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- Available in-person & Online
- Suggested Pre-requisities
Pleasure Craft Operators Card (PCOC)
All operators of motorized pleasure craft are required to show proof of operator competency. All you need to know for the Transport Canada test is presented in an easy to read format that is both informative and entertaining. You can be confident that this study guide meets all the standards established by Transport Canada’s Office of Boating Safety. As an extra benefit, if you pass the test offered by Canadian Power and Sail Squadrons, your Card is recognized by BOTH Transport Canada and The National Association of State Boating Law Administrators (USA).
- Available in-person & Online
- Suggested Pre-requisities
Maritime Radio Certificate - ROC(M)
The Maritime Radio course teaches emergency radio procedures and everyday operating techniques. Learn all about the uses of marine radios, choice of frequencies, operation, phonetic alphabet, procedural words and phrases, as well as Digital Selective Calling and the Global Maritime Distress and Safety System, (DSC/GMDSS). All mariners, including recreational boaters, will want to take advantage of the many features and capabilities of this innovative form “automatic” radio. Secure your lifeline. Be sure that you and your family take the Maritime Radio course. This complete package will prepare you for the Restricted Operator Certificate (Maritime) with DSC Endorsement exam which is included as part of this courses. To operate a maritime radio, you need the certificate. It's the law!
- Available in-person & Online
- Suggested Pre-requisities
Basic Navigation and Boat Handling
This course is available in physical classrooms, virtual classrooms, and online. It focuses on improving your knowledge, understanding, and skills in navigation and boat safety topics. The classroom and virtual classroom versions of the course cover the fundamentals of traditional navigation – understanding global coordinates, using a magnetic compass, and planning a cruise using paper charts. Boat handling topics include operator and crew responsibilities, managing onboard emergencies, collision avoidance rules, anchoring techniques, docking/undocking techniques, and understanding marine weather forecasts, and tide/current tables. Note: Some classroom offerings provide access to the online version of the course. Please read the detailed description of the course offered by each Squadron. The online and virtual classroom versions of the course, cover all the topics offered in the classroom version plus navigation with electronic devices, such as phones, tablets, and chart plotters. All versions of the course include quizzes to check your understanding of the topics, navigation practice exercises, course notes, and a final exam, that if you complete with 75% or higher, may lower your boat insurance.
- Available in-person & Online
- Suggested Pre-requisities
Basic Navigation
Learn the fundamentals of traditional and electronic navigation, including navigation using paper charts and electronic devices (e.g., a chart plotter and app-based software). Each section includes course notes, which can be downloaded electronically or printed in booklet format, instructional videos, skill-testing quizzes and practice exercises, and links to supplementary resources, including web-based links and videos related to each topic. Participants must complete the cruise exercises with a chartplotter or tablet/phone navigation app. The course provides options for purchasing apps starting at $14.00. The course, which can be taken online/virtual or in a classroom (where available), is 8 to 9 weeks in length (at the discretion of the instructor team). A final exam is also available.
- Available Online
- Suggested Pre-requisities
Boat Handling
Learn the fundamentals of boat handling and safety techniques, including skipper and crew responsibilities, preparing for departure, handling emergencies, anchoring techniques, lines and knots, docking and undocking techniques, marine weather, collision avoidance rules, and tide and current tables. Each section includes course notes, which can be downloaded electronically or printed in booklet format, instructional videos, skill-testing quizzes and practice exercises, and links to supplementary resources, including web-based links and videos related to each topic. The course, which can be taken online/virtual or in a classroom (where available), is 7 to 8 weeks in length (at the discretion of the instructor team). A final exam is also available.
- Available Online
- Suggested Pre-requisities
Seamanship and Coastal Navigation (B4)
This course will increase your confidence by focusing on the manual navigation technique called Dead Reckoning followed by logbook protocols. This is followed by a review of fixed and floating aids and more detailed navigational techniques. Other chapters will increase your knowledge of environmental influences on the marine environment: Tides and Currents, Weather, and Wind and Waves. Still other chapters are devoted to specific procedures to follow when things go from bad to worse: skills for boating handling during adverse weather, managing emergencies, and coordinating rescue efforts with the Coast Guard. Finally, you must demonstrate your proficiency in tying various knots and splices. The exam includes an extensive quiz section and charting/cruise exercise testing you understanding all topics covered in the course.
