Navigation/Radar/Radio

 

Coastal Navigation 1

Coastal NavigationA great course for boaters new to navigation, students planning a first cruise to Catalina and students needing a refresher before taking the USCG Licensing course. While the skills of coastal navigation, have evolved over the years, the basic goal is still to determine your position and to find a safe route to a destination using landmarks, both natural and manmade, as reference points. Class begins with an introduction to charts and plotting tools. By the second week, you will be finding latitude and longitude, determining distance and direction. Other topics include plotting, time/speed/distance calculations, compass and compass error, bearings, positioning and running fixes. This course has a strong emphasis on practical skills and students should expect one or two hours of homework per week.

  • Prerequisite
    • None
  • Materials
    • Materials needed include Basic Coastal Navigation, 2nd Ed. by Frank J. Larkin, Charts 1210TR and 18746. These will be available for purchase at the first class . By the second week of class, you will need
      • navigation dividers
      • course plotter or parallel rulers
      • mechanical pencils
      • soft eraser
      • pocket calculator or nautical slide rule.

      You can purchase these items at The Lazarette.

  • Successful completion prepares you for:
    • Coastal Navigation 2

Check for upcoming classes and Register online >

 

Coastal Navigation 2

Designed to help you develop your basic coastal navigation and piloting skills the course will start with a brief review of Coastal Nav 1 before moving on to new course topics including current navigation (tides and tidal current calculation); set and drift, and the ability to off set their effect on your vessel. The last evening will focus on GPS, GPS chart plotters, creating waypoints and routes. Students are welcome to bring their own GPS units.

  • Prerequisite
    • Coastal Navigation 1 or equivalent experience
  • Materials
    • Basic Coastal Navigation, 2nd Edition and the supplies listed for Coastal Navigation 1
  • Successful completion prepares you for:
    • Coastal Navigation Certification

Check for upcoming classes and Register online >

 

US SAILING Coastal Navigation Certification

This course is for students with prior navigation experience seeking a US SAILING Coastal Navigation Certification. Instruction will include theory, practice and procedures of traditional navigation and piloting as well as information on how to integrate electronic navigation tools into the navigation plan. Practical skills are strongly emphasized and students should plan on two hours of homework in addition to class time each week. The written test for the US SAILING Coastal Navigation Certification will be given in class the last 2 weeks. Successful completion of this course and a passing grade on the written test is required for final certification.

  • Prerequisite
    • Coastal Navigation 1 recommended. It is expected that students have knowledge of basic chart work, variation/deviation problems, aids to navigation, relative/true bearings and know how to use Chart #1, Coast Pilot and a Light List.
  • Materials
    • Coastal Navigation

Check for upcoming classes and Register online >

 

Celestial Navigation

We have come to rely on satellites and electronic navigation, but the complete seaman is still adept at the art of celestial navigation. This class is devoted to the basics of celestial navigation and principal trans-oceanic navigational skills. You will learn to navigate utilizing the sun, sextant, chronometer and tables. You will learn to set up and adjust your own sextant (you supply), take noon sights and take lateral sights to check your vessel’s compass deviation. Then you will take the sighting information, and learn how to translate that reading into a line of position. Class will meet on two weekday evenings and two weekend days (Saturday for a noon sight and Sunday for a moon sight) to practice hands-on use of the sextant and chronometer.

  • Prerequisite
    • Coastal Navigation 1 or equivalent experience
  • Materials
    • Celestial Navigation in a Nutshell by Hewitt Schlereth. Working sextant (Davis or equivalent)

Check for upcoming classes and Register online >

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Electronic Navigation

An essential hands-on safety and knowledge course for anyone using modern marine electronics.  You will learn basic theory and operation of Radar, GPS/chart plotter, auto pilot, and VHF radio through classroom exercises and underway in Newport Harbor.

Using the electronics aboard Nordic Star (at the dock) you will gain confidence entering waypoints and routes and learn how to interface GPS/chart plotter and auto pilot.  Your second class is underway aboard OCC’s Tiara 31 “Mia Lucia” for an evening cruise through Newport Harbor.

Both Nordic Star and Mia Lucia are fitted out with new Furuno electronics, including touch screens.  Nordic star has three radar displays for student use, along with her big ship’s Radar. Basic time, speed and distance calculation methods will be introduced.

  • Prerequisite
    • Coastal Navigation 1 or equivalent experience recommended
  • Materials
    • Plotting tools, Chart 18754 (Newport Bay)

Check for upcoming classes and Register online >

 

Marine Radio Operator’s Course

Marine Radio - Gordon West
Gordon West

Taught by world renown Ham Radio Operator and Radio Instructor Gordon West, this one day licensing class covers FCC (Federal Communications Commission) Marine Radio rules and regulations, communications procedures, equipment operations, and other radio equipment on vessels. The FCC Marine Radio Operator’s Permit (MROP) exam will be given in class. A passing grade will result in the lifetime FCC MROP license. Additionally, the MROP is a required license for virtually all other FCC commercial licenses, including GMDSS.

Mariners may need a Marine Radio Operator’s Permit if they:

  1. Carry more than six passengers for hire;
  2. Have a vessel radio operating on medium or high frequencies;
  3. Sail to foreign ports, or
  4. Are on a vessel larger than 300 gross tons and are legally required to have a radio.

Gordon West is a certified State of California Vocational instructor, teaching for more than 40 years. His students have traveled all over the world using their radio licenses

  • Prerequisite
    • You must be a legal resident or eligible for employment in the United States and be able to receive and transmit spoken messages in English.
    • Two types of ID required (driver’s license, passport, social security card, TWIC card, etc).  Bring both to class.
  • Materials
    • Instructor Materials
  • Successful completion prepares you for:

Check the schedule for upcoming classes and Register Online >