Advanced Grades
Seamanship is the recommended first course for members. It expands on topics from the boating course and adds hull design and performance, responsibilities of the skipper, boating under normal, abnormal and emergency conditions, nautical customs and courtesy.
Piloting introduces you to the fundamentals of piloting and positioning -- the study of marine charts, aids to navigation, adjustment and use of the marine compass, dead reckoning, plotting courses and taking bearings to determine your on-the-water position.
Advanced Piloting adds skills in tidal and tidal current prediction and their impact on your position, advanced positioning techniques and the use of electronic navigation systems for position and course planning.
Celestial Navigation (in two parts: Junior Navigation and Navigation) prepares the navigator for off shore voyages. Use and care of the sextant for sight taking, sight reduction methods using the nautical almanac and using this data to determine your position out of sight of land are taught in these courses.
Click here for More Detailed Descriptions of these Courses. If any of these subjects are of interest to you, check the links in the following table to see if your squadron or a squadron nearby is planning to teach this course soon.
Elective Courses
Elective Courses in Marine Electronics, Engine Maintenance, Sailing, Weather and Cruise Planning, are also available.
Click here for Course Descriptions of these Courses. If any of these subjects are of interest to you, check the links in the following table to see if your squadron or a squadron nearby is planning to teach this course soon.
Additional Offerings
Other subjects such as GPS, Operations Training, Vessel Safety Check and Instructor Development are also available from time to time. Announcements for these courses will generally be found on the main page of this website under the related subject or on the District 14 Squadrons Calendar.
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