Advanced Marine Navigation

Advanced Marine Navigation

Course Description

Advanced Marine Navigation (formerly Advanced Piloting) is the third in the sequence of US Power Squadron courses on navigation. It 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 Marine Navigation, the course includes many in-class exercises, advancing the student’s skills through hands-on practice and learning. Nine classes of two hours each normally are scheduled for presentation and review of this course. In addition the students have seven days to complete the open book exam.

Topics covered include:

• Review of skills learned in Marine Navigation
• 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
• 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

This course is completed in 9 two-hour sessions: eight sessions of study, one session of review and one week allowed for the exam.  You must have the USPS Advanced Piloting book in order to complete the course.  Only one required per household.  You will also need to have the navigational dividers and plotter.

Coastal Navigation Course Costs

Tuition must be paid during class registration via PayPal or by check / cash prior to the start of the class.  Books and other materials should be purchased during registration, or may be available the day of the class.  The Plotting & Labeling Standards book and the Weekend Navigator book will be included with your Advanced Piloting book if you do not already have a copy.  If you have the dividers and USPS plotter from another course, you do not need to purchase them for this course.  You will only need to purchase the course and the book.