An Educated Boater is a Safer Boater!

Marine Navigation Course – Details

Registration is Closed due to full class!

New 2023 Navigation course replaces former Piloting course!

Marine Navigation 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.  View the Table of Contents for this course.

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.

Dates & Cost:

  • Registration for this course is CLOSED!
  • Course begins Mar. 23, 2024
  • First class starts at 10 AM
  • Once a week for 10 weeks plus exam
  • Average 2 hours per session
  • Course w/ Student Manual – $98 for USPS Members, $198 for non-Members

For more information about the course, please contact our Squadron Education Officer Paul Bendeck at:  [email protected]

Classes are held at the St. Joseph Parish Life Center (Classroom #38), 1300 SE 10th St., Stuart, FL 34996. Heading East on 10th St., go past St. Joseph Church and turn right at Parkway Dr (4th driveway on right after the church).  Go through the gate to enter the parking area. Look for a grey painted building.  Classroom #38 is on the West (right) side of the building.

See Parking Map for more details.