United States Power Squadrons®
America's Boating Club®
Pensacola Sail and Power Squadron
Advanced Marine Navigation Course
 
Advanced Pilot
 
Advanced Marine Navigation (AP) (Formerly Advanced Piloting) is an all-new course that continues to build coastal and inland navigation skills. It allows the student to take on more challenging conditions, such as unfamiliar waters, limited visibility and extended cruises. GPS is embraced as a primary navigation tool while adding radar, chartplotters and other electronic navigation tools. As with Piloting, this course includes many in-class exercises, advancing the students skills through hands-on practice and learning.

Topics covered include:

  • Review of skills learned in Piloting
  • Advanced positioning techniques such as advancing a line of position
  • other electronics: radar, depth sounders, autopilots, chartplotters, laptop computer software, et cetera
  • Hazard avoidance techniques using electronics (“keep out” zones in GPS)
  • Collision avoidance using radar and GPS
  • Working with tides: clearances, depth, effects of current
  • Piloting with wind and currents
  • The “Seaman’s Eye” – simple skills for checking that one is on course
Although not a pre-requisite, prior completion of Boat Handling and Marine Navigation recommended. You may receive credit for completing the Advanced Marine Navigation without Boat Handling or Marine Navigation, but you must complete all three courses to be awarded the grade of Advanced Pilot (AP).
 
Educational Proficienty
 
Educational Proficiency ... A member who has obtained the grade of Advanced Pilot and who has also completed any three of the six elective courses earns the Educational Proficiency Award. This achievement is noted by the placement of a gold bar under the Advanced Pilot insignee.