An Educated Boater is a Safer Boater!

Marine Navigation Course – Details

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:

  • 2024 dates pending (minimum 4 students required)
  • Once a week for 10 weeks plus exam
  • Average 2 hours per session
  • Course w/ Student Manual – $98 for USPS Members
  • Course w/ Student Manual – $198 for Non-Members
  • Recommended Pre-Requisite: ABC3 Boating Safety Course

Exclusive SLRPS Member Benefit!!!

St. Lucie River Power Squadron Members Only

If you are a SLRPS member, you can attend Advanced & Elective courses taught by our squadron instructors for Free!!! To facilitate ordering of manuals and course materials, SLRPS members should register and pay for the course up front. Upon course completion and taking the exam, SLRPS members will be refunded the cost of the course. Student Manuals will be provided to SLRPS members on a loaner basis for the duration of the course, but must be returned upon course completion. Manuals can be purchased separately if members want a personal copy to keep.

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