Member Courses

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SQUADRON EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES

Palm Beach Sail & Power Squadron provides many educational opportunities to both the boating public and to its members. One of the key concepts of the United States Power Squadrons is the self-education of its members, meaning that successful students go on to teach other students to perpetuate boating knowledge. USPS instructors who teach public courses are also certified regarding their ability to teach and use modern instructional methods.

PUBLIC SAFE BOATING

USPS provides basic boating education to the public via its America's Boating Course and The Squadron Boating Course. Further details on Palm Beach Sail & Power Squadron’s local public safe boating course are provided on the adjacent

ABC Course web page.

ADVANCED GRADES

Five Advanced Grade courses are offered by USPS. They are designed to be taken in sequence because each builds on skills taught in the previous course. Learn how to become a member of USPS and take any or all of these courses at a discount.

The Advanced Grades are a series of in-depth navigational courses, and completion of the highest level course determines a member's "grade". Letter grades may appear in USPS printed materials while insignia appear on a member's uniform. Descriptions of these courses, as well as the letter grades and insignia, and course offering details are given in the tables below.

Please note: To assure that course material will be on hand, paid registration must be made with the Instructor at least two weeks prior to class start date. Those registering late or at class beginning will have to start without their student manuals. All active and family members are eligible to attend the above USPS courses. Non-Members may take Squadron courses on a space available basis with a course cost of twice the (members) cost listed below.

Course	Boat Handling -- Seamanship (S) Revised: 06Mar2022
No. Weeks/Day	8 weeks/Thursdays/Wednesdays
Start/Exam Dates	April 14, 2022/June 2, 2022 October 5, 2022/November 23, 2022
Chm./Instructor	P/C Rick Wood, JN
Cost (Members)	$70 - Member, $105 2 Members sharing course materials ($140 - non-members)
Contact	seamanship@palmbeachsps.org
Elements Covered	● practical marlinespike, ● Navigational Rules ● Hull design and performance ● Responsibilities of the skipper ● Boat care ● Operating a boat under normal and abnormal conditions, and much more.
Description	Building on the basics taught in the public boating course, Boat Handling (formerly Seamanship) is the recommended first course for 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 students going on to other Advanced Grades courses and/or Cruise Planning or Sail. Boat Handling is advisable, but not mandatory, before Marine Navigation and Elective Courses. Boat Handling and Marine Navigation must be passed prior to taking Advanced Marine Navigation.

Course	Marine Navigation -- Piloting* (P) Revised: 14May2022
No. Weeks/Day	8 weeks/Thursdays
Start/Exam Dates	June 9, 2022/July 28, 2022
Chm./Instructor	Lt. Mike Galvin, SN
Cost (Members)	$110 - Member plus dividers and plotter if needed $155 - 2 Members sharing course materials ($220 - non-member)
Contact	piloting@palmbeachsps.org
Elements Covered	● keep track of a boat’s movement ● Determining position at any time ● Lay-out courses to a planned destination. ● about mariner’s compass including Variation and Deviation ● Plotting courses. ● use of charts & intro to GPS..
Description	Marine Navigation (formerly Piloting) is the first of the advanced navigational classes focusing on techniques for piloting a boat in coastal and inland conditions. The course emphasizes planning and checking along with the use of GPS for determining position, and introduces digital charting along with traditional charting, compass and dead reckoning skills. Plotting, labeling, use of the compass, aids to navigation and a host of related topics are included in this all-new approach to coastal and inland piloting. The insignia is shown on the right. * Seamanship course is advisable but not mandatory before taking Piloting and Sail courses.

