Boating Safety - Ages 12 and older - Public Welcome
Presented by the Grand Rapids Power Squadron, this course meets all Michigan Department of Natural Resourses ( DNR) requirements to secure a Michigan Boat Safety Certificate. It provides a good base for building further boating knowledge. The enthusiastic instuctors have many years of boating experience and are certified boating instructors by the United States Power Squadrons and Michigan DNR. Boating Safety is a course for all boaters ( the personal watercraft operator; the hunter or fisherman operating an outboard utility boat; the skipper of a family cruiser; paddlers; the sailing enthusiast). All boaters must follow the same nautical rules, regulations and courtesies of the sea. All are subject to the same forces of nature while boating. Boating Safety consists of topics in seamanship, boat terms and types, boat handling, fueling, docking, anchoring, required safety equipment, PFD's, navigation lights, fire extinguishers, USCG standards, law enforcement, aids to navigation, rules of navigation, use of radiotelephone, operation under hazardous conditions, and much more.Doug shows PFD wear while Jim & Jim explain the
finer points during a Boat Safety Class at Boater's World
Boating Safety Class held at West Marine GR
Advanced Grades - Membership Required
Seamanship (S)
Building on the basics of recreational boating presented in the public boating courses, Seamanship adds foundational information for continuing boater education. The course contents should facilitate knowledge development for increased safe operation of recreational boats and provide the basis for completion of USCG licensing examination. Emphasis within the course has been placed on higher level boating skills, rules of the road, and marlinspike.Piloting ( P )
The Piloting course is the first in the sequence of USPS courses on navigation, covering the basics of coastal and inland navigation. This all-new 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. 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.
Advanced Piloting ( AP )
This all-new course continues to build coastal and inland navigation skill, allowing the student to take on more challenging conditions – unfamiliar waters, limited visibility, and extended cruises. GPS is embraced as a primary navigation tool while adding radar, chartplotters, and other electronic navigation tools. As with Piloting, the course includes many in-class exercises, advancing the student’s skills through hands-on practice and learning. Topics covered include:-
Review of skills learned in Piloting
-
Advanced positioning techniques such as advancing a line of position
-
Other electronics: radar, depth sounders, autopilots, chartplotters, laptop computer software, etc.
-
Hazard avoidance techniques using electronics (e.g., “keep out” zones in GPS)
-
Collision avoidance using radar and GPS
-
Working with tides: clearances, depth, effects of current
-
Piloting with wind and currents
-
The “Seaman’s Eye” – simple skills for checking that one is on course
A few pictures from the AP Class
Junior Navigation ( JN )
Junior Navigation is the first in a two-part program of study in offshore navigation, followed by the Navigation course. It is designed as a practical "how to" course. Subject matter includes:
-
Precise time determination
-
Use of the Nautical Almanac
-
Taking sextant sights of the sun
-
Reducing sights to establish lines of position
-
Special charts and plotting sheets for offshore navigation
-
Offshore navigational routines for recreational craft
Navigation ( N )
After Junior Navigation, this course is the second part of the study of offshore navigation, further developing the student's understanding of celestial navigation theory. The course covers:
- Additional sight-reduction techniques
- Honing skills in sight taking and positioning
- Orderly methods for the navigator's day's work at sea
- Navigating with minimal resources, as in a lifeboat
Elective Courses - Membership Required
Cruise Planning ( CP )
Whether your interest is primarily in shorter, weekend trips or
extended, long range voyages, the Cruise Planning course is designed to
accommodate your type of cruising. Intended equally for the sailor and
power boaters, the course examines cruising in the protected waterways
of rivers and lakes, and making Open Ocean passages with both small and
large boats.
The course material explores in depth, questions of crew selection,
provisioning, food storage and clothing. Consideration is given to what
tools to have on hand. Information is provided on charts and
publications, navigation, weather, communication systems, entering
foreign ports, as well as anchors and anchoring techniques. Through the
eyes of experienced boaters, you will learn about handling emergencies
afloat including abandoning ship procedures, security and medical
problems.
Engine Maintenance ( EM )
The Engine Maintenance course is designed to familiarize you with the
general construction, operating principles, maintenance and repair of
marine gasoline and diesel engines, including both inboard and outboard
engines. The class material includes an analysis of mechanical,
electrical, cooling, fuel and lubricating systems. Information is also
presented on the associated propulsion components: clutches, shafts and
propellers. A considerable emphasis is placed on your ability to
diagnosis engine problems and make temporary repairs to your engine.
Completing this course will not qualify you as a trained mechanic, but
you will be a safer and more self-reliant operator of a marine engine.
Instructor Development ( IQ )
This course is intended not only for those who wish to become
instructors of USPS classes, but also for anyone who wants to develop or
improve their communication and public speaking skills. The material
applies to teaching, public speaking and conducting meetings. You will
gain experience in making effective presentations, preparing
lessons[lectures, using teaching aids such as overhead projectors and
audio[video devices. The course work includes opportunities to sharpen
your public speaking skills with an audience of understanding fellow
students. A section covering current research on brain function and how
the mind learns both short and long-term memory is included both as
enrichment and as vital information for those who wish to teach classes.
Marine Electronics ( ME )
The purpose of the Marine Electronics course is to introduce you to the
electrical systems on your boat and the various electronic components
that assist you in navigation and communication. The course begins with
a study of electricity, the storage battery and 120 volt systems.
Although a certain amount of theory is discussed, the mathematics
requirements do not go beyond everyday arithmetic. The class continues
with a detailed investigation of marine radio communication, including
theory of operation and the legal restrictions governing it's use. The
electronic navigation section of the class explores various aids to
navigation such as; depth sounders, radars, LORAN-C, and satellite
navigation systems (GPS). The final two sections investigate electrical
interference, how to identify and eliminate it and miscellaneous
equipment. The discussion of miscellaneous equipment includes EPIRB's,
automatic pilots, fuel vapor detectors, corrosion and electrolysis,
control and trim tabs.
Sail ( SA )
The Sail course is intended for both sail and power boaters who wish to
expand their knowledge and understanding of boating. The course begins
with an examination of sailboat rigs and sail plans and the various
types and designs, concentrating on the popular models available today.
A study of rigging completes the groundwork for investigating the forces
that drive a sailboat through the water. Next come sailing techniques
including points of sail, helmsmanship, heavy weather sailing, docking,
anchoring, and of course, marlinespike seamanship. The course concludes
with sections covering safety and emergency procedures and rules of the
road.
Weather ( W )
The Weather course is one of the most enriching and useful courses
offered by USPS. The study of weather, a complex and detailed subject,
is presented in a unique and satisfying manner To accommodate those
whose appetite is merely whetted by the standard subject matter, the
course text is composed of both core and enrichment material. The core
material fulfills the requirements of the course, while the enrichment
material is provided for those who wish to explore the subject more
deeply. The course begins with a study of the atmosphere, its
composition and structure, and how temperature, heat, pressure and
moisture affect it. Next, the conditions that contribute to
condensation, precipitation, clouds, thunderstorms and fog are
described. Winds are examined in detail, leading up to a study of the
formation of pressure systems and fronts. An entire section is devoted
to violent weather, including hurricanes, tornadoes and waterspouts. The
final section introduces weather forecasting involving the analysis of
weather maps and regional weather.