Elective Courses

This course attempts to make students more self-reliant afloat, with trouble-diagnosis and temporary remedies given special emphasis. It covers both marine gasoline and diesel engines, including concepts of operation, maintenance, and repair of their:

· Cooling systems

· Electrical systems

· Fuel systems

· Lubricating systems

· Power train components

· Ancillary propulsion components.

Marine Electronics (ME)

This is a series of three different classes

Electrical Systems

Marine AC and DC systems

Proper wiring and grounding

Corrosion and electrolysis control

Batteries and their maintenance

Communications Systems

Marine Radio Telephone Systems - VHF and HF

Navigation Systems

GPS and other navigation systems

Radar systems

Depth Sounders

Sail (SA)

This course provides an introduction to sailing for new sailors and builds upon that introduction for more experienced sailors who want to increase their sailing knowledge and skills. The course covers:

· Sailboat rigs · Sail plans ·Boat design

· Hull types · Sails · Standing rigging

· Running rigging · Wind · Preparing to sail

· Sailing upwind · Sailing downwind · Docking

· Anchoring · Marlinespike seamanship

· Wind force · Stability · Balance

· Sail shape · Tuning the rig · Steering

· Helmsmanship · Spinnaker handling · Heavy weather sailing

· Storm conditions · Sailing safety · Sailboat racing

· Race management · Navigation rules

Weather (WX)

This course combines an excellent USA Today text with excellent illustrations and sidebars that work well on two levels. For the beginner, it makes the concepts clear without being technically incorrect. For the more experienced person, it shows all the detail that has been learned in the last decade with Doppler radar, better computers and more sophisticated satellites.

Next, we have a Power Squadron book that tailors the general weather content to boating issues such as reading weather charts and reports. It covers:

· Weather fundamentals: highs and lows, fronts and troughs, jet stream, fog

· Weather maps: how to interpret forecast charts and descriptions

· Forecasting: how it is done, what is predictable and what is not.

Instructor Development (ID)

Unlike other USPS courses, ID is not designed to enhance boating skills. Rather, it deals with effective communications for speaker and teacher - a quality that benefits the individual in all walks of life. It offers practical instruction in:

· Preparing for teaching assignments

· Preparing for meeting presentations

· Effective teaching techniques

· Conducting efficient meetings

· Selection and use of audio-visual aids.