BARE COVE SAIL & POWER SQUADRON
HINGHAM , MASSACHUSETTS
A Unit of United States  Power Squadrons®

®

ADVANCED GRADE  EDUCATIONAL SEMINARS AND PROGRAMS
Usually conducted at the South Hingham Middle School

Seminars

Using VHF and VHF/DSC Marine Radio

USING VHF & VHF/DSC MARINE RADIO SEMINAR 

See Course Schedule

VHF radio is the mainstay of coastal and inter-vessel communication, and essential for emergency communications. Digital Selective Calling (DSC) is rapidly becoming a reality, as more Coast Guard Rescue 21 System operations go live. This seminar explains basic VHF operation and includes a CD with a DSC Simulator that permits students to practice on their home computers. Also included is the handy, waterproof, McGraw-Hill Captain’s Quick Guide “Using VHF” with the essential information we should all have on-board. Included in the seminar student materials are the VHF Learning Guide, DSC Simulator CD and Student Note Book.

 For more information concerning this course 

Charts and How to Use Them

HOW TO USE A CHART 

See Course Schedule

The NOAA Chart No. 1 is the quintessential reference to chart details but, it is difficult for the novice to understand. This seminar walks you through what you really need to know in an entertaining and interesting fashion, and provides a Maptech Waterproof, flip-fold “Chart Symbols and On-the-Water Guide” to take along on your boat. In addition to showing you all about your chart, it will also walk you through the essentials of converting a “True Course” to a “Steering Course”, laying out a safe course with a course plotter, steps to measure a course with dividers, and a quick guide to the ‘Rules of The Road”. If you can’t read, understand, and use a chart, GPS is of no earthly use to you !

  For more information concerning this course 

Using GPS

USING GLOBAL POSITIONING SYSTEMS (GPS)

See Course Schedule

This seminar explains the principles of waypoint navigation and shows how to relate the GPS readouts to your charts. It explains how to operate a GPS receiver and ‘what the buttons do’, ‘what the screens show’, and how to access the functions you need to properly operate your receiver. If you don’t already own one, you will also get some tips for choosing your first GPS receiver. Included with this seminar is the waterproof McGraw-Hill “Captain’s Quick Guide, Using GPS” containing essential information we all should have aboard.

  For more information concerning this course 

Boat Handling Under Power

BOAT HANDLING UNDER POWER

See Course Schedule

Created for the novice or first-time powerboat owner, this shows operators how to depart and dock under a variety of conditions, as well as all about trimming the boat while underway. This seminar is presented with excellent power-point illustrations and flash animations. It includes a waterproof USPS “Captain’s Quick Guide and Student Notes”. 

 For more information concerning this course 

Sail Trim

SAIL TRIM

See Course Schedule

This seminar shows, in clear and simple terms how to use and adjust sails for optimum performance under a wide range of conditions, as well as all about trimming the boat while underway. Included with this seminar is a waterproof “Quick Captain’s Guide by North Sails” and Student Notes.

  For more information concerning this course 

Courses
 Seamanship
See Course Schedule

Seamanship covers basic deck seamanship, marlinspike (knots and ropes), anchoring and rafting, basic boat care and maintenance, and nautical and USPS customs and etiquette.

Eleven illustrated lectures, textbookc, , and “hands-on” instruction in marlin spike seamanship. Learn how to choose and care for your running rigging and anchor rode. Learn how to splice a line and improve your skills with the more common knots and hitches necessary in the practice of good seamanship.

SIX illustrated lectures

   Two improved and updated texts

   “Hands-on” instruction in marlin spike seamanship.

         Learn how to choose and care for your running rigging and anchor rode

Learn how to splice a line and improve your skills with the more common knots and hitches necessary in the practice of good seamanship

Learn how to correct (and live with) the mistakes you made last summer

Learn how to deal with adverse conditions

For an outline of the material covered by this course that you may review at your convenience, either as text or as a  Power Point presentation, send email to education@barecove.org with Seamanship in the reference line, and we will provide you with a link to our ‘cyber library’. Once you are there, you may select Seamanship, or Seamanship Power Point.

Ø  You will also find a course registration form on the Seamanship selection.

For more information concerning this course,  Seamanship
Registration Form, for all courses, press here  

Sail
See Course Schedule

A six to 8 meeting program which is expected to meet on Tuesday or Wednesday evenings,
from 7 to 9 PM at the Middle School in South Hingham. 

Our Sail Course is a complete, classroom oriented, informative program which addresses the fundamentals of Sailing and, moves on to the more advanced issues which all ‘rag sailors’ need to have under their belts before leaving their moorings.

