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Marine Electronics Directions:
Course Description:
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Marine Electronics Directions:
Course Description:
Click Here
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Last Updated:
Sunday, February 28, 2010
The USPS Educational Program is diverse and challenging. It offers members
the promise of greater enjoyment and safety in their boating activities, the
satisfaction of personal accomplishment, and the opportunity to share with
others the knowledge and skills they have acquired.
There are currently three major divisions in the USPS Educational Program:
| Advanced Grades | A sequential group of five courses in seamanship and navigation. |
| Electives | Six non-sequential courses in diverse, marine-oriented topics. |
| Learning Guides | A collection of short home-study guides on special subjects. |
This section briefly describes each of these courses. Within the few prerequisite restrictions explained with these course descriptions, all of the courses and programs are available to USPS members through this squadron or another squadron in this vicinity.
| Seamanship (S) | No prerequisite |
Building on the basics taught in the Boating Course,
Seamanship is the recommended first course for new members, both power
boaters and sailors. Students learn :
This course provides a needed introduction to the USPS Educational
Program and a strong foundation for members going on to other Advanced
Grades Courses and/or Cruise Planning or Sail. |
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Piloting (P) |
No prerequisite |
Piloting is the first of a two-part program studying
inland and coastal navigation, It focuses on the fundamentals of
piloting - keeping track of a boat's movements, determining your
position at any time and laying out courses to a planned destination.
Included are such subjects as:
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Advanced Piloting (AP) |
Prerequisites. Seamanship & Piloting |
This is the final part of the inland and coastal
navigation series, it emphasizes the use of modern electronic navigation
systems and other advanced techniques for finding position. Among topics
covered are:
Instructors and Materials Costs - To Be Announced |
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Junior Navigation (JN) |
Prerequisites: Seamanship, Piloting & Advanced Piloting |
| Junior Navigation is the first of a two-part program of study in offshore (open ocean) navigation. it is designed as a practical, how-to course, leaving the theoretical and more advanced techniques for the Navigation Course. Subject matter includes: basic concepts of celestial navigation; how to use the mariner's sextant to take sights of the sun, moon, planets and stars; the importance and techniques of accurate time determination; use of the Nautical Almanac; how to reduce sights to establish lines of position (LoPs); and the use of special charts, plotting sheets and other navigational data for offshore positioning and passage planning. | |
Navigation (N) |
Prerequisites: Seamanship, Piloting, Advanced Piloting & Junior Navigation |
| This is the second part of the study of offshore navigation. It further develops the student's understanding of celestial theory. The student is introduced to additional sight reduction techniques and develops greater skill and precision in sight taking, positioning and the orderly methods of carrying on the day's work of a navigator at sea. Of particular interest and importance is the study of offshore navigation using minimal data and/or equipment, such as when on a disabled vessel or lifeboat. | |
ELECTIVES There are no
prerequisites for any of the electives
Cruise Planning (CP)
Designed for members who plan to cruise for just a day or for a year - in either
a sail or powerboat - Cruise Planning covers such topics as: planning a voyage;
financing a voyage; managing commitments back home; equipping a cruising boat;
selecting the crew; provisioning; managing a voyage; entering and clearing
foreign ports; emergencies afloat; and security measures.
Engine Maintenance (EM)
This course attempts to make students more self-reliant afloat, with
trouble-diagnosis and temporary remedies given special emphasis. It covers both
marine gasoline and diesel engines, including concepts of operation, maintenance
and repair. Covered topics include:
Instructors and Materials Costs - To Be Announced
Instructor Qualification (IQ)
Unlike other USPS courses, this one isn't designed to enhance boating skills.
Rather, it deals with effective communications for speaker and teacher - a
quality that benefits the individual in all walks of life. It offers practical
instruction in: preparing for teaching assignments; preparing for meeting
presentations; effective teaching techniques; conducting efficient meetings; and
selecting and using audiovisual aids.
Marine Electronics (ME)
This course teaches essential knowledge about a boat's electrical and electronic
systems including: proper wiring; grounding; corrosion and electrolysis control;
batteries and their maintenance; depth finders; marine radiotelephones; radar;
and loran, GPS and other electronic positioning systems.
