One of the main goals of the United States Power Squadrons is “boating safety through education”—we believe that an educated boater is a safer boater. USPS provides many skill building opportunities to the general public through a variety of courses, seminars, and marine-related guides. Our instructors are certified regarding their ability to teach and to use of modern instructional techniques.  All classes are fun and informative, and bring you into contact with other boaters.

Public Courses

America's Boating Course - 3rd Edition

America's Boating Course - 3rd Edition is the latest public boating course offered by USPS to the general boating community. You may be familiar with our prior courses such as The Squadron Boating Course, Boat Smart, the original America's Boating Course, or Chart Smart.

America's Boating Course - 3rd Edition is all new with a completely updated manual, outstanding graphics, and two bonus CDs. The course manual is divided into five chapters. The first four cover the required topics that all recreational boaters must know. In addition to the rules of the road, the four chapters cover the various types of boats, required safety equipment, navigation aids, lights and sounds, anchoring, communications afloat, adverse conditions, water sports safety, trailering, personal water craft safety, and knots and lines. The fifth chapter provides an introduction to digital charts and GPS waypoint navigation, a key skill for boating on larger lakes and rivers and coastal waters. This optional fifth chapter provides the background for more advanced piloting courses.

ABC3 may be taken as a classroom course (find a local course here) or as an interactive, PC-based home study course for people whose schedule and obligations would make it difficult to attend a classroom course. Whether you take the course in a classroom or self-study at home, you receive two bonus CDs. The home-study Courseware CD utilizes guided instruction and numerous video and audio clips to provide basic boating safety information. In addition to the Courseware CD, the second CD, from Maptech, Inc., provides software and sample digital charts so the techniques involved with waypoint and route planning may be learned. Up to date, free digital charts are now available from a number of sources, such as the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. By downloading the latest digital charts for your area and by using Maptech’s Chart Navigator software, waypoints and routes may be created at home, then uploaded to your GPS prior to getting aboard.

After you sign up for the home study America's Boating Course - 3rd Edition, you will be contacted by a USPS member to offer assistance and to schedule a proctored final exam. ABC3 is approved by the National Association of State Boating Law Administrators (NASBLA), is recognized by the United States Coast Guard, and is accepted by most states as meeting their requirements for getting a safety certificate, required in most states for operation of a water craft.

The Squadron Boating Course

The Squadron Boating Course, now being replaced by America's Boating Course - 3rd Edition, is a classroom course for all boaters including skippers of a family cruiser, sailing enthusiasts, personal watercraft (PWC) operators, hunters or fishermen operating an outboard utility boat, and canoe and kayak paddlers. It covers the basics you need to know to safely and legally operate your boat, such as basic boating terminology, boat handling, water sports safety, PWCs, legally required equipment and other boating laws and regulations, right-of-way rules between boats, and marine radio operation. The course is meant to be of interest to the whole family, and we encourage your family to attend as a group. Beyond the basic safety material, additional material covers the fundamentals of reading nautical charts, of using a chart to plot and follow a safe course, and the basics of using a Global Positioning System (GPS) for navigation.  In addition to practice charts and plotting tools, the materials supplied with the course also include a CD-ROM containing Maptech’s Chart Navigator computer program, allowing the student to learn about this exciting new electronic technology.  The Squadron Boating Course can be taught in either of two formats at your local squadron's discretion – an eight (8) hour course covering basic safety topics, or a twelve (12) hour course covering safety plus charting and navigation topics. Either format with its proctored examination meets the requirements of National Association of State Boating Law Administrators (NASBLA) so that you can get your safety certificate in those states that require one to operate a power driven vessel. Get more information on The Squadron Boating Course.

Public Seminars

USPS has a series of short seminars covering specific topics of interest to boaters.  Some of the topics that are available now cover GPS, chart reading, VHF radio usage (including the Digital Selective Calling feature found on all new radios), and on-board weather forecasting.  These seminars are usually taught in a single two-hour class.   A student note book is included, along with a take-away guide or other items that are useful on your boat. Seminars on other topics are now being completed, and will be released in the near future.  Get more information on USPS’s public seminars.

USPS Guides

A series of booklets on a wide variety of subjects of interest to boaters, known as USPS Guides, are also available from USPS.  Some Guides are also sold at marine supply stores and book stores. These guides are a great fill-in to complete your boating and marine-related education, whether you are out on the water or relaxing around the house.

Beyond Our Public Courses

Beyond these courses, seminars, and learning guides offered to the public, USPS also teaches a large number of members-only courses, ranging from basic deck seamanship to advanced navigation and engine maintenance.   Many USPS members feel these member-only courses are the top reason for joining USPS.