Seamanship
This site is provided as a means of communications with the USPS National Boat Handling Committee (BHCom). We welcome your questions and comments on our courses, Learning Guides, and associated materials.
R/C James J. Runge, SN
Stf/C Constance L. Runge, SN
Stf/C Sheldon M. Wecker, JN
Topics
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News
On-The-Water Component to the Seamanship Course
A universally useful lesson plan for an On-the-Water component addition to the Seamanship course is now available for download and use by squadron instructors. It is not part of the course exam, but will aid in extending the classroom learning experience. Course instructors can start using it right away to add to their summer boating fun and share the learning experience with some of their students. Enhance member involvement by asking another member for assistance. See the download section below. (20 May 11)
USPS Local Telephone Number in Course Manuals
Some Seamanship course student and instructor manuals have no local telephone number for USPS Headquarters on the Acknowledgements Page. The correct local telephone number is 919-821-0281. The toll-free number is still 1-888-367-8777 (1-888-FOR-USPS). (21 Dec 10)
Seamanship 2009 Correction
Change Student Manual Chapter 5 question 20 answer d to read: "d. vessel less than 20 meters anchored in a special anchorage area". (21 Oct 09)
Correction to One Minute Guide to the Nautical Rules of the Road
Please make the following pen and ink change to Charlie Wing's One Minute Guide to the Nautical Rules of the Road, 2nd Edition (2007). Introduction, page 9, paragraph 4, line 1 change the word twenty to twelve. (7 Feb 08)
Animation and Flash Imagery Help
The Seamanship course CD contains numerous animations that help the student understand the elements of the course content better. In order to effectively present these animations, the instructor must have current Adobe Flash software operating on the computer. Flash 10 player is the current version that is available and it appears to work correctly. Several other players are available but a browser must be used to download the software. The current Flash version may be downloaded from the Adobe web site at www.adobe.com/shockwave/download/triggerpages_mmcom/flash.html. (15 Feb 11)
Seamanship Available Online
In partnership with the University of West Florida (UWF), our Seamanship Course has been made available to those USPS members and the boating public needing an alternative method of effective boating education. Get complete details on the Seamanship Online web page. (15 Feb 11)
Seamanship Course 2009 Description
This Seamanship course is a natural first/next step in building a foundation for confidence and competence for safe and enjoyable boating on the water. It extends the knowledge and skills of the boater in handling and maneuvering a vessel, either sail or power. The course provides a better understanding of how boats behave under various conditions including close quarters and open water operations. Knowledge and skills are increased in the areas of anchoring, emergencies, rules of the road, and marlinspike/basic knots. Appendices include information to safe operation in waters of our neighbors to the north and south, Canada and Mexico. The course content and our coastal navigation courses should help in preparation for completion of the US Coast Guard licensing examination. An On-The-Water component enhances the learning experience.
Course instructional materials include material in Microsoft PowerPoint® format with embedded animations that require additional software to perform correctly. Student Manuals have been reprinted with many minor errors corrected and identified as Seamanship 2009 SM. Instructor Manuals (IM) are now identified as Seamanship 2009 IM.
Course completion is documented by a closed book exam graded by USPS Headquarters.
Minimum computer requirements for the current version of the IM CD are:
- Operating System: Microsoft Windows XP or higher. Note that Windows Vista has presented difficulty for some users. Instructors should always try out the presentation ahead of class time.
- Software: Microsoft Office 2003 (Power Point) or higher; Adobe Flash 10
Downloadable Material
Seamanship on-the-water teaching aid Guide. (20 May 11)
Questions or Comments?
If you have any questions or comments about, or suggestions to improve, the Seamanship course, please contact the National Boat Handling Committee chairman by e-mail, phone or postal service mail. Please be sure to keep your SEO and/or DEO advised of any correspondence you may have with the National committee. Addresses for the National BHCom chairman are listed in The ENSIGN and on the Committee Chairpersons page.
We will try to answer your questions as soon as possible, but please allow 5 working days for an answer.
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