Educational Program
Public Boating Courses
General:
  • The squadron conducts two courses for the public.  One is the Squadron Boating
    Course.  It is offered three times a year in the spring, fall and winter.  The other is
    the Boat Smart course that is offered once in the summer for teenagers.
  • Both courses meet the Massachusetts certification requirements for power
    boating and satisfy the course requirement for membership in the United States
    Power Squadrons®.
  • Qualified, enthusiastic and experienced USPS instructors from our squadron
    teach the courses.  Proctors with years of boating experience offer individual
    help at each session.
  • Each course has a well-written student manual that serves as a useful reference
    long after the course is completed.
  • You will learn to skipper a boat with confidence.
The Squadron Boating Course:
  • This comprehensive classroom course includes
    lessons on seamanship, lines and knots, boat handling,
    boat types, necessary equipment, rules of the road,
    charts and navigation aids, adverse conditions, marine
    VHF radio, boat trailering and introductory piloting.
  • Many boaters today use GPS navigation techniques
    and so the course covers an introduction to digital
    charting.
  • Course materials include a student manual, training
    charts, basic navigation tools and a digital chart
    training CD.
  • Since boating is often a family activity, we encourage
    families to attend as groups.
  • The course is usually taught in eight two-hour sessions
    one evening a week.
Check for details about the next course
The Boat Smart Course:
  • The course covers the same safe boat handling and
    operating material as the more comprehensive
    Squadron Boating Course, but in a shorter length of
    time.  Material on introductory piloting and digital
    charting topics are not covered.
  • The course is usually taught in four two-hour sessions
    once a week
  • As mentioned, our squadron offers this course only to
    teenagers between the ages of 12 and 16.
Check for details about the next course
The following are USPS  member courses
General:
  • Building on the public boating courses, the squadron offers a wide range of advanced
    and specialty courses for members only.  These courses include the latest
    developments in GPS, electronic charting, GMDSS and other integrated electronic
    systems.
  • There are a total of eleven member courses.  Most of them have a two-hour classroom
    session once a week for 10 to 12 weeks.  Some courses are subdivided into separate
    modules.
  • The five Advanced Grade Courses should be taken in sequence except that you can
    take Piloting and Advanced Piloting without taking Seamanship first.  The Elective
    Courses may be taken in any order with no prerequisites.
  • The Instructor Development course must be completed to be a certified USPS Instructor
    qualified to teach public boating courses.

Advanced Grade Courses:
  • Seamanship;
  • Piloting;
  • Advanced Piloting;
  • Junior Navigation; and
  • Navigation.

Elective Courses:
  • Sail;
  • Cruise Planning;
  • Engine Maintenance;
  • Marine Electronics;
  • Weather; and
  • Instructor Development

USPS Training Workshops:
  • Vessel Examiner
  • Operations Training
  • Leadership Development
Current course schedules and descriptions  -- See details
Cape Cod Sail and Power Squadron, Inc.
A Unit of United States Power Squadrons® - District 14
SEO  Evan Croft, JN*
For information and to sign up for classes
Call 508-420-9023
Email seo@ccsps.org
Squadron Members please provide notice of your intent to attend a class by contacting the
instructor listed in the Porthole or contacting the SEO prior to the start date of the first class.
Public Seminars (click to check schedules)