Advance Courses
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Seamanship (S): Scheduled for January, 2017
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Building on the basics taught in the USPS BOATING COURSE, SEAMANSHIP is the
recommended first course for new members, both powerboaters and sailors. The student
learns practical marlinspike, navigation rules, hull design and performance, responsibilities
of the skipper, boat care, operating a boat under normal and abnormal conditions,
what to do in various emergencies and weather
conditions, nautical customs and common courtesy on the water. This
course provides a needed introduction to the USPS educational program
and a strong foundation for the member going on to take other Advanced
Grades courses and/or
cruise planning or sail.
Prerequisite: Boating and member status. |
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Piloting (P):
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PILOTING is the first of a two-part program of study of inland and coastal navigation.
Focus is on the fundamentals of basic piloting -- keeping track of your movements
on the water, determining where you are at any given moment, and laying out a course
to your planned destination. Included are a thorough study of charts and their use,
aids to navigation, mariner's compass, variation and deviation, bearings, dead reckoning,
and developing skill at plotting and labeling.
Prerequisite: Seamanship |
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| Advanced Piloting (AP): |
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The second part of the study of inland and coastal navigation, with strong emphasis
on the latter is ADVANCED PILOTING. the student
learns many more advanced positioning techniques and is introduced to
the phenomena of tides and tidal currents and their impact
on piloting. Also covered are the simple use of
the marine sextant and various modern electronic navigation systems for
positioning and course planning.
Prerequisites: SEAMANSHIP and PILOTING |
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| Junior Navigation (JN): |
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JUNIOR NAVIGATION is the
first of a two-part program of study in offshore (open ocean)
navigation. It is designed as a practical, 'how to' course leaving the
theoretical and more advanced techniques for the NAVIGATION course. The
subject matter includes:
the basic concepts of celestial navigation; how to use the mariner's sextant to take sights
of the sun, moon, planets, and stars; the
importance and techniques of accurate time determination; use of the
nautical almanac; how to 'reduce' sights to establish lines
of position (LOPs); and, the use of special charts, plotting sheets, and other navigational
data for offshore positioning and passage planning.
Prerequisites: SEAMANSHIP, PILOTING and ADVANCED PILOTING |
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| Senior Navigation (SN): |
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This is the second part of the study of offshore navigation. It further develops the
student's understanding of celestial navigation theory, essential to shortcut emergency
methods.
The student is introduced to additional sight reduction techniques and develops
greater
skill
and precision in sight taking, positioning, and the orderly methods of
carrying
on the
day's work of a navigator at sea. Of particular interest and importance
is the study
of offshore navigation using minimal data and/or equipment, such as when
on a disabled
vessel or lifeboat.
Prerequisites: SEAMANSHIP, PILOTING, ADVANCED PILOTING and JUNIOR NAVIGATION |
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| ELECTIVE COURSES |
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| Cruise Planning (CP): |
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This course is preparation for a cruise, whether the cruise is for a day, a week, a month
or longer. Whether you are going to cruise on
rivers, lakes, the coasts, or across the oceans, very valuable
information is provided by those who have been there. The topics
discussed
are: planning the voyage, financing the voyage, equipping the boat, crew selection,
provisioning, voyage management, navigation planning, weather, communications, entering
and clearing foreign and domestic ports, anchors
and anchoring, emergencies afloat, medical emergencies, and security.
Prerequisite: None. |
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Engine Maintenance:
Scheduled
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This course covers the general construction, operating principles, maintenance and repair
of marine gasoline and diesel engines, cooling, electrical, fuel, and lubricating systems
and associated propulsion components - clutches, shafting and propellers. Since one
of the major objectives of the course is to help
the student become more self-reliant afloat, trouble diagnosis and
temporary remedies are emphasized along with safety measures.
The course is not intended to produce trained
mechanics but rather more intelligent and more resourceful boat engine
operators.
Prerequisite: None |
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| Instructor Qualification (IQ): |
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The development of practical skills and methods in preparing for both classroom
and meeting presentations are the objectives .of
this unique course. The course includes practice assignments in
preparation and delivery of presentations in the classroom,
including
the use of visual and other aids. All types of aids that can enhance a presentation
are studied and the student is afforded the
opportunity to become familiar with their best use. Attendance at the
majority of the class sessions is mandatory before taking the
examination.
Prerequisite: None |
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| Marine Electronics (NE): |
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Essential knowledge about your boat's electrical and electronic systems is studied
in this course. Proper wiring, grounding, electrolysis control, and batteries and their
maintenance are included. Depth finders, marine radio telephones, radar, loran, omega,
and advanced systems for electronic navigation are also studied. Information is provided
on FCC requirements for station licensing and operator permits for radio telephone.
