Advance Course

Piloting is the first course in the sequence of USPS courses on navigation, covering the basics of coastal and inland navigation. This 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 can 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. Ten classes of two hours each are typically scheduled for the presentation of this course. In addition, the students have seven days to complete the open-book exam. Topics covered include:

• Charts and their interpretation
• Navigation aids and how they point to safe water
• Plotting courses and determining direction and distance
• The mariner’s compass and converting between True and Magnetic
• Use of GPS – typical GPS displays and information they provide, setting up waypoints and routes, staying on a GPS route.
• Pre-planning safe courses and entering them into the GPS
• Monitoring progress and determining position by both GPS and traditional techniques such as bearings and dead reckoning
• The “Seaman’s Eye” – simple skills for checking that one is on course.

Members Registration Fee: $85.00-Includes Student Kit and Textbook

Non-Member Registration Fee: $125.00 -Includes Student Kit and Textbook

• Aug 21 Chapter 1: Introduction to Piloting
• Aug 28  Chapter 2: Tools of Piloting
• Sep 4 Labor Day – No Class
• Sep 11 Chapter 3: Plotting and Planning Techniques – Part 1
• Sep 18 Chapter 3: Plotting and Planning Techniques – Part 2
• Sep 25  Chapter 4: On the Water
• Oct 2 Chapter 5: Beginning GPS Navigation – Part 1
• Oct 9 Chapter 5: Beginning GPS Navigation – Part 2
• Oct 16 Chapter 6: Monitoring Progress
• Oct 23 Chapter 7: Manual Piloting
• Oct 30 Chapter 8: Review and Exam Distribution