Elective Courses
Elective courses enhance your boating skills and fun by helping you learn about specific boating topics. They may be taken in any order
Scroll down for information on these courses
Cruising & Cruise Planning
Learn what it takes to go beyond a weekend overnight cruise or even a week or so of marina hopping. Prepare yourself to leave your normal cruising areas and comfort zones. Enjoy safe and extended cruises on both inland and coastal waters. This course is designed for boaters who cruise on either a sail or power boat, either owned or chartered.
What’s included:
Cruise preparation and planning
Boat and equipment
Anchors and anchoring
Security
Chartering
Cruising outside the USA
Crew and provisioning
Voyage management
Communications
Navigation
Weather
This course usually goes for 7 weeks, one night/week
Location of classes:
Palm Beach Sail & Power Squadron Headquarters
1125 Old Dixie Hwy Unit 1, Lake Park, Florida
Course fee:
$70 USPS Members, $105 for 2 USPS Members sharing materials
$140 non-USPS Members
Next Course:
This course is not presently scheduled.
Weather
The safety and comfort of those who venture out on the water have always been weather dependent. In this course, students will become keener observers of the weather, but weather observations only have meaning in the context of the basic principles of meteorology—the science of the atmosphere. The course focuses on how weather systems form, behave, move, and interact with one another and reflects the availability of all sorts of weather reports and forecasts on the internet. This is a general weather course benefiting those sitting in their living rooms, as much as those standing behind the helm.
What’s Included?
The atmosphere: temperature and heat
Wind, pressure, and waves
Water, humidity and fog
Stability, clouds, and precipitation
Thunderstorms, tornadoes, lightning and optical effects
Mid-latitude weather and storms
Tropical weather and storms
This course usually goes for 7 weeks, one night/week
Location of classes:
Palm Beach Sail & Power Squadron Headquarters
1125 Old Dixie Hwy Unit 1, Lake Park, Florida
Course fee:
$70 USPS Members, $105 for 2 USPS Members sharing materials
$140 non-USPS Members
Next Course:
This course is not presently scheduled.
Marine Communication Systems
Become a better boater by mastering your radio and other communications methods in the digital age. Marine Communication Systems is an in-depth, nine chapter review of those systems available to the recreational boater, or to those with whom he/she shares the water. Learn from an experienced instructor in an interactive classroom environment.
What’s Included?
· Radio history and spectrum definitions are presented along with definitions of radio circuits that the student should learn, to choose the best communications method for his/her situation.
· Global Maritime Distress and Safety System (GMDSS)
· FCC rules, regulations and radio licenses
· Radiotelephone operating procedures—both voice and digital
· High seas radio—MF/HF and satellite communications
· Troubleshooting and radio maintenance
· Other marine communications systems
This course usually goes for 7 weeks, one night/week
Location of classes:
Palm Beach Sail & Power Squadron Headquarters
1125 Old Dixie Hwy Unit 1, Lake Park, Florida
Course fee:
$70 USPS Members, $105 for 2 USPS Members sharing materials
$140 non-USPS Members
Next Course:
This course is not presently scheduled.
Sail
Learn about basic sailboat designs and nomenclature, rigging, and safety from experienced USPS sailors. Then tackle the physical aspects of sailing forces and techniques, sail applications, marlinespike, helmsmanship, and handling of difficult sailing conditions. This course will benefit non-sailors as well as novice and experienced sailors.
What’s Included?
Types of sailboat rigs and hull shapes, including sail configurations and standing rigging
Wind and water forces affecting sailboat stability and balance
Sail shape and tuning the standing rigging
Steering and helmsmanship
Sailing upwind, downwind and spinnaker handling
Heavy weather sailing and storm conditions
Boat operations including docking, anchoring and safety issues.
This course usually goes for 12 weeks, one night/week
Location of classes:
Palm Beach Sail & Power Squadron Headquarters
1125 Old Dixie Hwy Unit 1, Lake Park, Florida
Course fee:
$70 USPS Members, $105 for 2 USPS Members sharing materials
$140 non-USPS Members
Next Course:
This course is not presently scheduled.
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