Capital Assets and Building Account
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Showing 1–16 of 26 results
General Operating Account
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The Educational Trust Fund
$50.00 is the default amount but can be changed. Please choose the amount you would like to donate in increments of $5.00.
Boat Handling
$ 75.00 – $ 110.00Boat Handling
NOTE: Please register 2 weeks before the start of the class if you wish a paper textbook.
Build boating confidence and competence for safe and fun on-the-water adventures. Boat Handling provides a foundation of knowledge and skills in boat handling and maneuvering, boat operation, skipper’s responsibilities, and boating techniques that will advance your boating enjoyment.
Learn the types of boats, knots, and boat handling in varying sea conditions. Prerequisite: ABC Boat Safety class. This course is normally completed in 7 two-hour sessions: six sessions of study, one session of review and exam.
NOTE: Please register 2 weeks before the start of the class if you wish a paper textbook.
Instructor: Mike Wedge, captwedge1@gmail.com, 941-951-6806
2023
October 31, 2023, 1820-2030 Tuesdays and Thursdays for 7 classes
2024
January 30, 2024 1830-2030 Tuesdays and Thursdays for 7 classes
April 30, 2024 1830-2030 Tuesdays and Thursdays for 7 classes
Marine Navigation
$ 100.00 – $ 150.00
Marine Navigation
Learn the essentials of safe coastal and inland navigation using basic GPS in conjunction with charts and other marine data. The Marine Navigation course teaches you how to use the GPS along with traditional dead reckoning techniques for planning and laying out safe routes, as well as ensuring that you are on-course while underway.
2023: September 18, 2023, 1830-2100 Mondays, 10 Sessions
2024: January 15, 2024, 1830-2100 Mondays, 10 Sessions
Advanced Marine Navigation
$ 100.00 – $ 150.00
Advanced Marine Navigation
You are invited to attend the 2022 Advanced Marine Navigation class.
Advanced Marine Navigation is the second in the sequence of USPS courses on navigation. It continues to build coastal and inland navigation skill, allowing you to take on more challenging conditions – unfamiliar waters, limited visibility, and extended cruises. GPS is embraced as a primary navigation tool while adding radar, chartplotters, and other electronic navigation tools. As with Marine Navigation, the course includes many in-class exercises, advancing your skill through hands-on practice and learning.
Topics covered include:
• Review of skills learned in Marine Navigation
• Advanced positioning techniques such as advancing a line of position
• Other electronics: radar, depth sounders, autopilots, chartplotters, laptop computer software, etc.
• Hazard avoidance techniques using electronics (e.g., “keep out” zones in GPS)
• Collision avoidance using radar and GPS
• Working with tides: clearances, depth, effects of current
• Piloting with wind and currents
• The “Seaman’s Eye” – simple skills for checking that one is on course
Advanced registration is required so that adequate materials may be ordered. Cost of the course for USPS members is $100.00 or $150 for nonmembers
To register, contact me at 941-400-6467 or albur103a@gmail.com. You may also register on-line at Sarasota-boating.org but please call or email me if you do.
Al Burmeister
September 7, 2023, 1830-2030 Thursdays, 11 Sessions
11 Sessions. Successful completion of Marine Navigation is a prerequisite.
Offshore Navigation
$ 100.00 – $ 150.00Offshore Navigation
What happens when your GPS fails? Have fun and satisfy your curiosity about boating in the days before electronics in the Offshore Navigation course. Learn to use a marine sextant to take sights on celestial objects such as the sun. Even if you are not traveling long distances offshore, remember that GPS is not infallible, nor always available. Be confident when no aids to navigation or land objects are in sight.
In Offshore Navigation, you will continue to use GPS as the primary position sensor as you learned in Marine Navigation and Advanced Marine Navigation, but with celestial navigation as your backup technique. Because terrestrial landmarks are no longer visible to the offshore navigator, you will learn to use a marine sextant and the sun as your reference point, derive a line of position, and develop a running fix. You will also learn to calculate your latitude from a noon sight on the sun.
This interesting and challenging course emphasizes the practical aspects of daytime celestial navigation. You will also learn to prepare a sight folder that documents your positioning skills using sights taken on the sun. The course will take approximately 13 weeks to complete and you will have two additional weeks to complete an open book exam.
