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PILOTING Course

The cost of the class is $110.00+tax for members and $155.00 +tax for nonmembers. Includes Maps, Textbooks and Handouts.  Plotting tools are required for this course and available for $21.+tax  if you do not have them. 

Piloting Course Description

Piloting is the first course in the sequence of USPS courses on navigation, covering the basics of coastal and inland navigation. This course focuses on navigation as it is done on recreational boats today and embraces GPS as a primary navigation tool while covering enough of traditional techniques so the student will be able to find his/her way even if their GPS fails. The course includes many in-class exercises, developing the student’s skills through hands-on practice and learning. Ten classes of two hours each normally are scheduled for presentation of this course, In addition, the students have seven days to complete the open book exam. Topics covered include:

Charts and their interpretation
Navigation aids and how they point to safe water
Plotting courses and determining direction and distance
The mariner’s compass and converting between True and Magnetic
Use of GPS – typical GPS displays and information they provide, setting up waypoints and routes, staying on a GPS route.
Pre-planning safe courses and entering them into the GPS
Monitoring progress and determining position by both GPS and traditional techniques such as bearings and dead reckoning
The “Seaman’s Eye” – simple skills for checking that one is on course. Learn the essentials of safe coastal and inland navigation using basic GPS in conjunction with charts and other marine data.  The Piloting course teaches you how to use the GPS along with traditional dead reckoning techniques for planning and laying out safe routes, as well as ensuring that you are on-course while underway.

2018 PILOTING CLASS SCHEDULE

 

Wednesday, 22 August                       Registration and Housekeeping

Wednesday, 29 August                       Chapter 1

Wednesday, 5 September                  Chapter 2

Wednesday, 12 September                Chapter 3

Wednesday, 19 September                NO CLASS

Wednesday, 26 September                Chapter 4

Wednesday, 3 October                       Chapter 5

Wednesday, 10 October                     Chapter 6

Wednesday, 17 October                     Chapter 7

Wednesday, 24 October                     Chapter 8

Wednesday, 31 October                     Chapter 9

Wednesday, 7 November                   Chapter 10

Wednesday, 14 November                 Class review and hand out exams

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