Designed for members who plan to cruise for a day or for a year---in either a sail or powerboat. Cruise Planning covers such topics as: planning a voyage; financing a voyage; managing commitments back home; equipping a cruising boat; selecting the crew; provisioning; managing a voyage; entering and clearing foreign ports; emergencies; and security measures.

This course attempts to make students more self-reliant afloat, with trouble-diagnosis and temporary remedies given special emphasis. It covers both marine gasoline and diesel engines, including concepts of operation, maintenance and repair. It covers such topics as: cooling systems; electrical systems; lubricating systems; power train components; and ancillary propulsion components.

Unlike other USPS courses, this one isn't designed to enhance boating skills. Rather, it deals with effective communications for speaker and teacher --- a quality that benefits the individual in all walks of life. It offers practical instruction in; preparing for teaching assignments; preparing for meeting presentations; effective teaching techniques; conducting efficient meetings; and selecting and using audiovisual aids. (Originally this course was comprised of two parts. Instructor Training and Instructional Aids. The combined courses were named Instructor Qualification. Recently, the course was rewritten and renamed Instructor Development.)

This course teaches essential knowledge about a boat's electrical and electronic systems including; proper wiring; grounding; corrosion and electrolysis control; batteries and their maintenance; depth finders; marine radiotelephone; RADAR; and LORAN; GPS and other electronic positioning systems.

Sa 101. Introduction to Sail --- This course teaches basic elements of sailing, including terminology; sailboat rigs & sail plans; boat design & hull types; sails, standing & running rigging; boat, true & apparent wind; leaving & returning to dock; sailing upwind & downwind; marlinespike for sailors; and basic sailing rules.
Sa 102. Advanced Sail --- This course teaches forces, stability and balance; sail trim; tuning a rig; steering & helmsmanship; spinnaker handling; heavy weather sailing; survival in storm conditions; safety procedures; racing & race management; complete navigation rules for sailing vessels.

This course is designed to teach a student how to make weather observations and predictions for more enjoyable boating. Topics include: awareness of weather phenomena; how to read the weather map and sky; how to understand and anticipate weather developments; structure and characteristics of the atmosphere; factors considered in weather forecasting; sources and use of weather and forecasts; and instruments and visual observations the skipper can make.