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 BoatPro/Pleasure Craft Operator Card (PCOC)
The Canadian Coast Guard approved boating handbook: Boat Pro and its seminar provide you with the opportunity to prepare for your Please Craft Operator Card (PCOC) exam
There are three options to choose from:
- Seminar: this option includes the Boating Handbook study guide (mailed to your home), a 3-hour seminar, and PCOC exam.
- Handbook & Exam: this option includes the Boating Handbook study guide (mailed to your home) and PCOC exam.
- Exam Only: this option is for those who just want to write the PCOC exam.
A one year Associate Membership is included for students who successfully complete the PCOC exam.
Click HERE for a PDF course description.
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VHF Maritime Radio
Restricted Operator Certificate (Maritime) & DSC
The Maritime Radio course teaches emergency radio procedures as well as everyday operating techniques to you and your family.
In Module 1, you will be taught the uses of marine radios, choice of frequencies, operation, phonetic alphabet, procedural words and phrases.
Module 2 covers Digital Selective Calling and the Global Maritime Distress and Safety System, (DSC/GMDSS). All mariners, including recreational boaters, will want to take advantage of the many features and capabilities of this innovative form “automatic” radio.
Click HERE for a PDF course description.
The Calgary Squadron uses the latest in real world Maritime VHF radio equipment for its training, supplied by our sponsor Cobham Life Support / ACR Electronics. Visit them at http://www.acrelectronics.com.
- ICOM M504 VHF marine radios
- power supplies
- dummy loads (for short distance training broadcasting)
- GPS cables
See the technical specifications of this radio on the ICOM web site:
http://www.icomamerica.com/en/products/m504/
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Boating Course/Basic Boating and Safe Navigation
Canadian Power and Sail Squadron's premier course for the recreational boater. Whether you are interested in powerboats, sailing vessels, canoes or kayaks, this course is for you. It contains expanded, detailed boating-safety information, the challenge of plotting and navigation skills and provides the opportunity to interact with other boaters.
Includes PCOC Exam.
Includes course materials, course notes, reference materials, course plotter, homework book, educational CD, training chart, divider kit and exams.
** cost includes homework book, training chart, divider kit and exams (additional family members share all other course materials, reference materials and course plotter).
Also includes 1 year Full CPS Membership to students who achieve the 75% passing grade.
Click HERE for a PDF course description.
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Seamanship (formerly called Piloting)
The Seamanship Course extends the navigation and vessel-handling techniques introduced in the Boating Course. The course presents the three aspects of piloting. 1. Navigation and Plotting Skills: interpretation of charts and chart symbols; the DR plot; bearings; Fixes and running Fixes; determination of course to steer in a current, and determining distance off. 2. Seamanship Skills: understanding the hazards of weather, wind, waves, currents, tides and tidal currents, and how to deal with them. 3. Boat Capabilities and Performance: hull speed, stability, rudders and propellers.
Click HERE for a PDF course description.
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Advanced Piloting
This course expands on elements of "The Boating Course" and "Piloting." Your chartwork skills will be developed to standards recognized in the maritime industry.
You will be taken out of the realm of conning and visual plotting to coastal cruising out of sight of land, navigating in tidal waters, dealing with current, standing clear of danger, and determining position by visual observation or with the use of electronic devices.
Develop a back-up system to your electronic navigation tools and advance your piloting skills by taking this exciting course.
Click HERE for a PDF course description.
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Junior Navigation
Junior Navigation is the first in a two-part program of study in offshore navigation, followed by the course. It is designed as a practical "how to" course. Subject matter includes:
- Precise time determination
- Use of the Nautical Almanac
- Taking sextant sights of the sun
- Reducing sights to establish lines of position
- Special charts and plotting sheets for offshore navigation
- Offshore navigational routines for recreational craft
Click HERE to go to the United States Power Squadron (USPS) site for more information on this Junior Navigation course.
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Navigation
After Junior Navigation, this course is the second part of the study of offshore navigation, further developing the student's understanding of celestial navigation theory. This Navigation 2009 course deals with learning celestial positioning using other bodies, in addition to positioning using the sun (covered in the Junior Navigation course). This course also deals with electronic software tools that can be used to plan and execute an offshore voyage. You will first learn to reduce these sights by the Law of Cosines method. Later in the course, you will learn an additional method of sight reduction, the Nautical Almanac Sight Reduction (NASR) method. You will also learn about sight planning techniques. With that knowledge, you will have the tools to take sights and complete your Navigation Sight Folder. The course includes a chapter on using a software-based voyage planning tool and a navigation program. The final chapter of the course contains a Practice Cruise that ties the separate elements of the course together.
Chapter 1. A View of our Solar System. A simple overview of how the celestial bodies in the sky appear to us on earth.
Chapter 2. Sunrise…Sunset. Finding local mean time of solar and lunar phenomena and converting the time of these events to zone time.
Chapter 3. Taking Sights and Finding Ho, LHA, and Dec. Taking sights on the moon, navigational planets and stars; applying proper altitude corrections to these sights to obtain Ho; applying corrections for low altitude sights; and computing the LHA and declination of these bodies.
