Seamanship (S)

Seamanship (S)

Building on the basics taught in the Boating Course, Seamanship is the recommended first course for new members, both power boaters and sailors. Students learn practical marlinespike, 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 members going on to other Advanced Grades courses and/or Cruise Planning or Sail.

Piloting (P)

Piloting is the first of a two-part program studying inland and coastal navigation. It focuses on the fundamentals of piloting: keeping track of a boat's movements, determining your position at any time and laying out courses to a planned destination. Included are such subjects as: charts and their use, aids to navigation; the mariner's compass; variation and deviation of the compass; plotting and steering courses; dead reckoning; and plotting and labeling charts.

Advanced Piloting (AP)

This is the final part of the inland and coastal navigation series. It emphasizes the use of modern electronic navigation systems and other advanced techniques for finding position. Among topics covered are: tides and currents and their effects on piloting; finding position using bearings and angles; simple use of the mariner's sextant; and electronic navigation - radar, loran, GPS, etc.

Junior Navigation (JN)

Junior Navigation is the first of a two-part program of study in offshore (open coast) navigation. It is designed as a practical, how-to-course, leaving the theoretical and more advanced techniques for the Navigation Course. Subject matter includes: 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.

Navigation (N)

This is the second part of the study of offshore navigation. It further develops the student's understanding of celestial theory. 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.

Cruise Planning (CP)

Designed for members who plan to cruise for just a day or for a year-in either a sail or powerboat-This course covers such topics as: planning a voyage; financing a voyage; managing commitments back home; equipping a cruising boat; selecting the crew; provisioning; managing a voyage; entering and clearing foreign ports; emergencies afloat; and security measures.

Engine Maintenance (EM)

This course attempts to make students more self-reliant afloat; with trouble-diagnosis and temporary remedies given special emphasis. It covers both marine gasoline and diesel engines, including concepts of operation, maintenance and repair. It covers such topics as: cooling systems; electrical systems; fuel systems; lubricating systems; power train components; and ancillary propulsion components.

Instructor Qualification (IQ)

This course deals with effective communication for speakers and teachers - a quality that benefits the individual in all walks of life. It offers practical instruction in: preparing for teaching assignments; preparing for meeting presentations; effective teaching techniques; conducting efficient meetings; and selecting and using audiovisual aids.

Marine Electronics (ME)

This course teaches essential knowledge about a boat's electrical and electronic systems including: proper wiring; grounding; corrosion and electrolysis control; batteries and their maintenance; depth finders; marine radiotelephones; radar; loran; GPS; and other electronic positioning systems.

Sail (Sa)

This course provides a thorough study of the terminology and dynamics of sailing and covers: types of hulls and rigs; running and standing rigging and their adjustment; hull and water forces caused by wind and waves; forces versus balance; the theory of sailing; points of sail; sail handling; sailing under various wind conditions; and navigation rules unique to sailboats.

Weather (W)

This course is designed to teach a student how to make weather observations and predictions for more enjoyable boating. Topics include: awareness of weather phenomena; how to read the weather map and sky; how to understand and anticipate weather developments; structure and characteristics of the atmosphere; factors considered in weather forecasting; sources and use of weather reports and forecasts; and instruments and visual observations the skipper can make.