Prerequisite: None |
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| Sail (Sa): |
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This course provides a thorough study of the terminology of sailing; types of hulls, rigs,
and sail-plans; running and standing rigging and
their adjustment and tuning; and sailboat marlinspike. The dynamics of
sailing are covered including: hull and water forces caused
by wind and waves; forces versus balance;
techniques of sailing; points of sail; sail handling; sailing under
various wind conditions from light air to storm survival; boat operation
and emergency techniques unique to sailboats.
Prerequisite: None |
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| Weather (M): |
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| Awareness of weather phenomena, how to read the weather map and the sky,
and
understand and anticipate weather developments for more pleasurable boating
are the objectives of this course. Subjects studied include: characteristics and structure
of the atmosphere, what weather is and its basic causes, normal development
and
movement of weather over the earth, and the
factors considered in weather forecasting. Observations that the skipper
can make afloat include both instrumental and visual:
cloud sequences and the weather they predict; air
masses, fronts, storms, and fog;
and the
use of radio and television weather broadcasts. Throughout the course the student
is encouraged to make observations and predictions in order to gain experience in applying
the principles taught and develop greater insight into weather phenomena.
Prerequisite: None |
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| SUPPLEMENTAL PROGRAMS |
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Supplemental programs have been developed to extend members' knowledge in fields
related to boating. Subjects have been selected in areas about which members have
expressed interest or supplement other courses. These specialized home-study guides may
be ordered through your Squadron Educational Officer or by you directly from the USPS
Ship's Store at USPS Headquarters. You may take any of these programs you wish
and in any order; there are no prerequisites and a certificate of completion is available. |
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| Amateur Radio: |
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| This program is intended
to inform members of the procedures for obtaining radio licensing. Other
related information regarding shipboard radio is included. |
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| Compass Adjusting: |
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This program describes 'every method known to man' for the skipper of a boat with
a plastic, wood, or aluminum hull to determine his vessel's precise heading, in sunny
weather or foul. Included in the text is the use of the pelorus as well as the manipulation
of the compass corrector magnets. |
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| Introduction to Astronomy: |
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A pleasant, non-technical introduction to the wonders of the night sky. No prior familiarity
with astronomy is needed to enjoy this easy-to-read guide to stars, planets,
and major constellations. |
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| Skipper Saver: |
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A blend of two USPS objectives, education and safety. The purpose of the program
is to help the student acquire basic boat handling ability without frills or superfluous
information. |
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| Introduction to Sailing: |
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This program covers the basics of small sailboat handling, including nomenclature,
relationship of wind to moving boat, action of the keel or centerboard, leeway,
lee and weather helm. |
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| Preparation for Coast Guard License: |
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This is the only SP that requires a formal classroom and lecture formal.
Prerequisite: Include S, AP, EM, W and Sa (in some circumstances). |
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| Predicted Log Contest: |
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The first part of this program is an introduction to logging and the second part is for
the basically experienced logger. |
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| Boat Insurance: |
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| Explains, simplifies,
clarifies the elements Of yacht policies and provides information for
selecting the right amount of coverage. |
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| Oceanography: |
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Covers marine geography including earth crusts, tectonic plates, fractures and movement, ocean chemistry, the effect of weather on water, the physical aspects of tides, currents
and waves and marine ecology. |
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| Hand Tools: |
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| Covers tools used by the repairer of boats. |
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| Elements of Boat Desing and Construction: |
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| Basic factors influencing
design and shape of hulls, the effect of horsepower and propellers,
rudders, steering gear and related matters are covered in this program. |
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| Principles of Water Skiing Safety: |
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Many skiing accidents occur because people are not ever mindful of the risks.
There are tested and prescribed procedures which minimize the risk of enjoying this
popular activity. This program delineates these procedures and duties and the proper
use
of the equipment as it relates to safety. |
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| Calculators for Navigation: |
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A guide to the use of 'pocket' calculators for the tedious computations relating to navigation
from coastal piloting to celestial navigation. |
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| Sight Reductions Methods: |
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A self-instruction guide to five popular methods of sight reduction; Law of Cosines,
Nautical Almanac (NASR), Modified Ageton, HO-229 and HO-249. |
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| Electronic Navigation: |
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A series of guides to navigation by electronic devices. The series when complete
will include LORAN-C, RADAR and GPS. |
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| Marlinspike: |
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Is manual is a practical guide to the tying of a variety of useful and decorative
knots, bends, hitches and splices. |
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| For more information call
787-344-7577 |