Course Requirements- Prior Completion of Marine Navigation and Advanced Marine Navigation
Instructor: Ed Fisch 941-923-5277 edcar2@aol.com
2023
September 13, 2023 900-1100 Wed 13 Sessions
13 sessions
Celestial Navigation
$ 100.00 – $ 150.00Celestial Navigation
Learn navigation using all the celestial bodies! Use navigational software tools to plan and execute an offshore voyage. In the event of a loss of electronics on board, you’ll be glad you took this course and developed the necessary backup skills for an offshore voyage. Even if you have no plans to travel offshore, you will be able to impress your boating friends with your depth of celestial knowledge.
The Celestial Navigation course will teach you how to use the moon, planets, and stars to determine your position at morning and evening twilight to supplement daytime sights on the sun, moon, and bright planets. You will also get access to and use navigational software tools that can be used to plan and execute any voyage.
Course Requirements- Prior Completion of Marine Navigation, Advanced Marine Navigation & Coastal Navigation
Advanced Registration Required
Instructor: TBD
No class scheduled at this time
Cruise Planning
$ 75.00 – $ 125.00Cruise Planning
Want to take a “road trip” on the water? Gain the confidence and practical skills needed to explore ports and coves for a weekend or weeks at a time. Take Cruising and Cruise Planning and join your fellow boaters for raft-ups and rendezvous up the river, down the bay, and along the coast.
Instructor: Joe Barnette 941-928-9207 cjbarnette@yahoo.com
No class scheduled at this time
10 Sessions
Engine Maintenance
$ 75.00 – $ 125.00Engine Maintenance
Every skipper needs to understand the fundamentals of gas and diesel engines to perform basic maintenance and diagnose problems under way. Learn about transmissions, propellers, and steering. Get the knowledge you need to keep your boat in tiptop shape. No mechanical knowledge or prior experience is required.
Instructor: Barry Rush 631-987-8388 brush41@verizon.net
2023
September 11, 2023 1900-2030 Mon 7 Sessions
7 sessions
Instructor Development
$ 0.00 – $ 30.00Instructor Development
Unlike other USPS courses, the Instructor Development course is not designed to enhance boating skills. Rather, its emphasis is on enhancing presentation techniques and 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 three presentations to their peers utilizing a variety of teaching aids and presentation skills.
This course is a requirement to become an ABC course instructor.
Instructor: Sylvia Wedge, 941-951-6806, sylwedge@gmail.com
2023
May 16, 2023, Tuesday for 4 weeks
Marine Electrical Systems
$ 75.00 – $ 125.00Marine Electrical Systems
Learn the ins and outs of your boat’s electrical systems. Gain the confidence to tackle direct current, shore power and communications installations. Ensure the safety and reliability of your vessel; enroll in this course today.
This course is usually completed in nine two-hour sessions, followed by an exam.
2023
October 3,2023 1800-2000 Tues 7 Sessions
Instructor: Demetri Lignos, 941-400-5086, Demetri.lignos@gmail.com
Marine Communication Systems
$ 75.00 – $ 125.00Marine Communication Systems
The classes will take place weekly for 7-weeks.
Become a better boater by mastering your radio in the digital age. Learn voice communications and the use of digital selective calling (DSC), and get the skills you need for a day sail or offshore adventure. Learn from experienced instructors in an interactive classroom environment.
Instructor: Demetri Lignos, 941-400-5086, Demetri.lignos@gmail.com
2024
February 6, 2024 1800-2000 Tues 7 Sessions
Electronic Navigation
$ 75.00 – $ 125.00Electronic Navigation
Learn the ins and outs of your boat’s navigation systems. Gain the confidence in understanding Global Positioning Systems (GPS), chart plotters, programming, using computers and tablets, and readily available software on the market today. There is also a section devoted to the Automatic Identification System (AIS). Enroll in this course today.
No class scheduled at this time
Sail
$ 75.00 – $ 125.00Sail
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.
Instructor: Howard Barach 941-923-3302, hbarach@aol.com
2024
February 6, 2024 1900-2100 Tues 10 Sessions
10 Sessions
Weather
$ 100.00 – $ 150.00WEATHER
For boaters, knowing the forecast isn’t enough; you need to understand its impact on you and your boat. Gain the knowledge and confidence to venture out on the water. Be a responsible skipper, protect your friends and family and take this course today.
Instructor: Mike Wedge 941-951-6806 captwedge1@gmail.com
The minimum number of students for this class is FIVE and is 10 sessions in length.
September 29, 2023 1830-2030 Wednesdays and Fridays for 10 classes