Course	Advanced Marine Navigation -- Advanced Piloting (AP) Revised: 06Mar2022
No. Weeks/Day	8 weeks/Wednesdays
Start/Exam Dates	August 3, 2022/September 21, 2022
Chm./Instructor	TBD
Cost (Members)	$90 - Member $135 - 2 Members sharing course materials ($180 - non-member)
Contact	advpilot@palmbeachsps.org
Elements Covered	Advanced Marine Navigation (Formerly Advanced Piloting) is the second part of the Inland and Coastal navigation series. It teaches the use of modern electronic Navigation systems & other advanced & traditional techniques of finding position. Learn about: ● Tides & Currents and their effect on piloting. ● Electronic Navigation ● Radar, GPS, etc.
Description	Boat Handling and Marine Navigation must be passed prior to taking Advanced Marine Navigation. Advanced Marine Navigation (formerly Advanced Piloting) is the final part of the inland and coastal navigation series. This material continues to build on the base developed in Piloting, and includes practical use of additional electronic navigation systems and other advanced techniques for finding position. Among topics covered are: finding position using bearings and angles, collision avoidance using GPS and RADAR, what to do when the electronics fail, tides, currents and wind and their effect on piloting, and electronic navigation with GPS, chart plotters, RADAR, autopilots, etc. Application of course lectures takes place through practical in-class and at-home exercises.

Course	Junior Navigation (JN) Revised: 06Mar2022
No. Weeks/Day	12 weeks/Wednesdays
Start/Exam Dates	March 23, 2022/TBD
Chm./Instructor	P/C Darryl Aubrey, SN
Cost (Members)	$100 - Member $150 - 2 Members sharing course materials ($200 - non-member)
Contact	juniornav@palmbeachsps.org
Elements Covered	Junior Navigation is the first of a two-part program in Offshore (open-ocean) Navigation. Subject matter includes: ● Determining precise time. ● Using the Nautical Almanac. ● Taking sextant sights of the sun. ● Reducing sights to establish lines of position. ●Determining latitude from a noon sight. ● Using special charts and plotting sheets for offshore navigation. ● Setting offshore navigational routines for recreational craft.
Description	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 using GPS for offshore navigation with sun sight taking using a sextant as a backup technique. The more advanced techniques for other celestial bodies and sights are for study in the subsequent Navigation Course.

Course	Navigation (N) Revised: 06Mar2022
No. Weeks/Day	TBD -- Scheduled as needed
Start/Exam Dates	TBD/TBD (Contact Instructor to indicate your future preferences)
Chm./Instructor	P/C Darryl Aubrey, SN
Cost (Members)	$160 - Member $240 - 2 Members sharing course materials ($320 - non-member)
Contact	navigation@palmbeachsps.org
Elements Covered	This is the second part of the study of Offshore Navigation. The student will learn additional sight reduction techniques, how a navigator carries on the day’s work, take sights on the moon, planets & stars and much more.
Description	This is the second part of the study of offshore navigation. It further develops the student’s skills and understanding of celestial theory. The student is introduced to additional sight reduction techniques for bodies other than the sun. The student 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 navigation software that is explained and used in practices for planning and navigating in the offshore environment with the included software. Offshore navigation using minimal data and/or equipment, such as when on a disabled vessel or lifeboat is also studied.

ELECTIVE COURSES

Six Elective Courses are offered by USPS. They cover separate and independent topics and therefore may be taken in any order according to a person’s interests and time. Learn how to become a member of USPS and take any or all of these courses at a discount.

Descriptions of these courses, as well as the printed listing letter designations, and course offering details are given in the tables below.

Please note: To assure that course material will be on hand, paid registration must be made with the Instructor at least two weeks prior to class start date. Those registering late or at class beginning will have to start without their student manuals. . All active and family members are eligible to attend the above USPS courses. Non-Members may take Squadron courses on a space available basis with a course cost of twice the (members) cost listed below.

Course	Engine Maintenance (EM) Revised: 06Mar2022
No. Weeks/Day	10 weeks/TBD
Start/Exam Dates	TBD/TBD (Contact Instructor to indicate your future preferences)
Chm./Instructor	TBD
Cost (Members)	$70
Contact	engmaint@palmbeachsps.org
Elements Covered	Engine maintenance makes students more self-reliant afloat with mechanical trouble diagnosis. It covers both marine gasoline and Diesel inboard engines, etc.
Description	The complete Engine Maintenance course consists of two modular sections. EM 101, Basic Engine Maintenance, provides information about marine propulsion systems, basic engine principles, engine components, controls, instruments and alarms, marine engine maintenance, and steering systems. There is a chapter on winter storage and spring servicing that includes a 25-step winterizing checklist. An 11-page glossary concludes the student manual. EM 102, Advanced Engine Maintenance, delves into cooling and exhaust systems, lubrication, fuel and air induction systems, ignition systems, electrical and starting systems, power trains, and troubleshooting. The last chapter is on emergency repairs afloat. An 11-page glossary concludes the student manual.

