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Seamanship
Course
Building on the basics of
recreational boating presented in the public boating
courses, Seamanship adds foundational information for
continuing boater education. The course contents should
facilitate knowledge development for increased safe
operation of recreational boats and provide the basis
for completion of USCG licensing examination. Emphasis
within the course has been placed on higher level
boating skills, rules of the road, and marlinspike.
Seamanship is available online.
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Piloting Course
 The
Piloting course is the first in the sequence of USPS
courses on navigation, covering the basics of coastal
and inland navigation. This all-new course focuses on
navigation as it is done on recreational boats today and
embraces GPS as a primary navigation tool while covering
enough of traditional techniques so the student will be
able to find his/her way even if their GPS fails. The
course includes many in-class exercises, developing the
student’s skills through hands-on practice and
learning. Topics covered include charts, navigation
aids, plotting courses and determining direction and
distance, the mariner’s compass and converting between
True and Magnetic, pre-planning safe courses, use of
GPS, setting up waypoints and routes, using traditional
techniques such as bearings and dead reckoning and The
“Seaman’s Eye”.
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Advanced
Piloting Course
This all-new course continues to build
coastal and inland navigation skill, allowing the student to
take on more challenging conditions – unfamiliar waters,
limited visibility, and extended cruises. GPS is embraced
as a primary navigation tool while adding radar, chart
plotters, and other electronic navigation tools. As with
Piloting, the course includes many in-class exercises,
advancing the student’s skills through hands-on practice and
learning. Topics covered include:
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Review of skills learned in Piloting
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Advanced positioning techniques such
as advancing a line of position
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Other electronics: radar, depth
sounders, autopilots, chart plotters, laptop computer
software, etc.
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Hazard avoidance techniques using
electronics (e.g., “keep out” zones in GPS)
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Collision avoidance using radar and
GPS
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Working with tides: clearances,
depth, effects of current
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Piloting with wind and currents
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The “Seaman’s Eye” – simple skills
for checking that one is on course
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Junior Navigation
Course
Junior Navigation is the first in a
two-part program of study in offshore navigation, followed
by the Navigation course. It is designed as a practical
"how to" course. Subject matter includes:
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Precise time determination
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Use of the Nautical Almanac
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Taking sextant sights of the sun
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Reducing sights to establish lines
of position
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Special charts and plotting sheets
for offshore navigation
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Offshore navigational routines for
recreational craft
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Navigation Course
After Junior Navigation,
this course is the second part of the study of offshore
navigation, further developing the student's understanding
of celestial navigation theory. The course covers:
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Additional sight-reduction
techniques
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Honing skills in sight taking and
positioning
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Orderly methods for the navigator's
day's work at sea
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Navigating with minimal resources,
as in a lifeboat
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Cruise
Planning Course
Designed for members who plan to cruise
for just a day or for a year--in either a sail or powerboat.
The manual includes a twelve month cruise planning timeline.
This course in non-modular with one final exam. The
course covers the following topics:
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Engine
Maintenance Course
The new Engine Maintenance course 2007
has been put into one ten chapter course that stresses the
diagnosis of modern systems, while also teaching the basics
of engine layout and operation. Gasoline inboards,
outboards, and diesel engines are taught in a way that
reinforces the common aspects of how engines work. This new
course is complete in one book with one exam.
Modern engines offer high reliability
and good performance through the use of computerized systems
for fuel delivery and engine timing. Most of these systems
are “black boxes” that can no longer be serviced by weekend
mechanics with ordinary tools. The EM course covers those
repairs that do-it-yourselfers can still perform, teaches
how to diagnose problems that might be beyond your ability
to fix, and how to share information with your mechanic so
the right repairs get performed. The new Engine Maintenance
2007 also covers basic mechanical systems such as drive
systems (propellers), steering systems, and engine
controls. The last chapter discusses solutions you might
use to problems that could occur while afloat and away from
a repair facility. Gasoline, diesel, and outboard engines
are treated independently in this chapter. |
Instructor
Development Course
Unlike other USPS courses, the
Instructor Development course is not designed to enhance
boating skills. Rather, its emphasis is on enhancing
instructor skills. The course has been designed to
demonstrate interactive teaching methods focused on adult
learning. Students are required to prepare lesson plans and
give four presentations to their peers utilizing a variety
of teaching aids and presentation skills. Each presentation
is to be given on a topic from one of the public boating
classes with the intent that upon completion of the course
every student will be qualified to teach or proctor at a
squadron boating class.
Fully developed suggested lesson plans
for each chapter are contained in the instructor manual and
PowerPoint presentations are available, as well as overhead
transparency masters. |
Marine
Electronics Courses
The Marine Electronics course consists
of three modules: ME 101, Boat Electrical Systems, ME 102,
Marine Radio Communications, and ME 103, Marine Electronics
for Navigation. There are no prerequisites for any of these
modules; however, it is suggested that a member take ME 101
before taking ME 102. All three modules must be
successfully completed to receive credit for Marine
Electronics.
ME 101, Boat Electrical Systems,
provides information about properties of electricity,
electrical power requirements and wiring practices, direct
current power, alternating current power, galvanic and
stray-current corrosion, lightning protection, and
electrical interference.
ME 102, Marine Radio
Communications, delves into radio waves and transmitters,
receivers and transceivers, antennas and transmission lines,
FCC Rules and Regulations, FCC Frequency Plan, marine
radiotelephone operating procedures, and other communication
services (Emergency Position Indicating Radio Beacon (EPIRB),
Digital Selective Calling (DSC), Global Maritime Distress
and Safety System (GMDSS), satellite communications, amateur
radio, and more).
ME 103, Marine Electronics for
Navigation, presents information on depth sounders, RADAR,
LORAN-C, GPS Navigation, and two new chapters: Electronic
Charting, and Computer-Assisted Navigation (CAN). Members
may take this module independent of any other ME module.
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Sail Modules
Descriptions
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Sail 101 Basic Sail |
Sail 102 Advanced Sail |
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Weather Course
Description
The Weather course will furnish basic
weather knowledge for safer and more enjoyable boating. The
student will learn to make weather predictions based upon
observations of the sky, upon barometer and wind
information, as well as weather data provided by maps,
satellite images, and radio and TV broadcasts. Wx 101 and Wx
102 use a USPS supplement manual together with The
Weather Book from USA Today (second edition, 1997) as
the textbook.
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Wx 101 -
Basic Weather |
Wx 102 -
Advanced Weather |
- ffects of Heat and Cold
- Wind and Pressure
- Storms and Fronts
- Rain, Humidity and Fog
- Floods, Droughts, and
Winter Precipitation
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- hunderstorms and
Tornados
- Tropical Weather
- Atmosphere and Clouds
- Forecasting
- Climate
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