Sail (Sa)
The new Vision 2000 course has two modules, Sail 101 and Sail 102. This course teaches the basic elements of sailing and provides a thorough study of sailing terminology and dynamics. It includes:
Instructors & Materials Cost – To Be Announced
Weather (W)
This course is designed to teach a student how to make weather observations and
predictions for more enjoyable boating. Topics include: awareness of weather
phenomena; how to read the weather map and sky; how to understand and anticipate
weather developments; structure and characteristics of the atmosphere; factors
considered in weather forecasting; sources and use of weather reports and
forecasts; and instruments and visual observations the skipper can make.
Instructors and Materials Costs - To Be Announced
Developed to extend members' knowledge in boating-related fields, these
home-study guides may be ordered through the squadron educational officer, or
can be ordered directly from USPS Ship's Store at Headquarters. Members may
take any of these programs, in any order, and a certificate of completion is
available.
Amateur Radio
This program informs members of the procedures for obtaining radio licensing,
and it includes other related information regarding shipboard radio.
Compass Adjusting
This program describes "every method known to man" for the skipper of a boat
with a plastic, wood or aluminum hull to determine his vessel's precise heading,
in sunny or foul weather. The use of the pelorus and the manipulation of
compass corrector magnets are also included.
Introduction to Astronomy
A pleasant, non-technical introduction to the wonders of the night sky. No prior
familiarity with astronomy is needed to enjoy this easy-to-read guide to stars,
planets and major constellations.
Skipper Saver
A blend of two USPS objectives - education and safety - this program helps
students acquire basic boat handling ability without frills or superfluous
information.
Introduction To Sailing
This program covers the basics of small sailboat handling, including
nomenclature, relationship of wind to moving boat, action of the keel or
centerboard, leeway, lee and weather helm
Preparation For Coast Guard License
This is the only Learning Guide that requires a formal classroom and lecture
format. Prerequisites include S, AP, EM, W and Sa (in some circumstances)
Predicted Log Contest
The first part of this program is an introduction to logging, and the second
part is for the experienced logger.
Oceanography
This program covers marine geography including Earth crusts, tectonic plates,
fractures and movement, ocean chemistry, the effect of weather on water, the
physical aspects of tides, currents and waves and marine ecology.
Elements Of Boat Design & Construction
Basic factors influencing design and shape of hulls, the effect of horsepower
and propellers, rudders, steering gear and related matters are covered in this
program.
Watersports
A how-to guide for water-skiing, board sailing, and personal watercraft.
Calculators for Navigation
A guide to the use of pocket Calculators for the tedious computations related to
navigation from coastal piloting to celestial navigation.
Sight Reduction Methods
A self-instruction guide to five popular methods of sight reduction: Law of
Cosines, Nautical Almanac (NASR), Modified Ageton, HO-229 and HO-249.
Knots, Bends and Hitches (Marlinespike)
This manual is a practical guide to tying a variety of useful and decorative
knots, bends, hitches and splices.
Radar
Experts believe that, after a compass, a depth sounder and a VHF radiotelephone,
radar is the next most important aid to consider. Today's radar is easy to
install, compatible with fairly small boats and convenient to use day and night.
Global Positioning System
GPS is the premier worldwide electronic navigational aid. Both handheld and
ship-mounted units are becoming low in price; it's easy to use and the accuracy
is impressive. The GPS Supplemental Program includes accuracy comparisons with
Loran-C and Digital GPS.
Hand Tools
This program covers hand tools useful to the boater. Techniques and tools for
measuring, cutting, splitting, turning, gripping, gluing and fastening are
covered, Excellent appendices include. conversion data; sizes of nails, screws
and bolts; machine screw and bolt tap drill sizes; etc.
Boat Insurance
Providing information on the types and availability of insurance for boaters,
this program addresses basic homeowner's coverage, additional coverage and yacht
policies.
Plotting and Labeling Standards
Describes nautical plotting and labeling techniques and provides recommended
standards for navigational use.
¨ "USPS" and the "Wheel-and-Ensign Design"
are Registered Trademarks of United States Power Squadrons, Inc.