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Our
aim is to increase boating safety and enjoyment by providing instruction
in all phases of seamanship and navigation, both power and sail.
PRPS
is non-governmental, non-regulatory and non-military. It is not
restricted to boat owners, nor owners of large yachts. Purely and
simply, it is a dedicated group interested in increasing safety and
pleasure on the water, through education.
Members
who are involved in conducting courses are all volunteers, providing
over 40 hours in instruction.
The Boating Course: "Canadian
Power & Sail Squadrons' premier course for the recreational boater.
Whether you are interested in power, sail or canoe, this course is for
you. It contains expanded, detailed boating safety information. As well,
the challenge of plotting and navigation skills and the interaction with
other boaters all await you in this exciting,
"chock-full-of-info" course. Successful completion of an
"accredited" examination at the end of certain sections will
allow you to achieve operator competency and a Pleasure Craft Operator's
Card (PCOC), as well as an offer of CPS associate membership. Successful
completion of the exam at the end of the entire course, will provide you
with the opportunity of Regular Membership in Canadian Power & Sail
Squadrons, and all its associated benefits, along with the PCOC.
Subjects
Taught
Among the subjects taught are:
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Boat
Handling: Nautical terms that boaters use. Types of handling characteristics of both power and sail boats. Docking and
undocking. How to maneuver a boat in wind and current. Car-top boats, inflatables, canoes, personal watercraft, trailering and ramp launching. Checklist for lay-up and launch.
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Lines and
Anchoring: Types of anchors and lines. Mooring. Essential knots and the care of rope and other tackle.
General Seamanship: Weather and its effects. Use of tide and current tables. How to handle emergencies, storms, running aground etc.
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Charts and
Piloting: How to read information on charts - symbols and abbreviations. Piloting
instruments. How to lay and plot a course. Finding position by bearings. Dead reckoning (Conning)
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Mariner's
Compass: Types of compasses, their care and use. Variation and deviation. True, Magnet and compass courses.
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Aid to
Navigation: Buoys and beacons, their types, colours and numbering systems. Radio aids, lights, ranges and fog signals.
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Equipment and Boating
Laws: The life-saving, fire-fighting, signaling and lighting equipment which the law requires boats to
carry. Also the additional equipment every good skipper should carry. How to license, register and number a boat.
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Rules of the
Road: Traffic laws of the waterways. The rules of right-of-way when boats meet or their paths cross, for both sail and power. The whistle signals and alll the other pertinent regulations governing boat operation.
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Safety
Afloat: Fire prevention in fuel handling. Ventilation. Use of life-saving equipment, and artificial resuscitation. Distress and fog signals. Emergency situation: Heavy weather, man overboard, holing, sinking grounding. Towing and rendering assistance. Skipper's responsibilities before setting out, and while underway.
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Manners and
Customs: Proper clothing and footwear for safety aboard. Obligations of a skipper, crew and guests. Common courtesies and flag etiquette. (Circumstances permitting. the course will include cruises for practical demonstration and experience.)
Study
Requirements: The boating course is NOT a difficult course. No mathematical skills are required beyond the ability to add, subtract, divide and multiply simple figures. (Calculators
are quite acceptable.) It does, however, require home study. Students must be prepared to devote up to 3 hours per week between sessions:
otherwise, time and money are largely wasted.
Membership: The boating course is open to the general public. The only way in
which membership can be attained in CPS is by taking the Boating course and successfully completing the examination. Every members,
regardless of previous experience, has had to qualify in this manner. CANADIAN POWER & SAIL SQUADRONS is proud to be an organization in which there are no short-cuts to membership. Members of CPS are eligible to take a wide variety of advanced and elective courses, such as:
Piloting, Seamanship (Power), Seamanship (Sail), Advanced Piloting, Celestial
Navigation, Navigating with GPS, Weather & Marine Maintenance, Marine Electronics.
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2002 Course