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S101 Seamanship
Checklists before leaving the dock; safety equipment; safety and
survival tips; simple engine maintenance; man-overboard procedures;
weather overview; wave formation; marlinespike; radio/telephone
use; nautical customs and traditions; laws of salvage and Good Samaritan
rules; state regulations; propane installation.
S102 Boat Handling
Hull shapes and characteristics re boat handling; trim; docking
and undocking; maneuvering characteristics of different propeller
arrangements; rafting and mooring; anchors, rode, and scope; boat
handling in seas; trailer boat towing, launching, and retrieving;
damage control and fire fighting; locating fire extinguishers.
For the grade of "S", Members must complete both S101 and S102
P101 Basic Navigation
Essential knowledge for the small boat operator equipped with only
compass and knotmeter or tachometer, making daylight trips. Basic
eyeball navigation; simple ways to estimate position without a hand
bearing compass; to judge distance off; distances at which you can
see charted objects; positioning without instruments or with rudimentary
instruments. Basic chart items; 60D=ST; true and magnetic compass
directions; piloting in restricted visibility using sounds; determining
position in an emergency; local knowledge; navigation rules.
P102 Intermediate Navigation
Charts; the Light List, Coast Pilot, chartpaks, and cruising guides;
recognize most items on chart or use chart references to identify
the others; calibrate a knotmeter; create speed curves; calculate
fuel consumption; create or obtain a compass deviation table; fix
position by "traditional methods"-- bearings, ranges, and soundings;
the use and limitations of EPs; basic GPS operations; the necessity
for logging GPS positions/course and speed; visual distress signals
and pollution regulations.
For the grade of "P", Members must complete P101 and P102, plus
a short cruise using the techniques of P101 and P102.
AP101 Coastal Navigation
Skills and knowledge required for making extended cruises beyond
a student's immediate vicinity, near shore, including the Great
Lakes; approaching unfamiliar coasts or difficult entrances. Magnetic
and fluxgate compasses; plotting a R Fix, circles of position, chain
of soundings, angles to determine distance off, danger bearings,
running fixes; Canadian aids to navigation; polyconic charts; seiches.
AP102 Advanced Coastal Navigation
The knowledge needed to become an expert coastal navigator with
on-the-water practice. Navigational knowledge for extended cruising
in any coastal waters; predicting tides and tidal currents; the
current triangle; set and drift prediction and determination; positioning
with current effects; advanced features of GPS; use of electronic
systems; International navigation rules.
For the grade of "AP", student must have a grades of "S" and "P",
plus complete AP101 and AP102, plus a cruise of a day's work in
a coastal area using visual and electronic LOP's.
N101 Electronic Navigation
Installation considerations and principles of operation of marine
electronic systems; installation and basic operation of a generic
electronic depth sounder, radar, Loran-C and GPS; system accuracies,
advantages and limitations; use of waypoints for navigating with
Loran-C and GPS; basics of modern electronic chart display systems;
navigation software with computers; electronic compasses, autopilots,
RDF's, wind instruments and knotmeters.
N102 Basic Celestial Navigation
Using the sun to find your position and the minimum celestial navigation
you need to know if you're going offshore. Understand basic concepts
of celestial navigation; take and reduce sights on the sun by calculator;
plot a celestial LOP; develop and plot running fixes using the sun.
For the grade of JN: Grade of AP + N101 + N102 + a cruise of a day's
work at sea using GPS and sun sights.
N103 Offshore Navigation
The ocean environment; planning and preparing for navigation on
an offshore passage; plan ocean routes; read, interpret, and use
a Pilot Chart for route planning; types of charts and publications
needed; major global wind and current patterns; sources of weather
information at sea; set up a universal plotting sheet; compute courses
and distances by mid-lat or GC sailing; essential features of the
navigational routine at sea as well as in departure and landfall.
N201 Intermediate Celestial Navigation
Prerequisite is N102. Completes practical knowledge of celestial
navigation by taking and reducing sights on any of the navigational
stars, the planets, and moon. Reduce sights by calculator; make
observations and plot a multibody fix; calculate time of twilight
and plan twilight observations using the star finder; make a meridian
transit observation.
N301 Advanced Celestial Navigation
PrerequisiteN201. Additional practice, knowledge, and skills
required to achieve expert proficiency with celestial navigation.
The concepts of celestial navigation via construction of meridian
diagrams and time diagrams. Be proficient with at least one tabular
method of sight reduction; be familiar with commonly used sight
reduction methods; demonstrate advanced level of sextant proficiency;
take high and low altitude sights; understand the navigational triangle
and celestial coordinates; estimate the location of a body from
its coordinates without a star finder; determine compass deviation
from sun azimuth observations; reduce Polaris observations.
N302 Emergency Navigation
PrerequisiteN201. Use of the constellations and motions of
celestial bodies to find your way without a compass or sextant.
Basic navigational astronomy, and methods for non-instrumental navigation
including those used by the ancient Polynesians. The ultimate backup
navigation systemthe mind of the navigator. The major constellations
and "pointers"; sky references for the cardinal points; how our
view of the sky shifts with the seasons; how to determine navigational
planet visibility; celestial navigation without instruments; improvising
in emergencies; liferaft navigation kits; non-celestial methods:
using observation of the environment to get clues about your position
(wind, wave patterns, sea life). For the grade of N: Grade of JN
+ N103 + N201 + N301 or N302 + demonstration of competency in a
"Voyage" exercise; plot a full celestial day's work; star overhead
and related problems; compass deviation problem.
