St. Paul Sail and Power Squadron
A unit of United States Power Squadrons
Hotline: 952-472-9300
 Webmaster e-mail contact:
bartc@millcomm.com
S.P.S.P.S. Burgee
St. Paul Home Page
SPSPS Links:
 Course Offerings 
 Event Photos 
 Registration 
 Conventions 
 2005 Calendar 

Helpful Links:
 Minnesota DNR 
 Wisconsin DNR 
 USPS Nat'l. Site 
 Marlin Bree 
River Skipper
Submissions
 river1rat@comcast.net

Course Offerings

About the Courses         Descriptions         Current Locations

About Local SPSPS Courses
St Paul Sail and Power Squadron (SPSPS) volunteer members teach the USPS BoatSmart® courses throughout the year and classes are held a various locations around the Twin Cities area. If a class in your area has not been scheduled, call the Squadron hotline number and request a class for your area.

Courses typically are taught in the Spring (usually in February or March) and in the Fall (usually September or October). As the classes are scheduled you can find them here or by calling the numbers above. If the course you are interested in has already begun or has completed, please feel free to ask the contact listed when the next one will be scheduled. 
 
Course Descriptions
PUBLIC COURSES
BoatSmart® is a course open to the public. This course discusses the principles of safe boating and is approved by the Minnesota and Wisconsin DNR for persons under age 17 to qualify for a state boat operator's certificate.
 
BoatSmart® Class Pre-registration
Pre-registration and pre-payment of materials fee (25.00) is required for all BoatSmart classes. Please contact us @ 952-472-9300 (24/7) or email jbuchanan@appletreefn.com to receive registration forms.
Upon your return of the completed forms and 25.00 check (payable to the St. Paul Sail & Power Squadron), we'll call to confirm your places in the class. Please specify your class choice and the number of people to register when you contact us.

BoatSmart® PUBLIC SAFE BOATING COURSES

 
To register for a BoatSmart® class,
please contact us at the SPSPS Hotline: 952-472-9300
Email contact: jbuchanan@appletreefn.com
 

ADVANCED GRADE COURSES (for SPSPS members):
In addition to the BoatSmart® courses, available to the general boating community, the Squadron also offers to its members the following courses:

ADVANCED GRADES
For members only
Recommend taking in this sequence
Course Descriptions

SEAMANSHIP (S): builds on the basics taught in public boating classes.  Students learn practical marlinspike seamanship, basic navigation rules, hull designs and performance, skipper responsibilities, operating in normal and adverse conditions, emergencies, customs and water courtesy.
 
PILOTING (P): First Of two-part program studying inland and coastal navigation, determining your position, plotting courses, aids to navigation, compass use and dead reckoning.
 
ADVANCED PILOTING (AP): The second part of inland and coastal navigation, electronic navigation basics, advanced position finding, techniques, tides an currents and more.
 
JUNIOR NAVIGATION (JN): Practical applications of celestial navigation, concepts, use of sextant to take sights of sun, moon, planets and stars.  Accurate time determination, use of plotting sheets to determine position.
 
NAVIGATION (N): Advanced celestial navigation, understanding theory, additional sight reduction methods, increasing sight taking accuracy, emergency position determination.
 
ELECTIVE COURSES
For members only - Take in any sequence

CRUISE PLANNING (CP): For a two day or two year cruise, build from a dream to successful journey, consideration of boat type, crew selection, provisioning, engine, spare parts and maintenance, health and safety, foreign port entry, emergencies, security, pets, firearms.
 
ENGINE MAINTENANCE (EM): Two parts: Basic EM covers maintenance, propulsion systems, engine principles, engine components, off season storage.  Advanced EM deals with cooling, exhaust systems, lubrication, fuel systems, electrical systems, troubleshooting, gasoline and diesel engines, outboard and inboard engines.
 
MARINE ELECTRONICS (ME): In three parts, deals with boat electrical systems, marine radio communications and marine electronics for navigation.
 
SAIL (Sa): A two part course covering basic sailing, terminology, rigs, sail plans, wind, boat handling, sailing rules, forces and stability and balance, tuning your rig, storm conditions, safety and racing.
 
WEATHER (wx): Basics for safe boating, weather observation, clouds, weather systems, satellite images, weather maps, storms and fronts, thunderstorms and tornadoes, forecasting.

For more information and to register for Advanced Grade Courses call the hotline at  
952-472-9300.
 

MEMBER CLASSES
Fall 2005

Piloting -
 Thursdays from 7-9 stating September 29th with a cost of $50.00
 Seamanship -
Thursdays from 7-9 stating September 29th with a cost of $30
Instructor Development -
Tuesdays from 7-9 starting September 27th this class is Free
 Marine Electronics -
 Tuesdays from 7-9 starting September 27th  with a cost of $37

All advanced grade courses will be taught at the SPSPS classrooms
at ABI in Oakdale.


PILOTING
The next course in the Advanced Grades sequence following the current Seamanship course. The first of a two-part program studying coastal and inland navigation. Basic chart plotting, position determination, compass variation, deviation, and more.
Current material price: $28.00

NAVIGATION
JN is a prerequisite
 
CRUISE PLANNING
An elective, no prerequisite. A comprehensive course in planning for a cruise, whether local overnight or long-term; covering the boat, crew, provisions, voyage management and much more.
Current material price: $34.00

WEATHER
An elective; no prerequisite. Absolutely, one of the best elective courses offered to members. On the rivers, the Great Lakes, coastal waters or the high seas, this course will serve a member for a lifetime. I personally give this one ***** (five stars).
This course is set up in two modules.
Current material price for both modules: $55.00

INSTRUCTOR DEVELOPMENT
An essential course to certify members for instructing all public boating courses.
Don't be caught without your certificate by the year 2006!
Classes start late April
No cost to members.

CHART SMART A short course in reading and interpreting nautical charts. This is critically important for anyone not having taken Piloting for members and non-members.
Current material cost: $16.00
 
BOAT SMART:
Currently, our most popular public boating course. Runs four weeks and qualifies student for USPS membership; great introductory course in safe boating.
Call St. Paul Sail & Power Squadron Information Hot Line at 952-472-9300 (24/7).
Current material cost: $25.00
 
To register for a classes, please contact us at:
Hotline: 952-472-9300
Email contact:captdon3@juno.com
 
Vessel Safety Checks Offerings
Visit www.usps.org to learn more about the Vessel Safety Checks and call the SPSPS hotline to schedule this service at your marina or place of business.
Copyright © 2005
St. Paul Sail and Power Squadron, District 10, St. Paul, Minnesota
® United States Power Squadrons, USPS, the USPS Ensign, BoatSmart ®
and the Trident Design are Registered Trademarks of United States Power Squadrons, Inc.