Advanced Boating Education and Training

Waterbury chapter of Americ'a Boating Club, as the local unit of United States Power Squadrons, offers a wide range of Advanced Boating Education & Training courses and seminars. These programs are designed for the whole spectrum of boaters - Power, Sail, PWC, Anglers, Hunters, and Paddlers - from the novice to the expert. All courses and seminars are open to members and the general boating public. The primary difference is price. For non-members, the price is generally 20% to 40% below comparable courses and seminars at local community colleges and adult education venues. For members of United States Power Squadrons (USPS), prices are 70% to 75% below non-member prices. This differential is a primary benefit of USPS membership. To learn more about the content of each Advanced Boating Education course, click on the course title.

For schedule and registration info on courses currently being offered click here.
The Education department has a number of instructive videos available on VHS and DVD click here.

Boat Handling (previously called Seamanship)

This course is the foundation for all other courses. Boat Handling covers boat types and characteristics, docking and anchoring, marlinespike seamanship, skipper's responsibilities, regulations and required equipment.

Piloting

Piloting is the first of a two-part program in inland and coastal navigation, covering charts, charting, positioning, plotting & labeling, and introduction to GPS.

Advanced Piloting

As the second part of the inland and coastal navigation program, Advanced Piloting covers electronic navigation in coastal regions, advanced positioning techniques, and effects of tide, wind, and currents.

Cruising and Cruise Planning

Cruising and Cruise Planning is a practical course for any boater planning a cruise of several days to many months. It covers crew selection, health and safety issues, visiting foreign ports, food planning, extra equipment needs, weather and course planning.

Engine Maintenance

The Engine Maintenance course provides a practical guide for the care and maintenance of your boat's power plant and related equipment, including basic problem solving when something goes wrong out on the water.

Marine Electrical Systems

Marine Electrical Systems course is presented in seven chapters that start 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.

Marine Communications Systems

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.

Marine Navigation Systems

Marine Navigation Systems will be the third course in the Marine Electronics series. This course is currently in manuscript. It presently consists of eight chapters on electronic navigation instruments including depth sounders, radar, and GPS, and on display systems including chart plotters and personal computers.

Sail

The USPS Sail course covers everything from the theory and physics of sailing to sailboat design, sail plans, rigging, rig tuning, performance, and sail racing .

Weather

The Weather course is a study of basic meteorology for the mariner. It will teach you what makes the weather, global and local considerations, weather prediction from local observations, winds, storms, and vessel and crew safety considerations.

Junior Navigation

This is an introductory course in off-shore navigation.

The Junior Navigation course covers both the basics of open ocean use of GPS (Global Positioning System) and celestial navigation - use of the sun for positioning and course planning while at sea.

Navigation

The Navigation course prepares you for off-shore navigation anywhere in the world. It teaches you the theory and practical use of celestial navigation, using the sun, moon, planets, and navigation stars for positioning and trans-oceanic route planning. (This course requires prior completion of the Junior Navigation course or prior approval of the Instructor.)

Instructor Development

Whether you are making boardroom presentations, delivering lectures, or teaching classes, the Instructor Development course will help you do a better job of presenting your material and yourself.

Seminars

Waterbury chapter of Americ'a Boating Club offers a wide range of USPS two-hour seminars of special interest/need topics for the mariner. Click on Seminars to see a listing of available programs and prices.

All Advanced Boating Education & Training courses and seminars are offered by Waterbury chapter of Americ'a Boating Club on a demand basis. For details on upcoming course schedules, click on Pharos Beacon or contact the Squadron Educational Officer Egbert Most at (203) 264-6678 or e-mail to egbert.most@yahoo.com.