Elective Courses
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Elective Courses
Cruising Under Sail and Power is a new course. For the new boater the course is a
great foundation for exploring inland and coastal waters. The course is an overview
to show the various aspects of cruising. The course starts with information on how
to prepare to cruise and moves through types of boats for cruising and provides an
overview of propulsion and electrical systems. The course and student guide
continues with an explanation of vessel subsystems and electronics,
communications and safety, security, anchoring, weather, crew and provisioning,
boat and medical emergencies, chartering and crossing borders. As you can see
from the overview that the course will prepare you for making good choices for your
next on the water adventure. The guide also provides appendices for sources of
information to help with your planning. The searching is done for you! Everything
from cruising resources to weather websites through satellite system
communication.
You complete the course by developing your own cruising plan for the location you
would like to explore by water whether it is the Intracoastal Waterway, the Great
Lakes, Inland Rivers, or the Pacific Northwest. There is a supplement to help you
with your planning for each of these locations.
Come and enjoy this course with fellow boaters and look forward to a great summer
of boating fun. If you have questions, please feel free to contact me.
Engine Maintenance
The new Engine Maintenance course stresses the diagnosis of modern systems, while also teaching the basics of engine layout and operation. Gasoline inboards, outboards, and diesel engines are taught in a way that reinforces the common aspects of how engines work. This new course is complete in one book with one exam.
Modern engines offer high reliability and good performance through the use of computerized systems for fuel delivery and engine timing. Most of these systems are “black boxes” that can no longer be serviced by weekend mechanics with ordinary tools.
The EM course covers those repairs that do-it-yourselfers can still perform, teaches how to diagnose problems that might be beyond your ability to fix, and how to share information with your mechanic so the right repairs get performed.
The new Engine Maintenance course also covers basic mechanical systems such as drive systems (propellers), steering systems, and engine controls. The last chapter discusses solutions you might use to problems that could occur while afloat and away from a repair facility. Gasoline, diesel, and outboard engines are treated independently in this chapter.
A closed-book exam is administrated at the last class and is mailed to America's Boating Club Headquarters for grading.
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Course Covers:
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Basics of engine layout & operation
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Diagnosis of modern systems
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Gasoline & diesel engines
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Outboards, inboards, I/O
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Repairs
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Steering, propellers, controls
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Spare parts & tools
Marine Electrical Systems
The Marine Electrical Systems course is presented in seven chapters that start with an explanation of what electricity is, followed by discussions on boat electrical wiring, DC and AC electrical systems, galvanic and stray current corrosion, lightning protection, and ends with troubleshooting of boat electrical problems.
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The course includes detailed instructions on how to use a multimeter, how to solder and crimp electrical wiring circuits, and how to read electrical wiring diagrams. This course can be used as a reference guide for anyone interested in properly maintaining their boat electrical system.
A closed-book exam is administrated at the last class and is mailed to America's Boating Club Headquarters for grading.
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Course Covers:
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Properties of Electricity
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Boat Electrical Wiring Practices
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Direct Current Power
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Alternating Current Power
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Galvanic and Stray Current
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Lighting Protection
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Troubleshooting
Marine Communication Systems
This class is not scheduled at this time.
If you are interested in taking this class, PLEASE contact us at americasboatingclubcentralohio@gmail.com or by phone 614-206-9651.
Thank you for your interest in our educational program
Member Rate: $ 65 Nonmember Rate: $ 95
Marine Communication Systems
An in-depth, nine chapter review of those systems available to the recreational boater, or to those with whom he/she shares the water. Radio history and spectrum definitions are presented along with definitions of radio circuits that the student should learn, to choose the best communications method for his/her situation.
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One chapter is devoted to the Global Maritime Distress and Safety System (GMDSS) and another to FCC Rules and regulations to set the stage for instruction of radiotelephone operating procedures (both voice and digital messaging are covered).
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The remaining chapters cover High Seas radio (MF/HF and satellite communications) and other systems such as Family Radio Service transceivers.
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There is also a chapter on troubleshooting of radio installations.
A closed-book exam is administrated at the last class and is mailed to America's Boating Club Headquarters for grading.
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Course Covers:
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Radio History
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Frequency Spectrum
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VHF Communications
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GMDSS
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FCC Rules & Licenses
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Radio Frequency Plan
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Operating Procedures
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Long Range Communications
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Maintenance
Electronic Navigation
This class is not scheduled at this time.
