Advanced Piloting can be followed by the Celestial Navigation series.  The Advanced Grade classes build one upon the other as represented by the S, P, AP, JN and N letters following people's names.

Perhaps you would like to take some of the Electives such as Marine Electronics, Sail or Weather.  The Electives do not have any prerequisites or preferred order, although Seamanship is usually taken first.

Members: To register for the Advanced Grade or Elective classes listed below, please contact P/C Nadeane Rutledge, SN at 206-789-2834 or e-mail rutledges@aol.com

Non-Members:  Please contact our membership chairman Lt Alan L. Sidel, JN at 206-935-4377 or  alan@donsgroupattire.com to become a member.  The combined cost of joining and your first class will still be the best boating education bargain in town because we only need to charge for materials.  Our instructors are experienced Pacific NW boaters who volunteer their time.  See membership for the other benefits.

Classes Scheduled (usually 1900 to 2100 or 7 pm to 9 pm weekly):

Advanced Piloting, Instructor Development, Seamanship, Sail and Engine Maintenance Classes are underway for the Spring season.

Summer is for boating (learn-by-doing time).

Next years classes are in the planning stage.

Here’s the long range class plan.  Some classes are tentative depending on interest, so if you would like to take a class please let Nadeane or Dave know as early as you can!

Note:  these classes are available to members only.  Check the membership information for how to join.

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Welcome to Seamanship and Boat Handling

Building on the basics learned in Boating, the Seamanship course is an important foundation for other "advanced grade" courses.  The student learns -

• Skipper’s Responsibilities
• Before Leaving the Dock
• Electronics for communication, navigation and fun
• Collision Avoidance rules
• Boat Handling under normal and adverse conditions
• Docking and Anchoring techniques
• Marlinespike and Knots Hands-On
• Boating Emergencies, being prepared, basic First Aid
• Plan a sample trip to Port Orchard using paper and web resources
• Nautical customs and flag etiquette

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Welcome to Piloting -- Coastal Navigation I

This course is the first of a two-part program studying inland and coastal navigation.   Its focus is on the fundamentals of piloting - keeping track of a boat's movements, determining one's position at any time and laying out courses to a planned destination.   Included are subjects such as -

• Charts and their use
• Aids to navigation
• The mariner's compass
• Variation and deviation of the compass
• Plotting and steering courses
• Dead reckoning
• Plotting and labeling charts

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Welcome to Advanced Piloting -- Coastal Navigation II

This course is the final part of the inland and coastal navigation series. Its emphasis is on the use of modern electronic navigation systems and other advanced techniques for finding position. Among topics covered are -

• Tides and currents and their effect on piloting
• Finding position using bearings and angles
• Simple use of the mariner's sextant
• Electronic navigation - RADAR, LORAN, GPS, etc.

Welcome to Junior Navigation -- Celestial Navigation I

Welcome to Navigation -- Celestial Navigation II 

This course is the second part of the study of offshore navigation, further developing the student's understanding of celestial navigation theory. The course covers -