The course begins with basic and generic boat designs, and quickly moves on to rigging and sail processes for the non-sailor.


For more information concerning this course, Sail
           Registration Form, for all courses, press here  

Marine Electronics --  In Three Modules
 See Course Schedule
 Marine Electronics Course

The course consists of three modules, each four meetings in length:

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, the course will be presented in its prepared modular sequence. All three modules must be successfully completed to receive USPS Certificate 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). 

Instructor:                  TBA
Course Fee:                $50 USPS Members, $75 Non-Members
                                                (all texts included)
Class Begins:              See Course Schedule
Class Meets:               Consecutive Thursdays, 7:00 P.M.
                                    at Hingham Middle School
                                    1103 Main Street (Route 228), South Hingham

For a Registration Form, send email with your contact information
  Electronics

Registration Form, for all courses, press here  

Piloting
See Course Schedule
The role of the coastal navigator is to direct or manage a vessel on its course to maintain the safety of its passengers, crew and the vessel itself, whether on the sea, or upon coastal or inland waters.

This course provides practical instruction in chart work, position determination based on course plotting, effects of ocean, bay and river currents, dead reckoning, and the extensive application of Speed-Time-Distance calculations.

Additional subjects include government regulations concerning equipment required on pleasure craft; charts available and their use; aids to navigation which appear on both water and land; compass selection, installation, and adjustment; plotting and labeling procedures and conventions, and use of bearings in plotting position.


 Advance Registration is required for this course!

  Send your contact information to:  Piloting

Registration Form, for all courses, press here  

Advanced Piloting
  See Course Schedule

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, chartplotters, 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:

  • Review of skills learned in Piloting
  • Advanced positioning techniques such as advancing a line of position
  • Other electronics:  radar, depth sounders, autopilots, chartplotters, laptop computer software, etc.
  • Hazard avoidance techniques using electronics (e.g., “keep out” zones in GPS)
  • Collision avoidance using radar and GPS
  • Working with tides: clearances, depth, effects of current
  • Piloting with wind and currents
  • The “Seaman’s Eye” – simple skills for checking that one is on course
  • Advance Registration is required for this course! 
     Send your contact information to:         Advanced Piloting

  • Registration Form, for all courses, press here  

Weather  --  In Two Modules
See Course Schedule

 BASIC WEATHER - Wx-101 - WEATHER PREDICTION - Wx-102

On-Board Forecasting, violent weather phenomenon, including hurricanes, tornadoes and microbursts; the generation of weather and how to make short term local forecasts; modern tools of weather forecasting, including: local TV, marine VHF broadcasts, the Weather Channel, the Internet, weatherfax and satellite imagery.

When scheduled, this class will meet at the Hingham Middle School.
Completion of both Modules is required for award of Certificate.
 

For more information about this course, Weather

Registration Form, for all courses, press here  

ENGINE MAINTENANCE COURSE
See Course Schedule

An eleven session program presented by one of our more popular instructors, Frank Ciolkosz, who was our Squadron’s nominee for the 2006 National Charles F. Chapman Award for Excellence in Teaching. This course examines the various components of gasoline and diesel marine propulsion systems and, explores the various conditions that may lead to system failures, as well as the routine maintenance means by which such failures may be avoided.

 It is not the objective of this course to produce skilled engine mechanics but, rather, to acquaint the seaman with sufficient knowledge about propulsion systems in general so as to permit the diagnosis of system malfunctions and facilitate temporary or emergency repairs to effectively enable a safe return to port. 

Whereas many of the propulsion systems in modern vessels require the special skills and tools available only to trained professional technicians, this course is also designed to instruct vessel owners in the recognition of malfunctions in sophisticated propulsion system, and prepare them to address the same intelligently with his or her mechanic when diagnosing problems.

 Instructor:                             TBA
Course Fee:                $50 USPS Members, $100. Non-Members
                                                (All texts included)
Class Begins:              See Course Schedule
Class Meets:               7:00 P.M. on consecutive Tuesday evenings at Hingham Middle
                                    School, 1103 Main Street (Route 228), South Hingham

For a Registration Form Send email
 Engine Maintenance 

For  information about any of these programs, contact the Squadron Educational Officer

MEMBERS OF USPS, USCGAUX, AND CANADIAN POWER & SAIL SQUADRONS WILL BE GIVEN NATIONAL CREDITS
 
For courses near you, visit the District 12 USPS Web Site

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This page last updated October 29, 2011