Education
The USPS education program offers many opportunities for members to learn about the many areas involved in today's boating. For basic boating skills, see our America's Boating Course page. Our advanced boating skill courses include:
SEAMANSHIP (S) teaches the student how to maneuver a boat in various situations, how to handle lines, tie knots, nautical customs and courtesy, and boating history, etc.
PILOTING (P) teaches the basics of getting from point A to point B using charts, landmarks, navigational aids, etc. This is considered to be the first part of the basic coastal navigation set.
ADVANCED PILOTING (AP) which some consider to be the second part of coastal navigation, moves offshore with expanded instruction as to understanding tides, current, course plotting, and relate skills.
JUNIOR NAVIGATION (JN) introduces celestial navigation, the use of sextant, and use of tables to calculate the vessel's position from the stars, sun, moon and planets.
NAVIGATION (N) takes the student "way off shore" and into the theoretical use of celestial navigation as well as the use of special charts, plotting sheets, and a complete understanding of the use of a sextant to find the vessel's position.
ELECTIVES include: CRUISE PLANNING (CP), ENGINE MAINTENANCE (EM), MARINE ELECTRONICS (ME), SAIL (Sa), WEATHER (W), and INSTRUCTOR DEVELOPMENT (ID).
SUPPLEMENTAL PROGRAMS: AMATEUR RADIO, BOAT INSURANCE, CALCULATORS FOR NAVIGATION, COMPASS ADJUSTING, ELEMENTS OF BOAT DESIGN AND CONSTRUCTION, HAND TOOLS, INTRODUCTION TO NAVIGATIONAL ASTRONOMY, INTRODUCTION TO SAILING, LORAN-C, OCEANOGRAPHY, PREDICTED LOG CONTEST, PREPARATION FOR COAST GUARD LICENSE, PRINCIPALS OF WATER-SKIING
Upcoming Class Schedule:
PILOTING (P):Ten(10) consecutive Wednesdays - 2/20/13 through 4/24/13
AMERICA'S BOATING COURSE - Public Classes:
Each class runs for three(3) consecutive Saturdays from 0830 until 1300
Class dates: March 2,9,16 or April 27 May 4,11 or September 14,21,28 Class cost is $55 which includes coffee, juices, water, soft drinks & snacks
Call 1(941)493-2837 for reservations
Primary source of information regarding these classes:
P/C Tim McGarr P
stilenraile@verizon.net
1(941)468-2300 days
1(941)493-2837 evenings
You can also visit the USPS main website to look for additional courses or seminars: