Public Education

BASIC NAVIGATION Course Description                                                 Return to: Boating Class List
 
Navigation has changed since the “old days” when navigators plotted a course relying on dead-reckoning and seeing a buoy was a bonus. Today we have Global Positioning Systems (GPS) which have become common and affordable. Today with a couple of hundred dollars and two AA batteries you can find your position anywhere on the face of the earth. While electronics can be very helpful, easy to use, and accurate, they can break or quit. Knowing how to navigate with electronics is useful, and knowing how to navigate the traditional way using dividers, parallel rulers, and a compass could make the difference between survival and a catastrophe.
 
The Coast Guard Auxiliary's Basic and Advanced Navigation courses both use the textbook WEEKEND NAVIGATOR. The Basic Navigation Course is designed to give the student the rudiments of navigation by using GPS, and the back up skill of navigation using charts, navigation plotting tools, and dead-reckoning. The intent is to provide the student with a solid foundation with emphasis on technique and not blind reliance on electronics. GPS will be mentioned and discussed as it relates to plotting waypoints, etc. Weekend NavigatorThe Advanced Navigation course covers the use of GPS and other electronic devices in more technical detail as well as some more sophisticated traditional navigation skills as back-ups. An added segment covers fuel management, which is the final crucial issue for all power boat navigation.
Basic Navigation Course Subjects
 
Chapter 1: Basic Navigation Topics 
Chapter 2: What is Navigation?
Chapter 3: Fundamentals of Waypoint Navigation 
Chapter 4: The Tools of Navigation 
Chapter 5: Planning With GPS and Paper Charts
 
BASIC NAVIGATION  Class Schedule                                                        Return to: Boating Class List
 

 

           Indicates a current or future class

California
Point Bonita Flotilla 17
City Location Date/Time Contact
San Francisco, CA USCG Sector San Francisco - Yerba Buena Island
1 Yerba Buena Road
San Francisco CA 94130 		To be determined

 

 

 Bill Burns
wwburns@mail.com
510 236-6460
See Advanced Navigation for continuation of this class.
Sacramento Flotilla 3-5
City Location Date/Time Contact
Sacramento

 

 Sacramento Radio One
1601 Garden Highway - portable classroom

Sacramento CA 95833

Thur

24-Jan-08 through 20-Mar-08

7:00 PM - 9:00 PM

 Bob McCaw
Bob@themccaws.com
916-716-6162
Suggested prerequisite: Basic boating course. Cost =$100, and covers the text for both Basic and Advanced Coastal Navigation (ACN). Students must complete this course before ACN.  See Advanced Navigation for continuation of this class.
Redding Flotilla 3-9
City Location Date/Time Contact
Paradise CA At instructor's home
5877 Fickett Lane

Paradise CA 95969

 Saturday

28-February-09

8:00 AM to 5:00 PM

 Hannelore Maddox
hsmaddox@aol.com
(530)876-8477
Cost:  $80.  This class is a combination of Beginning/Advanced Coastal Navigaton and Weekend Navigator. The class will be 4 Saturdays, 28Feb, 14,21Mar and 4Apr. Bring your lunch.
Diablo Flotilla 5-7
City Location Date/Time Contact
Pleasant Hill, CA Pleasant Hill Adult Education Center
One Santa Barbara Road 
Pleasant Hill, CA 94523		 Wednesday
19-May-10 thru 23-Jun-10
7:00 PM to 9:30 PM		 Barry Campbell
bjcemail@earthlink.net
(925) 837-9139 
Cost:$65 plus School Fee $10. This course, Weekend Navigator, Part 1, includes 120 page textbook and Certificate of Completion. You are provided all NAV tools, GPS Handhelds, Local Charts, Tides & Currents Tables. Course upgrades your electronic navigation skills, even if you have never seen a GPS. Join other women & men boaters for this 5 session class. Call school to register {925}-937 - 1530. Note no class on Wed 6/2 
Monterey Flotilla 6-4
City Location Date/Time Contact
Monterey CA USCG Station Monterey
100 Lighthouse Ave.
Monterey CA 93940 		THU

17-JAN-08 THROUGH 03-APR-08
7:30 PM - 9:30 PM

 Skip Eckel
skip@eckelmarketing.com
(831) 755-1350
Cost:  $65  Alternate contact phone H 831-484-2594.  This class begins as Basic Coastal Navigation and continues through the advanced material.
Santa Cruz 6-7
City Location Date/Time Contact
Santa Cruz, CA Harbor Public Meeting Room
365 A Lake Avenue
Santa Cruz, CA		 Monday
12-Jan-09 through 20-Apr-09
7:30 PM to 9:30 PM		 
Maryanne Collins
maryanne@pacbell.net
Cost $65:.00
Alameda Island 12-01
City Location Date/Time Contact
Alameda, CA 
Oakland Yacht Club, Regatta Room
1101 Pacific Marina
Alameda, CA 94501
 Wednesdays

22-Sep-10 through 13-Oct-10

6:30 PM - 8:30 PM

 
Nancy Schimmelman
nancy@windwave.com
510-601-6239
Cost:  $45.00  Weekend Navigator Part 1.
San Ramon Flotilla 12-91
City Location Date/Time Contact
San Ramon, CA San Ramon Fire District Offices

1500 Bollinger Canyon Road

San Ramon, CA

 Tuesdays

2-DEC-08 thru 20-JAN-09

7:00 PM - 9:30 PM

 Marty Crowningshield

martycr@sbcglobal.net

(925) 216-0968

http://a1131291.uscgaux.info/
Cost:   $115 See also Advanced Navigation course.

Nevada
South Lake Tahoe 11-4
City Location Date/Time Contact
Zephyr Cove NV Douglas County Senior Citizens Center
Highway 50
Zephyr Cove NV 89448		 Tuesdays & Thursdays

09-Jan-07 through 01-Mar-07
7:00 PM to 9:00 PM

 Vic Beelik
vbeelik@charter.net
(775) 588 1385
City Location Date/Time Contact




          Indicates a current or future  class offering                                                  Return to: Boating Class List 
 
For more information, contact:
Roger Haynes, DSO-PE 11NR
District Public Education Staff Officer
[DSO-PE 11NR]