If you are interested in taking this class, PLEASE contact us at americasboatingclubcentralohio@gmail.com or by phone 614-206-9651.
Thank you for your interest in our educational program
Member Rate: $ 65 Nonmember Rate: $ 95
Electronic Navigation
Electronic Navigation introduces GPS technology from the most basic receiver to chart plotter systems for navigation on board. The process of navigating by establishing waypoints and routes, and then running the planned courses, is demonstrated.
Further, electronic charting software for the desktop computer is examined, with the creation of waypoints and routes on the desktop and subsequent download to the on-board unit. Despite differences among the various manufacturers' offerings, a thorough discussion of the features being made available is included.
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Special attention is paid to apps for tablets and smartphones that provide the electronic navigation function at the helm, for relatively little cost.
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Students should be familiar with basic charting concepts such as latitude, longitude, compass, course-plotting, and time/distance calculation, to get the most out of the course.
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The student materials include a soft-bound course text and a Windows-compatible CD for electronic content.
The course menu provides all the class presentation PowerPoints, an interactive homework tool, hands-on exercises on the PC that simulate GPS function, as well as the Maptech Chart Navigator software and a chart plotter emulator from Standard Horizon.
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This course omits Radar and Depth Sonar technologies, however, Appendix 8 of the course text on Automatic Identification System (AIS) is presented and made part of the examinable material for USPS course credit.
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Successful completion of this Electronic Navigation course from CPS will earn MNS credit toward a full certificate.
A closed-book exam is administrated at the last class and is mailed to America's Boating Club Headquarters for grading.
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Course Covers:
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GPS Technology
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Chart Plotters
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Navigating by Waypoints & Routes
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PC Creation & Download to Device
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Device Features
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Tablet & Smartphone Nav Apps
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Maptech Chart Navigator Software
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Standard Horizon Emulator
Sail
This class is not scheduled at this time.
If you are interested in taking this class, PLEASE contact us at americasboatingclubcentralohio@gmail.com or by phone 614-206-9651.
Thank you for your interest in our educational program
Member Rate: $ 60 Nonmember Rate: $ 90
Sail
Sail is a course created to serve the needs of the novice and experienced sailor, as well as the non-sailor, for basic skills and knowledge.
The course starts with basic sailboat designs and nomenclature, rigging, safety, and sail processes and then tackles the physical aspects of sailing forces and techniques, sail applications, marlinespike, helmsman ship and handling of more difficult sailing conditions, navigation rules, and an introduction to heavy weather sailing. Appendices provide an introduction to sailboat racing and sailing in Canadian waters.
The course menu provides all the class presentation PowerPoints, an interactive homework tool, hands-on exercises on the PC that simulate GPS function, as well as the Maptech Chart Navigator software and a chart plotter emulator from Standard Horizon.
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A closed-book exam is administrated at the last class and is mailed to America's Boating Club Headquarters for grading.
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Course Covers:
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Basic sailboat designs
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Nomenclature unique to sailing
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Rigging
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Safety
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Sail processes
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Physical aspect of sailing
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Forces and techniques
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Marlinespike
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Helmsmanship
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Difficult sailing conditions
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Navigation rules
Weather
The safety and comfort of those who venture out-on-the water have always been weather dependent. In this course students will become keener observers of the weather, but weather observations only have meaning in the context of the basic principles of meteorology — the science of the atmosphere.
The course covers the dramatic technological advances that have changed the ways weather forecasts are produced and disseminated. The course is unique because it not only deals with modern weather forecasting – what are the different types of forecasts, when to use them, and how to get and interpret them. It also deals with the fundamental atmospheric dynamics underlying the weather events being forecast.
The course focuses on how weather systems form, behave, move, and interact with one another and reflects the availability of all sorts of weather reports and forecasts on the Internet. Wx2021 is a general weather course benefiting those sitting in their living rooms, as much as those standing behind the helm.
The Weather Course is designed to be conducted over ten two-hour sessions including time for review and the multiple-choice closed book exam, but each instructor will determine the pace of the course.
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A closed-book exam is administrated at the last class and is mailed to USPS Headquarters for grading.
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Course Covers:
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How weather systems form
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Behavior, movement & interaction
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Reports and forecasts
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Meteorology
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Upper air systems
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Atmospheric dynamics