Elective Courses

Cruising and Cruise Planning

Here is something very special about the thrill of cruising in new waters and the sense of accomplishment upon completing an extended cruise. To go beyond what most boaters do on a weekend overnight or even a week or so marina hopping requires boaters to leave their normal cruising areas and comfort zones. The Cruising and Cruise Planning course focuses on the planning and preparation necessary for safe enjoyable extended cruises on both inland and coastal waters.

Cruise preparation and planning - General
Boat and Equipment
Anchors and Anchoring
Security
Chartering
Cruising Outside the United States
Crew and Provisioning
Voyage Management
Communications
Navigation
Weather
Emergencies

Engine Maintenance

The new Engine Maintenance course has been put into one ten chapter course that stresses the diagnosis of modern systems, while also teaching the basics of engine layout and operation. Gasoline inboards, outboards, and diesel engines are taught in a way that reinforces the common aspects of how engines work. Modern engines offer high reliability and good performance through the use of computerized systems for fuel delivery and engine timing.

Most of these systems are black boxes that can no longer be serviced by weekend mechanics with ordinary tools. The EM course covers those repairs that do-it-yourselfers can still perform, teaches how to diagnose problems that might be beyond your ability to fix, and how to share information with your mechanic so the right repairs get performed.
The new Engine Maintenance course also covers basic mechanical systems such as drive systems (propellers), steering systems, and engine controls. The last chapter discusses solutions you might use to problems that could occur while afloat and away from a repair facility. Gasoline, diesel, and outboard engines are treated independently in this chapter.

Instructor Development

Unlike other USPS courses, the Instructor Development course is not designed to enhance boating skills. Rather, its emphasis is on enhancing presentation techniques and instructor skills. The course has been designed to demonstrate interactive teaching methods focused on adult learning.

Students are required to prepare lesson plans and give three presentations to their peers utilizing a variety of teaching aids and presentation skills. The instructor may assign a topic for these presentations or you may use material and PowerPoint slides from existing USPS courses, and they may build on one another.
The Instructor Development course is an extremely valuable class for anyone who talks to groups, presents data at meetings or just public speaking. The class stresses the importance of developing a plan; just what information do you want your audience to learn about the subject, how to organize it and finally the best method of presenting that material.
This class is a required class for any USPS members who teach classes to the non-member public.

Marine Electronics

The Marine Electronics classes are divided into three separate classes.

Marine Electrical Systems

The Marine Electrical Systems course starts with an explanation of what electricity is, followed by discussions on boat electrical wiring, DC and AC electrical systems, galvanic and stray current corrosion, lightning protection, and ends with troubleshooting of boat electrical problems.

The course includes detailed instructions on how to use a multimeter, how to solder and crimp electrical wiring circuits, and how to read electrical wiring diagrams. This course can be used as a reference guide for anyone interested in properly maintaining their boat electrical system. The subjects include:
Properties of Electricity
Boat Electrical Wiring Practices
Direct Current Power
Alternating Current Power
Chapter 5: Galvanic and Stray Current Corrosion
Lightning Protection
Troubleshooting Part 1; on-the-boat optional
Troubleshooting Part 2

Marine Communications Course

Marine Communications Systems is an in-depth, nine chapter review of those systems available to the recreational boater, or to those with whom he/she shares the water. Radio history and spectrum definitions are presented along with definitions of radio circuits that the student should learn, to choose the best communications method for his/her situation. One chapter is devoted to the Global Maritime Distress and Safety System (GMDSS) and another to FCC Rules and regulations to set the stage for instruction of radiotelephone operating procedures (both voice and digital messaging are covered). The remaining chapters cover High Seas radio (MF/HF and satellite communications) and other systems such as Family Radio Service transceivers. There is also a chapter on troubleshooting of radio installations. Subjects include:

Radio History and Communications
The Radio Frequency Spectrum
VHF Communications
GMDSS
FCC Rules, Radio Licenses and the Radio Frequency Plan
Radiotelephone Operating Procedures
Long-Range Radio Communications
Other Marine Communications Systems
Radio Maintenance

Electronic Navigation

The CPS-ECP Electronic Navigation course is a good introduction to navigation using electronic tools and is suitable for experienced as well as novice boaters with basic charting knowledge. It focuses on navigating with electronic tools, rather than on navigation systems hardware. Successful completion of the course will earn credit for Marine Navigation Systems until MNS is made available.

Sail Course

Sail 2009 is a completely new sail course created to serve the needs of the novice and experienced sailor, as well as the non-sailor, for basic skills and knowledge. The course starts with basic sailboat designs and nomenclature, rigging, safety, and sail processes and then tackles the physical aspects of sailing forces and techniques, sail applications, marlinespike, helmsmanship and handling of more difficult sailing conditions, navigation rules, and an introduction to heavy weather sailing. Appendices provide an introduction to sailboat racing and sailing in Canadian waters.

Weather Course

The safety and comfort of those who venture out-on-the water have always been weather dependent. In this course students will become keener observers of the weather, but weather observations only have meaning in the context of the basic principles of meteorology - the science of the atmosphere.The course focuses on how weather systems form, behave, move, and interact with one another and reflects the availability of all sorts of weather reports and forecasts on the Internet. Wx2012 is a general weather course benefiting those sitting in their living rooms, as much as those standing behind the helm. Each student receives:

a Weather Manual - USPS Weather - an explanatory text with full color photographs and drawings covering weather in the United States and its coastal and inland waters;
a set of three Daily Weather Maps - learning aids with a compete explanation of map symbols designed to develop weather map reading and analysis skills; and NOAAs Sky Watcher Chart - a reference to assist in identifying cloud types - helpful indicators of approaching weather.