CPS Courses

Boating:
($180.00)

Course duration is 12-13 weeks of classroom instruction.
(2 1/2 hours, one night a week)

First of many steps that can help Canadians become better and safer boaters.

Subjects Covered:
boat handling, for power and sail, under normal and adverse conditions
docking and anchoring
 aids to navigation (buoy identification) and rules of the road
government regulations and required safety equipment
compass and chart familiarization
introduction to piloting (buoy to buoy navigation)
CPS membership requires successful completion of the Boating exam.

Piloting:
($100.00 for CPS members - $125.00 for non-members)
Course duration is 12-13 weeks of classroom instruction. (2 1/2 hours, one night a week)
Piloting builds on the knowledge students acquired in the Boating course. A graduate of its course will have theoretical knowledge to be able to handle a boat in rough weather and to deal with emergency situations.

Course content: Expands piloting knowledge to include more advanced navigational and plotting skills; interpretation of charts and chart symbols; the DR plot; bearings and relative bearings, fixes and running fixes; determination of course to steer in a current, and determining distance off. Seamanship skills includes understanding the hazards of weather, wind, waves, the effects of current and leeway, tides and tidal currents, and how to deal with them. Boat Capabilities and Performance includes hull design, hull sped, stability, propellers and rudders. Marlinspike and coastal navigation.

Advanced Piloting:
Prerequisite: Piloting
($125.00 for members - $150.00 for non-members)
Course duration is 12 weeks of classroom instruction.
(2 1/2 hours, one night a week)

Advanced Piloting course teaches advanced coastal navigation principles to enable you to know at all times, where you are. The vessel's position can be determined by using landmarks and aids to navigation - allowing for current, leeway, tides, and tidal currents. Course content:
Become familiar with charts; the compass; steering and timing a course; tides and tidal currents; effects of current and leeway; methods of determining position; running fixes; aids to navigation; electronic navigational aids, and introduction to the sextant.

Celestial Navigation:
Prerequisite: Advanced Piloting

This course combines the original works of Junior Navigator and Navigator and applies the sciences of cartography and astronomy to set a course and determine a position at sea. Emphasis is placed on "how" to navigate and, with basic math and calculator skills, the student will have little difficulty. For proper study, the student will require the use of Bowditch, current-year Nautical Almanac and Star Finder. (These items must be ordered separately). The student will also require a scientific hand-held calculator with trigonometric capability. Course content: Use of the sextant, electronic navigation, the Nautical Almanac, sight reduction by formula and scientific calculator, the Pilot and Great Circle charts and much, much more. Duration: 24 weeks
Course kit includes: Student notes, homework folder, forms, Sight Reduction Table, Dip Short Tables and necessary charts.

Elective Courses

Seamanship Sail
($100.00 for members - $125.00 for non-members)
Course duration of 10 - 12 weeks of classroom instruction.
( 2 1/2 hours one night a week).

Seamanship Sail teaches some of the basic sailing techniques for safe operation under various conditions, and will encourage the participant to become a more competent sailor.

Course Content:
Spars and rigging; sails and theory of sail action; sailboat handling; cruising under sail (day sailers and keelboats). Fire safety and sailboat racing are included as additional information.

Seamanship Power
($100.00 for members - $125.00 for non-members)
Course duration of 10-12 weeks of classroom instruction.
(2 1/2 hours one night a week)

Seamanship Power expands on the Boating course to provide the knowledge necessary to become a safe and proficient operator of a power-driven vessel.

Course Content:
Power trains, engine controls and instruments; handling and cruising under power; mooring and anchoring; legal responsibilities; engine and trouble diagnosis; fuels and fuel systems; electrical systems; cooling and lubrication; maintenance and fire safety.

Fundamentals of Weather
($100.00 for members - $125.00 for non-members)
This new introductory weather course, first published in September 2000, is designed for the coastal and Great Lakes mariner. Course duration of 7 weeks of classroom instruction.
(2 1/2 hours one night a week)

Course Content:

  • How the Sun Cause Weather: deals mainly with the atmosphere.
  • What Causes the Wind to Blow: explains atmospheric pressure.
  • Water in the Atmosphere: covers the various forms of precipitation and fog.
  • Clouds - Signposts of the Skies: includes the most common types and how they develop.
  • Fronts and Frontal Weather: what they are and the weather that is associated with them.
  • Thunderstorms and Tornadoes: this section also covers stability and instability.
  • Forecasting the Weather.

The course kit includes, Student Notes, Homework Folder, Homework Answers, Cloud Chart, State of the Sea Chart, and Mapping Weather Booklet.

The weather course will enable a boater to anticipate adverse forecasts by gathering pertinent information and interpeting weather signs.

Global Weather
($100.00 for members - $125.00 for non-members)
Course duration of 7 weeks of classroom instruction (2 1/2 hours one night a week)

. Course Content: Expands on the basic knowledge gained in the introductory course Fundamentals of Weather.

