HONOLULU
SAIL AND POWER SQUADRON
A unit of the United States Power Squadrons
Copyright 2008 Honolulu Sail & Power Squadron
Learning Guides
Amateur Radio
The Amateur Radio Learning Guide describes the Amateur Radio Service administered by the Federal Communications Commission. While the Learning Guide is not a course in itself, it explains each class of amateur license, the nature of each examination, and the examination procedure with Volunteer Examiners.
The Learning Guide offers suggestions for organizing a class to acquire a license and recommends materials for study that are available through the Ship's Store. Each of the ham bands is described with its sub-band allocations by license class and mode of operation. Also, a description of propagation conditions affecting each band is provided.
Boat Design and Construction
A section on power and propulsion will help clarify this much misunderstood, but vital aspect of design. Rudders, steering gear and construction details and materials are covered as well. Useful ratios are defined and illustrated with line drawings. For the serious boater, it is fascinating reading. For the amateur boat builder, it is a must.
Boat Insurance
The Learning Guide discusses general policy provisions concerning the hull, machinery and equipment, medical payments, liability exposure, land transportation risks, substandard risks and surveying. A glossary of insurance terms and a sample policy and survey are included. A review examination is provided with questions that not only test your knowledge, but are instructive as well.
Calculators for Navigation
Compass Adjusting
Starting with a general overview, the program goes on to cover use of the pelorus, manipulation of the corrector magnets, installation and alignment of the compass, and a light touch on the fundamentals.
Described in the text are the methods to determine magnetic heading by bearings on the sun, ranges, reciprocal bearings, bearings on distant objects and the Darrach or "sun compass" method, as well as appraisals of when to use each.
Global Positioning System (GPS) has become of age as the premier worldwide electronic navigational aid. The GPS is reliable, easy to use, has amazingly good accuracy and became fully operational in 1993. GPS user units are either handheld or ship mounted. Ship mounted units are easily installed.
The owner or prospective owner of a GPS unit will find information in this supplemental program on how to select, install, maintain and use a GPS unit to best advantage. In addition, the text includes a brief history of the development of GPS and a comparison of LORAN-C and TRANSIT with GPS. The accuracy, the capability and the many features of GPS are described in some detail including digital GPS.
Questions and Answers relevant to the contents of the GPS program are provided to enable the material to be utilized in a classroom setting. If you don’t own a GPS unit now, you probably will soon. Everybody's using GPS: boaters, hunters, anglers, commercial ship operators, drivers, and Co-op Charting enthusiasts. Determine your exact position anywhere on earth and plan the next leg of your journey. Here's a step-by-step guide that's easy to read and understand.
How to Fly Flags
Introduction to Sailing
The Sailing program covers the basics of small sailboat handling. Included are: nomenclature, sail handling, the tiller, points of sailing, relationships between the wind and the moving boat, action of the keel of centerboard and other points of interest to the novice sailor or someone who wants to know how a sailboat works.
Knots, Bends and Hitches (Marlinespike)
An indispensable part of a mariner's knowledge is his/her ability to manage line and to tie a variety of knots and splices. This Supplemental Course details the accepted methods of cutting, joining and tying line, as well as a description of the tools used and the basic theory of line usage.
Excellent step-by-step diagrams of 60 individual knots, hitches, splices, line endings, loops, bends, toggles and decorative knots are presented.
Emphasis on instruction methods, practice boards and knot demonstration boards is designed to motivate the student to pass-on this knowledge to others.
When this program is finished successfully, you will be thrilled with your unusual ability to make your craft safer and more functional.
Navigational Astronomy
This pleasant, non-technical introduction is intended to help the novice begin to enjoy the wonders of the night sky. No prior familiarity with astronomy is required in order to follow this easy-to-read guide to the stars, planets and major constellations. The text covers the northern hemisphere. The objects described can be seen without instruments.
The emphasis is to locate and identify prominent patterns and the principal objects they contain, particularly those of interest to navigators. This is done in easy steps and is organized by seasons of the year. There are notes on observational techniques, history and biblical references.
The Junior Navigator student will find this a convenient, but not necessarily complete star guide. Others will find it a handy reference when sitting in the yard one evening and wondering about the heavens.
Oceanography
The study of oceanography is so vast and technical that it is a pleasure to have this well worded, non-technical introduction to the many facets of such a fascinating science. The program covers marine geography, including earth crusts, tectonic plates, fractures and movement, ocean chemistry, effects of weather and the aspects of ocean movement, including tides, currents and waves.
Even those without scientific backgrounds will enjoy the text and will want to dig further into this basic earth science.
Plotting and Labeling Standards
Predicted Log Contest
A Predicted Log contest consists of running a course of 25 miles or more with three or more legs in the course. The contest requires at least two check points and a start and a finish. This program tells you how to set up and run a predicted log contest for anyone from beginners through advanced pilots.
Radar
Radar is becoming a priority safety and navigational aid for recreational boats. Many experts believe that, after a compass, a depth sounder and a VHF radiotelephone, radar is the next most important aid to consider. Today's radar sets are easy to install, easy and convenient to use in daylight or night, and small enough to be practical on boats less than 30 ft in length.
The owner or prospective owner of a radar unit will find information in this Learning Guide on how to select, install, maintain and use a radar set to best advantage. In addition, the text includes a brief history of the development of radar and how it works. The accuracy, the capability and many of the features of radar are all described in some detail.
Questions and answers relevant to the content of the program are provided to enable the material to be utilized in a classroom setting.
Sight Reduction Methods
The full NASR and Modified Ageton tables and excerpts from HO-229 and HO-249 with a Sight Reduction Form for each of the five methods are included to facilitate working sight Practice Problems. Answers to the Practice Problems are shown on the appropriate Sight Reduction Forms. The manual is printed in a loose-leaf style for insertion into a three-ring binder. This makes it possible to remove and make copies of each of the five single page Sight Reduction Forms to work the sight problems and to have extra copies for future use.
Sight Reduction Methods will be useful for recent JN and N graduates to become familiar with the methods taught by USPS in previous years as well as for veteran JNs and Ns who would like to update their skills with the methods currently being taught in USPS courses. With all five methods conveniently assembled in one volume, Sight Reduction Methods should be a "must" for inclusion in any serious USPS library.
Skipper Saver
This program is a blend of two USPS objectives - SAFETY and EDUCATION. Its purpose is to help the student acquire basic boat handling ability without frills or superfluous information. The idea is to learn how to operate a boat safely in an emergency without the throes of panic.
It consists of three classroom lessons, which cover: situations requiring immediate action, boat handling and use of the radiotelephone. A fourth session on the water in the family boat is a practical demonstration of the classroom work. A helpmate section provides reference on what to do in situations requiring first aid, special needs of guests, useful knots, radiotelephone procedures and boat handling. A Skipper Saver Patch and Certificate are available for presentation to those who successfully complete the program.
USPS Nautical Glossary
Water Sports
Water-skiing accidents occur because people are not aware of the variety of hazards involved or are not mindful of them. There are correct, tested procedures that minimize the risks in this popular activity. This Learning Guide describes them and lists the responsibilities of the people making up a safe water-skiing team.
There is information on types of boats, suggestions on rigging the towing equipment, and descriptions of the many types of skis in use. Included are discussions of racing, slalom, barefoot skiing, jumping, and ways to pick oneself up and start all over again.
By following the basic safety recommendations included, the student will be contributing to the enjoyment of this sport for all involved.