Chapter 4. Sight Reduction and Plotting by the Law of Cosines. Reducing sights of the moon, stars, and planets by the Law of Cosines method; and plotting lines of position (LOPs) for these sights to obtain an estimated position, a running fix, and a true fix.
Chapter 5. Sight Reduction and Plotting by the NASR method. Reducing sights on the sun, moon, stars, and planets by the Nautical Almanac Sight Reduction (NASR) method; and plotting the lines of position (LOPs) for these sights to obtain an estimated position, a running fix, and a true fix.
Chapter 6. Sight Planning. Planning your sights to achieve good 2- and 3-body fixes, using both traditional and electronic tools.
Chapter 7. Emergency Navigation. Provisioning an emergency navigation kit and constructing emergency plotting sheets; and determining destination coordinates mathematically from course and distance traveled.
Chapter 8. Electronics and Software for Offshore Navigation. Using a software-based voyage planning tool to plan an offshore voyage (Visual Passage Planner 2); and using a navigation program in executing the voyage (Capn).
Chapter 9. Underway. A review of the Navigator’s duties and USPS Plotting and Labeling Standards; and setting up and using a 900 series plotting sheet. The student will execute a leg of an offshore voyage using both electronic and traditional tools, including celestial positioning. This Practice Cruise is an excellent preparation for the open book exam.
Click HERE to go to the United States Power Squadron (USPS) site for more information on this Navigation course.
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GPS/Navigating with GPS
This course teaches how to navigate safely and efficiently to any destination. Great for all recreational users.
Click HERE for a PDF course description.
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Fundamentals of Weather
This course covers many aspects of the formation and behavior of the weather around us. Meteorology (the study of weather) is quite technical in nature. In contrast, “Fundamentals of Weather” is presented in a straightforward manner eliminating much of the jargon.
Click HERE for a PDF course description.
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Global Weather
Global Weather expands on concepts introduced in the Fundamentals of Weather. In this course you will study topics like El Niño, summer monsoons, or lake effect snows. Work with measurements such as air pressure, temperature, dew point and wind direction/speed to sharpen your forecasting skills.
Develop skills in offshore sailing and advance planning including the use of weather services and interpreting data.
Click HERE for a PDF course description.
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Marine Maintenance
From spark plugs to bottom paint, the Marine Maintenance course covers all the basics for DIY boaters.
Topics include:
hull, general maintenance, electrical system, marine engines, gasoline fuel systems, ignition, lubrication, outboards, seasonal maintenace, heads, stoves, painting tips and more.
Click HERE for a PDF course description.
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Electronic Charting
This course takes over where Navigating with GPS leaves off. It builds upon the information you have learned and teaches the more advanced features of electronic charting (EC). You learn about the different kinds of EC, how they were developed, their advantages and disadvantages, how to use them in a practical manner. You learn about connecting your GPS to a laptop, desktop, PDA or tablet computer. There is information about the use of navigational programs for computers. You get practical knowledge about EC by utilizing a great program that is included on the accompanying CD.
Click HERE for a PDF course description.
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RADAR for Pleasurecraft
This course covers the different types of RADAR equipment, including their capabilities and limitations. Understand the available features and how they apply to your needs. Learn to navigate using RADAR, and to determine where you are. Course materials include the RADAR for Pleasurecraft text book, and a CD (PC only) containing a RADAR simulator so that you may practice many of RADAR's features.
Click HERE for a PDF course description.
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Extended Cruising
To roam upon the seas has long been a dream of many adventurous sailors. To make port successfully after a long sea voyage using your own boat and skills is a great accomplishment.
Offshore sailors must be able to fill all the roles of helmsperson, navigator, plumber, meteorologist, shipwright, radio operator, cook, doctor, sailmaker, mechanic and diplomat.
The “Extended Cruising” course helps establish the skills required for you to seek distant shores.
Click HERE for a PDF course description.
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Sail
Sail 2009 is a complete sail course beginning with basic boat designs, rigging and sail processes for the non-sailor. The course proceeds into the physical aspects of sailing, sail applications, marlinespike, helmsmanship, and handling of more difficult sailing conditions, navigation rules, and an introduction to heavy weather sailing.
Click HERE to go to the United States Power Squadron (USPS) site for more information on this Sail course.
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Instructor Development
Unlike other USPS courses, the Instructor Development course is not designed to enhance boating skills. Rather, its emphasis is on enhancing instructor skills. The course has been designed to demonstrate interactive teaching methods focused on adult learning. Students are required to prepare lesson plans and give four presentations to their peers utilizing a variety of teaching aids and presentation skills. Each presentation is to be given on a topic from one of the public boating classes with the intent that upon completion of the course every student will be qualified to teach or proctor at a squadron boating class.
Fully developed suggested lesson plans for each chapter are contained in the instructor manual and PowerPoint presentations are available, as well as overhead transparency masters.
Click HERE to go to the United States Power Squadron (USPS) site for more information on this Instructor Development course.
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Officer Training
Offered free of charge for new Bridge members
Officer Training will follow Instructor Development Course.
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