Marine Electronics
($100.00 for members-$125.00 non-members)
Course duration of 15 weeks classroom instructions of 2 1/2 hours per week.
This course is aimed at the Boater who wants to take advantage of modern electronic navigation devices for safety afloat.

Course content;
DC and AC systems; wiring; galvanic and stray current corrosion and electrical interference. Lightning protection and the marine radiotelephone are also detailed. Electronics such as the depth sounder, Radar, Loran-C, satelite systems and auxiliary equipment are explored and can be taken as separate seminars.

Course kit includes Student Notes and Homework Folder.

Marine Maintenance
($100.00 for members - $125.00 for non-members)
Course duration of 10-12 weeks of classroom instruction.
(2 1/2 hours one night a week)
Marine Maintenance course will expand the average boat-owner's knowledge of vessel maintenance.

Course Content:
Seasonal maintenance and repairs to wooden, fiberglass and metal hulls; maintenance for electrical and mechanical systems; spars, rigging and ground tackle; fire and safety protection; moorings and berths; trailers; tools and fittings.

Extended Cruising
($100.00 for members - $125.00 for non-members)
Course duration of 10-12 weeks of classroom instruction.
(2 1/2 hours one night a week)

The environment of the offshore sailor is special, demanding and rewarding. This course focuses on the unique aspect of that environment and the challenges a prudent sailor will need to be able to meet, in order to maximize the enjoyment and minimize the risks for those on board the vessel. Topics covered include: A well found vessel - the boat & sails; passage planning and passage making; oceanography and weather; instrumentation; adverse conditions; first aid and travel advisory; skipper's and pre-passage checklists; suggested repair kits; navigation equipment; navel watch system; wind and waves; LORAN-C and GPS comparison; Maritime Mobile Nets.ourses

Boat Pro
(Pleasure Craft Operators Card)
$60.00 (first family member)
$50.00 (second family member)
$30.00(each additional family member. Does not include manual).
$50.00 Coporate request
Challenge $25.00 Challenge

Boat Pro Manual
$15.00

Course duration 8-10 hours of classroom instruction.
Boat Pro provides basic knowledge of safe-boating rules and practices. An ideal manual 'about-to-be' boat owners and new boat owners. It is also important for hunter, anglers, and cottagers, who use their boat primarily for transportation. A good introduction to the Boating Course. Contains all elements for CCG Operator Course.

Marine Radio (VHF/DSC Seminar) (eight hours)
Restricted Operator's Certificate (Includes DSC/Dgital Selective Calling)
A VHF (very high frequency) radio is probably the most important safety item
one can have aboard one's vessel. It provides line of sight, short range
marine communications encompassing a wide range of uses. The most important
use is a reliable radio link for safety and communications with rescuing
agencies. Industry Canada is the governing agency responsible for the administration of telecommunications in Canada. Generally speaking, the agency requires that you obtain a Restricted Operator's Certificate (ROC) to operate a VHF radio. You must pass a certificate examination to obtain a ROC.

Cost: (Full Course) CPS members $45.00/Non-CPS Members $55.00
(DSC only) CPS members $25.00/Non-CPS Members $35.00
Challenge Testing for Full Course:CPS members $45.00/Non-CPS Members $55.00
Challenge Testing for DSC:CPS members $25.00/Non-CPS Members $35.00

Navigating With GPS
CPS Members and immediate family members $50.00. Non-CPS Members $60.00
Course duration 6 hours of classroom instruction
This seminar is aimed at the Boater who has some knowledge of basic navigation but wants to take advantage of low-cost hand-held GPS, while continuing to plot position on traditional paper charts.

 Radar Course
CPS Members and immediate family members $50.00. Non-CPS Members $60.00
Course duration 6 hours of classroom instruction
This seminar provides instruction for use of the Radar equipment , including the operating range, obtaining fixes, using Radar range and bearing readings.

 Electronic Charts
CPS Members and immediate family members $40.00. Non-CPS Members $50.00

Note:
If a student takes a course and does not complete or fails, that student may retake the course or rewrite the exam at a later date, provided two training years have not elapsed. A training year begins Sep 01 of each year and ends Aug 31 of the following year. The cost to challenge any exam is $25.00 (excluding BoatPro and Boating Course). If student manuals are required, they will be provided at cost. The cost to challenge the Boating Course exam is $50.00. This includes one year's membership to CPS Alderney Squadron. If student manuals are required they will be provided at cost.

Registration
Registration for courses will take place in early September for the Fall Session and early January for the winter session. Exact dates and places of registration will be published as soon as they become available.

For information about courses contact:
Jerry Bourgeois 434-8939
Mary Ridgewell 463-2108

For info about Sched Courses

All courses are subject to availability and price change without notice.