABYC Marine Electrical certified training
Jan. 25 – ABYC Marine Electrical review and testing
Jan. 26 – NMEA Basic Marine Electronics Installer
Jan. 27 – NMEA 2000 Network course
Trainers: Ed Sherman/John Barry
May 2017
Location: Tampa, Fla. area
Exact venue TBD
May 9 – ABYC Marine Electrical certified training
May 10 – ABYC Marine Electrical review and testing
May 11 – NMEA Basic Marine Electronics Installer
May 12 – NMEA 2000 Network course
Trainers: Ed Sherman/John Barry
September 2017
Location: Bellevue, Wash.
Bellevue Hilton Hotel, NMEA Conference & Expo
Sept. 25 – ABYC Marine Electrical certified training
Sept. 26 – ABYC Marine Electrical review and testing
Sept. 27 – NMEA Basic Marine Electronics Installer
Sept. 28 – NMEA 2000 Network course
Trainers: Kevin Ritz/Johnny Lindstrom
November 2017
Location: East Greenwich, R.I.
New England Technical Institute
Nov. 28 – ABYC Marine Electrical certified training
Nov. 29 – ABYC Marine Electrical review and testing
Nov. 30 – NMEA Basic Marine Electronics Installer
Dec. 1 – NMEA 2000 Network course
Trainers: Ed Sherman/Hugh Lupo
Attending the combined training class costs $1,195 for members of either NMEA or ABYC and $1,695 for nonmembers. Students receive all class materials, including the 228-page NMEA Installation Standard and 160-page ABYC Marine Electrical Study Guide, as part of the package. Lunch is provided for all four days.
Students can register by contacting either association:
NMEA – Debbie Compere
Phone: (410) 975-9425
Email: info@nmea.org
Web: www.nmea.org/content/Traincert/abycnmea_training.asp
ABYC – Sandy Brown
Phone: (410) 990-4460, Ext. 101
Email: sbrown@abycinc.org
Web: www.abycinc.org/abycnmeacombinedtraining