Advanced Piloting

Description & Course Objective

The Advanced Piloting course provides you with additional skills needed to navigate under more challenging conditions, including conditions of limited visibility and extended cruising in unfamiliar waters. Electronic navigation tools are explained to provide you with insight on how to use what you already own, or to help you make decisions as to what additional equipment would help you on your boat.

AP has two main subject areas. First, use of electronic tools and other techniques for plotting and tracking your progress. Secondly, how to predict and correct for the effects of tides, currents, and winds. The course uses an excellent commercial textbook, The Weekend Navigator, along with a supplementary USPS student guide.

Topics include:

• GPS (Global Positioning System)
• Radar
• Electronic charts and chart plotters
• Positioning techniques (fixes)
• Danger avoidance techniques (pre-plotting)
• Tide prediction
• Tidal current prediction
• Piloting with wind and currents present (determining the course to steer)

After completing this course, you should be able to pilot a boat with confidence in coastal waters under all conditions, with or without electronic navigation equipment. The USPS Piloting course is a necessary prerequisite for this course.

Suggested readings:

• USPS Educational Dept.: www.USPS.org/national/eddept/ap/main.htm
• USCG Navigation Center: www.navcen.uscg.gov

Instructor

Bud Ellis, SN

Bio

Budl is apast USPS Commander.

Schedule

For course dates, check the Calendar. If not scheduled, call the Squadron Education Officer SEO. Courses will be offered based on interest and requests.