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.

Classes are given in the Seattle area, and we tailor them to the Puget Sound, San Juan and Southern BC marine environment.

Members:  To register please contact P/C Al Keim, JN at 206-779-5346 or e-mail al@keimco.net

Non-Members:  The combined cost of a years membership and your first class will be your best boating education bargain in town because we only need to charge for class materials.  Our instructors are experienced Pacific NW boaters who volunteer their time.  See membership for other benefits of joining -- then go to how to join to become a member.

Classes scheduled for the Spring (usually 1900 to 2100 or 7 pm to 9 pm weekly:

• Seamanship starts Monday 25 March through 10 June, with holiday break 5/27; instructor P/Lt/C Bill Ray, AP ($55/$10)   (map)

• Engine Maintenance Class starts Tuesday 26 March through 21 May. Troubleshooting, preventive maintenance and repair of marine gas or diesel engines, and/or better communicate with your mechanic. Instructor P/Lt/C Bill Ray, AP ($55/$10)   (map)

• Piloting Class starts Wednesday 27 March. First of the coastal navigation classes: charts, compasses and route planning. Instructor P/C Al Keim JN. ($55/$10)   (map)

• Sail Class starts Early May. Learn sailing techniques from a race-winning skipper. Instructor Jim Hewitson, P.

Class Abbreviations:

Note:  these classes are available to members only.  See membership for other benefits of joining -- then go to how to join to become a member.

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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 -