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Conference unifix::sailing

Title:	SAILING
Notice:	Please read Note 2.* before participating in this conference
Moderator:	UNIFIX::BERENS

Created:	Wed Jul 01 1992
Last Modified:	Mon Jun 02 1997
Last Successful Update:	Fri Jun 06 1997
Number of topics:	2299
Total number of notes:	20724

400.0. "Boating Education" by NANOOK::SCOTT (Lee Scott (Portsmouth Harbor)) Fri Sep 05 1986 00:07

             -< USPS - United States Power Squadron >-

After doing a directory of sailing, I've found no topics covering the
USPS so I'll start a new topic.  For most of you who don't know me,
I'm Lee Scott and I live on my boat in Portsmouth Harbor during the
spring/summer/fall.  I am an active member of the USPS, Chairman of
their Public Boating Education, and Instructor for Advanced Piloting.
Membership for me is in the Amoskeag Power Squadron in Manchester
N.H.

The USPS was formed shortly after the turn of the century when those
boats with motors became popular (can't personally understand why).
The were originally a squadron within the Boston Yacht Club.  With
a number of other yacht clubs having similar squadrons, a new national
organization was formed.  The main interest now with the USPS is
boating education and they do offer a very technical course on
sailing - better bone up on boat design for that one.

The Public Boating Course is open to the public for a nominal fee.
In Manchester N.H. the fee last year was $10.00 for the course
book, and $5.00 for the exam.  You don't have to pay anything
to attend the course itself.

The membership to the USPS is by invitation only and you must be
a member in order to take any other courses offered.  Invitation
pre-req is passing the Public Boating Course and an interest in
furthering your boating education.

The other courses offered in ascending order are:
Seamanship
Piloting
Advance Piloting
Junior Navigation
Navigation

There are also available a few sideline courses:
Marine Electronics
Weather
Sailing
Engine Maintenance

Plus there are many study courses available like
Coast Guard Pilots License Study

All courses are taught by volunteers so the cost is very low (price of the
study material)
Membership is low too, I think I paid $30.00 for a single for one year.

I will be arranging the Public Boating Courses for the Amoskeag squadron
shortly and will announce them here for anyone who is interested.
These courses will be in the following locations (all tentative) and
the courses should be starting up near the end of January - gives us
some boating up north here during the winter.

Concord N.H.		at the Concord High School
Keene N.H.
Manchester N.H.
Nasuha N.H.		Nasuha High School.

There is a boating education hot line to find out about possible courses
in your area (not limited to coastal areas).  This number is:

		1-800-336-BOAT
  In Virginia:  1-800-245-BOAT


Anyone having any additional information about where and when courses
will be held across the US please fell free to add a reply to this
topic Anyone having any questions about the USPS please also feel
free to respond to this topic.

Best wishes for some good fall sailing,

In search of the sun,
Lee

T.R	Title	User	Personal Name	Date	Lines
400.1	Only one mistake I hope	NANOOK::SCOTT	Lee Scott (Portsmouth Harbor)	`Fri Sep 05 1986 00:11`	6
	As soon as I hit the return to enter this note, I noticed a mistake. I'm only the Public Boating chairman within the Amoskeag Squadron. Should do more prof reading. Lee
400.2	Registration Night for USPS boating class.	NANOOK::SCOTT	Looking towards the sun	`Thu Jan 15 1987 18:40`	22
	Not having as good an opertunity to do noting, I almost forgot, We're having a registration night for the Public Boating course coming up. It is Monday Night (19-JAN-87) at 7:30 PM. It is held at the Congregational Church on S. Main St. in Manchester. The church is located one block west - one block north of the Queen City Bridge exit from I293. A passing grade in the course entitles you to a discount of around 10% by many of the marine insurance companies. We will be holding 3 classes at 3 locations in N.H.: Nashua High School - Tuesday nights at 7:30 pm South Cong. Church, Manchester - Monday nights at 7:30 pm Concord High School - Monday nights at 7:30 pm Sorry for the delay in posting this. Attend boating class and dream about the sun. Lee
400.3	USCG Auxiliary Safe Boating Course	ORACLE::SERA		`Fri Jan 16 1987 18:50`	13
	U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary Safe Powerboating & Sailing Course coming up on Wednesday evenings 7-9PM at the Assabet Valley Vocational School, on Fitchburg St. Marlboro. Registration and fist class will take place on January 28, 1987 7PM. Instruction is free, but there is a slight charge for textbooks and navigational materials ( I took it 4 years ago and it came up to $15 ). For more information call Bob Weithman, at 562-2651. -Al-
400.4	USPS in Manchester	CAMLOT::BLAISDELL		`Fri Jan 16 1987 21:06`	11
	re .2 I took the USPS course in Manchester last year and I don't think I can say enough nice things about the course. I do not know who is teaching it this year, but last year the course was taught mostly by sailors - despite the name of the sponsor. Not only was it a superb course but now I enjoy lower insurance premiums. - Bob
400.5	Still time available to attend.	NANOOK::SCOTT	Looking towards the sun	`Mon Jan 26 1987 18:36`	22
	The courses are being taught by the same instructors except for myself (I taught in Concord but gave it up for instructing Advanced Piloting this year). This year at Manchester I've instituted the use of proctors to break up the classes for homework review so we can provide more instructor/student interaction though it won't be on a one to one basis. The results should be much better and much more enjoyable. There's still time to enter the class as we will accept students up to the 2nd or maybe the 3rd week. Tonight is the first night in Manchester, tomorrow night is the first night in Nashua, and Next week Monday is the first night in Concord. 26-JAN, 27-JAN, 2-FEB respectivly. Don't decide not to come just because you missed the registration. For those in other areas there is an 800 number to call (See the opening note 400.0) since I can't remember it off of the top of my head. This number is not only for USPS boating but also covers other courses available (Atleast that's my understanding) Best of boating and looking forward to the spring sun. Lee