Elective Courses
CP101 Local Cruise Planning
Aspects of planning a short cruise, augments Seamanship, Piloting
and other USPS courses that cover the operation of the boat and
its equipment. Planning a vacation cruise of a weekend or a few
weeks close to shore or island hopping. Boat requirements; elements
required in a plan, including food, meals, water, fuel, and sleeping
accommodations; plan for crew.
CP102 Extended Cruise Planning
Aspects of planning an extended voyagepossibly an ocean passage.
Boat requirements; elements required in a plan including provisions,
meals, water, fuel, crew, and sleeping accommodations; appropriate
charts, equipment, and navigation plan; currency exchange; visas;
passports; entering & clearing foreign ports; VHF & ham
license requirements. For CP credit: CP101 + CP102
EM101 Outboard Engines
Principles, operation, and maintenance of outboard engines, propulsion
systems and power trains; how to create power; cooling systems;
exhaust systems; lubrication systems; fuel and air induction systems;
electrical systems; ignition systems; instruments; alarm systems;
steering; maintenance, adjustments and emergency repairs; winter
storage and spring service.
EM102 Inboard Engine Fundamentals
Principles, operation, and maintenance of the common elements of
inboard marine engines, propulsion systems and power trains; how
to create power; cooling systems; exhaust systems; lubrication systems;
fuel and air induction systems; electrical systems; ignition systems;
instruments; alarm systems; steering; maintenance, adjustments and
emergency repairs; winter storage and spring service.
EM201 Gasoline
Engines
PrerequisiteEM102. Principles, operation, and maintenance of
marine gasoline enginesa discussion of the components and procedures
unique to gasoline engines.
EM202 Diesel Engines
PrerequisiteEM102. Principles, operation, and maintenance of
marine diesel enginesa discussion of the components and procedures
unique to diesel engines. For EM credit: EM101 + EM102 + EM201 or
EM202
EP101 Effective Presentations
How to transfer knowledge; organize information; develop a speaking
plan; evaluate a speaking plan; techniques of questioning and testing;
the learning phases; how to optimize learning; how to eliminate
learning and listening distractions; how to project enthusiasm;
develop listening skills; know the importance of good listening
in the speaking and teaching process; advantages and disadvantages,
selection and function of aids; how to use aids effectively; demonstrate
proficiency in the use of at least four different aids; learn to
develop, tailor, and use visuals to tell a story; learn how to critique
presentations including your own; prepare and deliver 3 presentations
to gain practice using teaching aids and presenting material in
a logical, graphic form.
For EP credit: EP101
ME101 Boat Electrical Systems
Basic electrical concepts, electrical power requirements and wiring
practices. Use of DC battery power and AC auxiliary generator and
shore power. Other topics include how to prevent corrosion of underwater
hardware, lightning protection for sail and power boats, and avoidance
of electrical interference.
ME102 Marine Radio Communication
Basic principles of radio transmitters, receivers, antennas, and
the propagation of electromagnetic waves. Government regulations
for radio procedures, licenses, and channel assignments. Upon completion,
the student will be bhe to select boat radio equipment knowledgeably
and to operate it properly.
ME401 Radar
A practical, hands-on course in radar opdration. This course should
employ actuAl use of a radar set on a boat (preferably) or use of
computer simulation software. This skill, like making sextant observations,
requires actual practice to obtain any real proficiency. Just reading
about it is not enough. For ME credit: ME101 + ME102 + N101
SA101 Basic Sail
Basic elements of learning to sail, including terminology; sailboat
rigs and sail plans; boat design and hull types; sails, standing
and running rigging; boat, true, and apparent wind; leaving the
dock; sailing upwind and downwind; anchoring; returning to the dock;
marlinespike for sailors; basic steering and sailing rules and how
they pertain to sailing vessels.
SA102 Advanced Sail
Forces, stability and balance; sail trim; tuning the rig; steering
and helmsmanship; spinnaker handling; heavy weather sailing; survival
in storm conditions; safety procedures; racing and race management;
complete Navigation Rules for sailing vessels.
For SA credit: SA101 + SA102
W101 Weather Basics The fundamentals of the atmosphere and
what causes our weather; wind and why it blows from a particular
direction at a given speed; air masses and how they generate weather
fronts; the weather and hazards associated with fronts; essential
features of clouds, fog and precipitation; weather and associated
boating conditions.
W201 Weather Prediction
PrerequisiteW101.
Violent weather phenomenon, including hurricanes, tornadoes and
microbursts; the generation of weather and how to make short term
local forecasts; modern tools of weather forecasting, including:
local TV, marine VHF broadcasts, the Weather Channel, the Internet,
weatherfax, and satellite imagery.
W401 Weather Forecasting
PrerequisiteW201. Local weather forecasting in greater depth;
upper air masses and how they influence the weather. (No final Exam)
For W credit: W101 + W201
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