All seminars begin at 7:00 PM and end at 9:00 PM
Dates and details for the individual seminars:
Boat Handling Under Power – February 1
This seminar shows boaters how to depart and dock under a variety
of conditions with a variety of drive systems as well as all about
trimming the boat underway.
Take home materials: $20.00 will be collected
at the Seminar
USPS Captain’s Quick Guide and Student Notes.
Knots, Bends, and Hitches – February 8
This seminar is a hands-on “learn how to tie knots” program
geared to a wide range of audiences. Participants
learn about knots, learn to tie a set of the most useful knots,
and then get to take
the whole package home with them to practice
these and a whole host of other knots described in the book.
Take home materials: $30.00 will be
collected at the Seminar
USPS Guide Knots, Bends and Hitches for
Mariners, a copy of the Student Notes
and a kit including a die-cut knot board and two lengths of line.
Trailering – February 15
Trailering Your Boat explains how to select tow vehicles, hitches,
and trailers. It also explains how to safely and securely trailer
your boat, launch and retrieve it, and how to operate and maintain
your trailering equipment. The presentation includes a Coast Guard
video on trailering.
Take home materials: $25.00 will be collected
at the Seminar
McGraw-Hill published USPS book Trailering
your Boat by Bruce Smith, and Student Notes.
Onboard Weather Forecasting – February 22
While not a course in weather, this seminar explains how just using
your own senses can help you determine what conditions you will encounter
where you are. By all means, a forecast is important. It will tell
you what weather systems are headed your way, but they are challenged
to tell exactly where and when conditions will change. Add your own
observations and you have an extra edge. Add a couple of instruments
and you can verify your observations. The seminar explains weather
systems, how to understand clouds and their changes, using changing
wind direction, temperature, and pressure to hone in on emerging weather
fronts.
Take home materials: $20.00 will be collected
at the Seminar
McGraw-Hill Onboard Weather Forecasting
waterproof Captain’s Quick Guide to take aboard your boat,
and Student Notes.
How to Use a Chart - March 1
The NOAA Chart No. 1 is the quintessential reference to chart details,
but is difficult to understand. This seminar walks you through what
you really need to know in an entertaining and interesting fashion.
In addition to showing you all about your chart, this seminar walks
you through the essentials of laying out a safe course, steps to measure
a course with the USPS plotter, and even a quick guide to the rules
of the road.
Take home materials: $25.00 will be collected
at the Seminar
Maptech Waterproof flip-fold waterproof
Chart Symbols and On-the-Water Guide to take along on the boat with
you, and Student Notes.
Marine Compass – March 8
This seminar explains how to select, install, calibrate and use your
compass on board your boat. You will learn which features are most
important and what will work best for you, how to deal with variation
between true and magnetic north, and how to adjust your compass to
remove most of the deviation caused by local magnetic influences.
This is an essential seminar for all boaters.
Take home materials: $20.00 will be
collected at the Seminar
Student Notes.
Using GPS – March 15
This seminar explains the principles of waypoint navigation
and shows you how to relate the GPS to your charts. The seminar
also shows you
how to operate your GPS – what the buttons do, what the screens
show, and how to access the functions you need. You’ll also
get some tips for choosing a GPS if you don’t currently own
one.
Take home materials: $25.00 will be collected
at the Seminar
The waterproof McGraw-Hill Captain’s Quick Guide
Using GPS is to take aboard to remind you of the steps,
or to show another of your crew how
to use your GPS, and Student Notes.
Using VHF & VHF/DSC Marine Radio - March 22
VHF radio is the mainstay of coastal communication and essential for emergency communications. Digital Selective Calling (DSC) is rapidly becoming a reality as more Coast Guard Rescue 21 System operations go live. This seminar explains basic VHF operation and also how to set up and use DSC.
Take home materials: $25.00 will be collected at the
Seminar
A CD is included with a DSC Simulator that allows you to practice on your computer at home. The handy waterproof McGraw-Hill Captains’ Quick Guide Using VHF is included with essential information that you should have aboard, and Student Notes.
