Courses - General Information (updated 22 Nov 2020)

Registration:  Select course and follow on-line link to CPS National site to register.

Classroom Course Location: Unless indicated otherwise, courses will be held at:

     St. Patrick's High School
     2525 Alta Vista Drive
     Ottawa, ON K1V 7T3 ............. Need a map?  Click here!

      Rooms that will be used are: 227, 229, and 230
      Class time: 1900 to 2100 hrs

Course refund guidelines:  Course refunds are usually made in cases of work rescheduling or extended illness.  Other situations may apply at the discretion of the Squadron Education Officer. All course material must be returned in unmarked condition, i.e. no highlighter, pen or pencil markings.

Course cancellation policy:  From time to time course cancellations are made due to insufficient enrollment. Should this occur, registrants will be contacted by phone and offered the alternatives of applying the fees to another course or receiving a full refund.

Proof of Membership:  Proof of current membership must be presented at registration to benefit from "member's rate".

INTRODUCTORY COURSES

Boating Basics:  The Boat Basic (formerly Boat Pro) course provides you with the opportunity to prepare for your Pleasure Craft Operator Card (PCOC) exam.  Clearly the best of the PCOC seminars available, this highly acclaimed 3 session course was one of the first to be accredited by the Canadian Coast Guard.  Boating Basics is a great introduction for your family to boating safety, operation and navigation.

Boating 2 and 3, Beyond the PCOC:  Boating Basics get you out there, Boating 2 and 3 will bring you back.
The Boating 2 and 3 courses replace the old Boating Course, for boaters who already have a PCOC from CPS or any other accredited provider. These courses continue where the Boating Basics course leaves off, and offers instruction in navigation, charting, plotting and an introduction to electronic navigation. Topics include: the magnetic compass, global positioning and charts, navigation, conning, plotting, digital charting, anchoring, lines and ropes, electrical hazards, towing, boating and the environment, and more.

Boating 4 and 5, Near Shore Navigation – necessary courses in advanced coastal navigation for short duration trips out of sight of land.
The Boating 4 and 5 courses include updated and enhanced chapters on Electronic Navigation Tools. You will be taken out of the realm of conning and visual plotting to coastal cruising out of sight of land: navigating in tidal waters; dealing with winds and current; standing clear of danger; using radar, an autopilot, and other instruments; and determining position by visual observation or with the use of electronic devices. Advance your piloting skills by taking these exciting courses.


COURSE ATTENDANCE GUIDELINES

Any courses longer than three nights: Students MUST be registered and in class by the third night. This will give students a minimum of three opportunities to register, and they will only miss two nights of the course.

Boating Basics and VHF courses: Students MUST be registered and in class by the second night. This will give students a minimum of two opportunities to register and they will only miss the first night of the course.

IT Course: Students MUST be registered and in class the night the course starts. This course is given to students at no cost and the Squadron should expect full attendance from all students.

If any student cannot meet these guidelines then the Squadron will recommend a "Home Study" if possible, or that the student take the course at a later date.

If a member of the Squadron feels that they can provide study assistance to a student, that member should first make this offer clear to the STO. The Squadron will not offer this type of assistance to a student without prior approval.

Introductory:
Boating Basics PCOC
Boating 2 Beyond PCOC
Boating 3 Intro to Navigation

*CPS Members only