Course	Marine Electronics--Electrical Systems Revised: 06Mar2022
No. Weeks/Day	8 weeks/ TBD
Start/Exam Dates	TBD/TBD (Contact Instructor to indicate your future preferences)
Chm./Instructor	TBD
Cost (Members)	$60
Contact	marine-elect@palmbeachsps.org
Elements Covered
Description	The Marine Electronics course consists of three modules: ME- Boat Electrical Systems, ME-Marine Radio Communications, and ME-Marine Electronics for Navigation. All three modules must be successfully completed to receive credit for Marine Electronics.

Course	Marine Electronics--Marine Communications Revised: 06Mar2022
No. Weeks/Day	8 weeks/TBD
Start/Exam Dates	TBD/TBD (Contact Instructor to indicate your future preferences)
Chm./Instructor	Lt. Hal Leahy, AP
Cost (Members)	$60
Contact	marine-com@palmbeachsps.org
Elements Covered
Description	The Marine Electronics course consists of three modules: ME- Boat Electrical Systems, ME-Marine Radio Communications, and ME-Marine Electronics for Navigation. All three modules must be successfully completed to receive credit for Marine Electronics.

Course	Cruise Planning (CP) Revised: 06Mar2022
No. Weeks/Day	9 weeks/Monday
Start/Exam Dates	May 2, 2022/July 11, 2022
Chm./Instructor	P/C Ken Peters, SN
Cost (Members)	$70
Contact	cruiseplan@palmbeachsps.org
Elements Covered	● Planning a voyage. ● Selecting a proper crew. ● Financing a voyage. ● Provisioning, ● Managing a voyage. ● and a whole lot more
Description	Designed for mariners who plan to cruise for just a day or for a year—in either a sail or powerboat—this course covers the following topics: cruise preparation and planning, boat and equipment, anchors and anchoring, security, chartering, cruising outside the United States, crew and provisioning, voyage management, communications, navigation, weather, and emergencies. The manual includes a twelve-month cruise planning timeline.

Course	Weather (WE) Revised: 06Mar2022
No. Weeks/Day	10 weeks/Monday
Start/Exam Dates	February 7, 2022/April 11, 2022
Chm./Instructor	Lt/C Art Dodd, SN
Cost (Members)	$70
Contact	weather@palmbeachsps.org
Elements Covered	• The atmosphere: temperature and heat. • Wind, pressure & waves. • Tropical weather & storms. •Mid-latitude weather & storms. • Tropical weather & storms.
Description	The safety and comfort of those who venture out-on-the water have always been weather dependent. In this course students will become keener observers of the weather, but weather observations only have meaning in the context of the basic principles of meteorology — the science of the atmosphere. The course focuses on how weather systems form, behave, move, and interact with one another and reflects the availability of all sorts of weather reports and forecasts on the Internet. It is a general weather course benefiting those sitting in their living rooms, as much as those standing behind the helm. Each student receives: a Weather Manual - USPS Weather - an explanatory text with full color photographs and drawings covering weather in the United States and its coastal and inland waters; a set of three Daily Weather Maps - learning aids with a complete explanation of map symbols designed to develop weather map reading and analysis skills; and NOAA’s Sky Watcher Chart - a reference to assist in identifying cloud types – helpful indicators of approaching weather.

