Advanced Grade and Elective courses are available through any Squadron.  Members wishing to enroll must be in good standing (dues paid), and satisfy any prerequisites.

Enrolling

Santa Clara Power Squadron

Advanced Grade & Elective

Member Only Courses for 2011

Please contact Dave Norris (408) 356-1949 for more information on any of the courses listed on this page.

Advanced Grade Courses

Seamanship (S)

This course is the recommended first course for new members, both power boaters and sailors.  The student learns basic deck seamanship and boat operation and maintenance:  navigation rules, hull design and performance, responsibilities of the skipper, boat care, operating a boat under normal and abnormal conditions, what to do in various emergencies and weather conditions, ropes, knots and anchoring, nautical customs and common courtesy on the water. 

Piloting (P)

This course introduces the fundamentals of coastal and inland navigation -- marine charts, buoys, use of the compass, planning and plotting courses, and use of both electronic and traditional techniques for finding one’s way on the water.

Advanced Piloting (AP)

This course builds Piloting to teach how to navigate safely in coastal waters – use of GPS, radar, and other electronics to safely navigate and avoid hazards, prediction of tides and tidal currents and their impact on boat position, and advanced positioning techniques.

Junior Navigation (JN)

This course begins the study of offshore (open-ocean) navigation – planning passages with special open-ocean charts and tracking progress using both traditional celestial navigation and electronics.

Navigation (N)

This course advances of celestial navigation skills and understanding for offshore navigation.

Elective Courses

Engine Maintenance

This course covers the general construction, operating principles, maintenance and repair of marine gasoline and diesel engines, including cooling, electrical, fuel, and lubricating systems.  Engine trouble diagnosis and temporary remedies are emphasized along with safety measures as a way to help the student become more self-reliant afloat.

Marine Electronics

The new Marine Electronics Course splits the content into three standalone “systems” courses, Marine Electrical Systems, Marine Communications Systems, and Marine Navigation Systems:

Marine Electrical Systems (MES) covers the practice of wiring your boat, including boat electrical wiring practices and diagrams, direct and alternating current power, galvanic and stray current corrosion, and lightning protection. Troubleshooting is emphasized throughout, so you will feel comfortable performing even tricky wiring tasks aster passing this course.

Marine Communications Systems (MCS) 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).

Marine Navigation Systems (MNS) covers all aspects of electronic navigation. GPS is taught as the primary method of position fixing, and LORAN are covered only as a historic sidebar topic. This is a systems course—not “how to” navigate—that focuses on the use of electronic devices to augment the practice of safe navigation on the water. Topics include GPS, the Automatic Identification System (AIS), RADAR, depth sounder and related instruments, electronic charting systems, and a working understanding of the electronics bus structures needed to tie these devices together.

Weather

This course focuses on all aspects of the weather, especially as it impacts boaters.  Topics covered include different weather phenomena, understanding weather maps, reading clouds and the sky, understanding and anticipating weather changes to make for safer and more pleasurable boating. 

Cruise Planning

This course covers preparation for a cruise, whether the cruise is for a day, a week, a month or longer.  Topics discussed include: planning the voyage, equipping the boat, crew selection, provisioning, voyage management, entering and clearing foreign and domestic ports, communications, anchors and anchoring, emergencies afloat, medical emergencies and security.

Sail

This course covers the knowledge needed to become an expert sailor – everything from basic sailing terminology and sailboat rigs to how to effectively sail at all points of the wind, to docking and anchoring under sail, marlinespike seamanship, navigation rules for sailboats, to advanced topics such as optimizing sail shape, rig tuning, spinnaker handling, heavy weather sailing, and sailboat racing.

Instructor Development

This course helps with development of practical skills and methods in preparing for both classroom and meeting presentations.  The course includes practice assignments in preparation and delivery of presentations in the classroom, including effective use of visual and other aids.