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District 15 a Unit of the United States Power Squadrons©

Sail and Power Boating

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USPS®'s The Squadron Boating Course

The Squadron Boating Course is a traditional civic service of the United States Power Squadrons organization.  Since 1914 local squadrons have presented the course to anyone who wished to attend - to date more than 3 million people.  Learning to boat safely is important and the increased knowledge will enhance your safety on the water and your enjoyment of the sport.

There are now two courses, The Squadron Boating Course and Boat Smart, both designed to be useful to all boaters, from the fisherman in an outboard to the skipper of a large cruiser or sailboat.  All boaters are subject to nautical rules and regulations.  Skippers should learn and respect traditional boating courtesies.  The courses are meant to be of interest to the entire family; older children are welcome.  We encourage your family to attend as a group.

The Squadron Boating Course contains sixteen sections.  Boat Smart contains three sections.  There are homework questions at the end of each section to assist retention of the information presented.

The Squadron Boating Course covers additional topics such as an introduction to reading charts and plotting courses that are not in Boat Smart.  However, Chart Smart is available for those who would like to learn a little about piloting.

For information on the USPS public boating course closest to you, call 1-888-FOR-USPS or check out our Online Schedule.

There are also two courses available for home study.  The on-line America's Boating Course, a joint effort between USPS and the United States Coast Guard Auxiliary, includes an interactive computer CD-ROM that serves as a "virtual" instructor with audio and video clips.  Most states recognize ABC as meeting their education requirements.  If you prefer video learning, you can obtain the USPS Video Boating Course by calling 1-888-FOR-USPS or (919) 821-0281.

Additional USPS Educational Materials are available to the public.  There are also advanced courses for our members.