Course	Instructor Development (ID) Revised: 06Mar2022
No. Weeks/Day	8 weeks/TBD
Start/Exam Dates	TBD/TBD (Contact Instructor to indicate your future preferences)
Chm./Instructor	TBD
Cost (Members)	Free to Members/$100 for Non-Members
Contact	instructordev@palmbeachsps.org
Elements Covered	• communicate more effectively • prepare for meeting presentations. • prepare for teaching in front of a class • prepare your lesson plan This is your opportunity to become a part of our dynamic group of educators in our Squadron Educational Department.
Description	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.

Course	Sail* (Sa) Revised: 21August2022
No. Weeks/Day	12 weeks/Thursday
Start/Exam Dates	September 8, 2022/
Chm./Instructor	Lt. Jon Arck, P
Cost (Members)	$70 USPS Members, $105 2 Members sharing materials, $140 non-members
Contact	sail101@palmbeachsps.org
Elements Covered	● Type of hulls ● Rigging ● Points of Sailing. ● The theory of sailing. ● Sail Handling., etc.
Description	Sail is a complete sail course beginning with basic boat designs, rigging and sail processes for the non-sailor. The course proceeds into the physical aspects of sailing, sail applications, marlinespike, helmsmanship, and handling of more difficult sailing conditions, navigation rules, and an introduction to heavy weather sailing. * Seamanship course is advisable but not mandatory before taking Piloting and Sail courses.

SEMINARS Revised: 4Jan2020

USPS has a series of short seminars open to the public on a variety of boating related topics, such as Global Positioning System (GPS), weather, and marine radio. The materials included with each two hour seminar include a Student Note Book and other take-away guides related to that particular topic.

To reserve a spot:

Members- contact the instructor (phone or email listings are in your Roster)

Non-Members – Contact our Squadron Educational Officer (SEO)

The Seminars offered by USPS are listed below.

If you are interested in scheduling any of these, please contact the the Squadron Educational Officer (SEO)

Boat Handling Under Power

Instructor: TBA

Schedule: TBA

Partners in Command

Instructor: TBA

Schedule: TBA

Anchoring

Instructor: TBA

Schedule: TBA

This seminar covers:

● anchor, rode and components,

● anchor selection for different

sea conditions & bottom characteristics,

● includes Anchoring Quick Guide for reference,

● deployment and recovery of anchor and much more.

How to Read a Chart

Instructor: TBA

Schedule: TBA

On Board Weather Forecasting

Instructor: TBA

Schedule: TBA

Advanced Powerboat Handling

Instructor: TBA

Schedule: TBA

Knots, Bend and Hitches

Instructor: TBA

Schedule: TBA

Mastering the Rules of the Road

Instructor: TBA

Schedule:TBA

Tides and Currents

Instructor: TBA

Schedule:TBA

GPS

Instructor: TBA

Schedule:TBA

VHF/Radio with Digital Selecting Calling

Instructor: TBA

Schedule: TBA

Marine Radar

Instructor: TBA

Schedule: TBA

This seminar covers:

● how radar functions

● operation of the radar under various conditions

● basic navigation, setting of controls

● display interpretation

● collision avoidance using radar, and much more.

Hurricane Boat Preparedness (FREE..!)

Instructor: TBA

Schedule: TBA

If you own a boat— in the water or on a trailer,

and live in Florida—this seminar is for you

Sail Trim & Rig Tuning

Instructor: TBA

Schedule: TBA

RECOGNITION LEVELS

USPS awards grades to its members to indicate how far they have progressed in the continuing education program. Since one of the USPS objectives is boating safety through education, USPS encourages every member to strive to achieve the Educational Proficiency level, with the ultimate goal being that of the Educational Achievement Award.

Anyone completing a grade level of at least Advanced Piloting (AP) and three Elective Courses receives the Educational Proficiency Award. Shown below is an AP insignia with the Educational Proficiency bar below it.

Anyone completing all Advanced Grade navigational courses that results in a grade of Navigator (N) and all Elective Courses receives the Educational Achievement Award. This award, also known as the Senior Navigator award, is the highest educational recognition awarded by USPS. Holders of this honor can be recognized in print by the "SN" following their name. Shown here is the Educational Achievement Award insignia that you might see on a member's uniform.