Basic Boating Courses

If you are interested in getting started in boating or sailing, but don’t need to operate your own vessel in Japan, we recommend one of our Basic Boating courses. These will give you an overview of boating rules, regulations, and know-how, and will make you eligible for TSPS membership. There are several alternative textbooks and programs depending upon your needs.

• Boat Smart is the course for all present and future boaters, sailors, and personal water craft enthusiasts to start their boating education. This course teaches the basic nautical rules and regulations, courtesies of the sea, and the natural forces and man-made dangers that all boaters and sailors face on the water. As sailing and boating is often a family or group activity, the course is of value to all members of a crew. TSPS encourages families and sailor friends to attend as groups to enrich the learning experience. This course can also be taken as study-at-home,USPS encourages Boat Smart graduates interested in learning a little about piloting to follow up with Chart Smart, below.

• Chart Smart is designed to give the student an introduction to the subject known as Piloting, or the techniques of determining a vessel’s position when it is within the sight or near proximity of land. The course is available to graduates of USPS Boat Smart or America’s Boating Course (See section below). The course teaches the use and application of basic navigational instruments and aids to navigation. It builds upon the knowledge gained in Boat Smart or America’s Boating Course by covering the following subjects:

1. Mariner’s Compass
2. Charts
3. Aids to Navigation
4. Plotting a Course
5. Distance, Speed, Time
6. Determining PositionChart Smart may also appeal to squadron members as a refresher prior to taking the Advanced Grade course of Piloting.

• America’s Boating Course is an innovative learning system that includes an online course, CD-ROM, printed manual and personal contact with United States Power Squadron representatives. It is an interactive, self-paced multimedia rich course for the novice and the old salt, for power or sail, and from yachts to personal water craft (PWC). Its fun, effective, and inexpensive so come on board today!