[labatt]

Hi All -

In 2009, we're (me, wife, two young kids) going to be taking 18 months to cruise the east coast of the US and then down a bit farther south.

Neither my wife nor I have first aid training (other than CPR) or much mechanical or electrical expertise (other than hitting stuff with a hammer or stringing it back up with a bent coat hanger). We're trying to figure out what formal training to take before we go. We're both busy professionals so we need to squeeze as much in to as short a time as possible, yet still retain some knowledge.

We're know we need to get some sort of advanced first aid training and perhaps some diesel mechanics. The local community college has classes in both of these areas, but they are a semester long and most are during the day (which is tough since I'd have to take off from an already filled work schedule). Perhaps there are alternatives where we can go somewhere for a week and get more intense training?

Are there any other courses we should consider taking before the launch date (other than navigation, boating or sailing related courses)? Any ideas on creative ways to get the knowledge (online courses, boot camps, etc.)?

Thanks!


Chris