Coastal Navigation teaches you to demonstrate the navigational theory required to safely navigate a powerboat in coastal or inland waters using paper and pencil techniques. Navigation includes determining your location and the best route to your destination plus a continual assessment of progress being made. The navigator must consider land masses, channels and the sea bottom, other traffic, obstructions, navigational aids, forcast and actual weather and sea conditions.
Prerequisites: None
Specific topics to be learned include:
1. Explain the chart symbols and conventions on U.S. nautical charts.
2. Identify a source of official U.S. Coast Guard navigation publications.
3. List the publications required for prudent navigation in the local area including the following ASA minimum requirements:
• Large scale charts of the area and chart #1
• Federal Requirements for Recreational Boats
• USCG Navigation Rules
• State small vessel regulations
• Local rules and regulations, if applicable
• Tide and current tables, if applicable
• List of lights, buoys, and fog signals
• Radio aids to navigation (if using radio or RDF)
4. List the instruments required for prudent navigation in the local area including the following minimum requirements:
• Steering compass and deviation table
• Handbearing compass and / or pelorus
• Binoculars
• Protractor or parallel rule
• Depth sounder or leadline
• Pencil, eraser, and notebook
• Dividers
• Watch or clock
• Log / Knotmeter
5. Describe the purpose of "Notice to Mariners."
6. Use the tide and current tables to find:
• Times and heights of tides at reference and secondary ports.
• Direction and rate of current at referenced and secondary stations.
7. Convert courses and bearings between true, magnetic, and compass.
8. Check compass deviation by means such as a transit bearing.
9. Plot a dead reckoning position on a chart using speed, time and course to steer.
10. Allow for the effect of current and leeway to plot the estimated position.
11. Determine a course to steer which takes into account known current and leeway.
12. Determine current given the course steered and speed and two observed positions.
13. Plot a chart position from terrestrial objects using:
• Two or more bearings on different objects taken at one time.
• Bearings at different times (i.e. a running fix).
• One bearing and transit range.
• One distance (i.e. a sounding or dipping a light) and one bearing.
14. Use the above techniques to chart a course of at least 20 miles and 3 course changes.
15. Explain the terms and characteristics used for lighted navigation aids.
16. Explain the significance of shapes, colors, and lights used in the buoyage system.