- Available in-person & Online
- Suggested Pre-requisities
Near Shore Marine Navigation Level 2 (B5)
Knowledge of the basics of navigation and planning cruises on a maritime chart is just the start. Expand that knowledge by using a variety of electronic devices to chart your course and enable you to plan your course under tidal, current and windy conditions. By learning more about dead reckoning, fixes and running fixes you will have attained a high degree of proficiency in navigating through coastal waters. In this course we cover GPS, Chart Plotters, Radar, SONAR, Autopilots and more. Note: this course was formerly called Advanced Piloting.
- Available in-person & Online
- Suggested Pre-requisities
Electronic Navigation
This course will allow the pleasure craft operator to navigate safely knowing his exact location at all times. You will learn to navigate using GPS and paper charts as well as electronic charting devices. It includes a CD containing a number of charts and a full scale simulator of a chart plotter to help you learn by doing. Join with others to share experiences and knowledge.
- Available in-person & Online
- Suggested Pre-requisities
Practical Weather for Boaters
This course will improve your understanding of the systems that cause weather. It will help you use forecasts more intelligently and to augment forecasts with local observations. This will improve your decision making. It will help you develop keen judgments in “reading” the sky and sea for optimum boating safety in and around Canadian waters. Each section includes a manual (e-copy), instructional video, quiz/exercise activity, and links to supplementary resources.
- Available Online
- Suggested Pre-requisities
RADAR for Boaters
This course covers the different types of RADAR equipment, their capabilities and limitations. It helps you understand the available features and how they apply to your needs. Learn how to use your RADAR for collision avoidance and for navigational purposes. The course covers everything about RADAR from how and where to mount the antenna to how to use and interpret the displays.
- Available in-person & Online
- Suggested Pre-requisities
Boat and Engine Maintenance
Keep the water on the other side of the wall! From spark plugs to bottom paint, this course covers all the basics for “do it yourself” boaters. This course will equip you with the knowledge required to prevent onboard problems, carry out specialized tasks and tackle both short-term troubleshooting as well as long-term boat care. It features practical information and handy tips suitable for both new and existing boat owners. The dream of owning, maintaining and using your own boat without great expense can be achieved through the completion of the Boat & Engine Maintenance Course.
- Available in-person & Online
- Suggested Pre-requisities
Marine Electrical Maintenance
Learn how to maintain electrical systems in your boat properly and safely. Gain a solid foundation in wiring, direct current systems, and alternating current systems found on recreational vessels. It also covers galvanic and stray current corrosion, lightning protection, interference suppression and electrical troubleshooting. Learn how to maintain electrical systems in your boat properly and safely. Gain a solid foundation in wiring, direct current systems, and alternating current systems found on recreational vessels. It also covers galvanic and stray current corrosion, lightning protection, interference suppression and electrical troubleshooting. Enrol in the Marine Electrical Maintenance Course with your local Canadian Power and Sail Squadron, because PEACE OF MIND IS PRICELESS!
- Available in-person & Online
- Suggested Pre-requisities
Sailing
Do you want to learn more about sailing? Do you want to improve your sailing skills and your understanding of how sails work? This Sailing Course covers the practical and theoretical basics of sailing and sailing seamanship. The range of topics is broad: from a description of different sailboat rigs, sail plans, hull types, and rigging to stability, balance, and the physics of sailing; from sailing at different points of sail to handling heavy weather and storm conditions; from spinnaker handling to reefing; from leaving the dock to mooring and anchoring. It also covers sailing safety, navigation rules, and sailing tactics Whether you are a new sailor or you are an experienced sailor and want to increase your sailing knowledge and skills, this course is for you.
- Available in-person & Online
- Suggested Pre-requisities
Mini-Course: Tropical Weather for Boaters
The mini-course is designed to be done in one sitting of about 90 minutes. Many boaters like to spend all or part of their winters sailing in tropical waters, and no doubt wonder what sort of weather they might encounter. The meteorology behind winter weather in the Tropical Zone is very much different from that which we experience here in the mid-latitudes. This seminar gives provides a quick review of mid-latitude weather, and then explains the differences that we would find in the tropics, and why they are different. A good follow up of this course would be Weather for Boaters which is a multi week course with Tutor support.
- Available in-person & Online
- Suggested Pre-requisities
Mini-Course: Boating in Tidal Waters
For your safety, your crew’s, and your boat’s, it’s essential to understand tides and currents before heading into tidal waters. Failing to plan properly can leave you grounded—or worse, snapping your mast under a bridge or utility line. This mini-course offers a solid introduction to tidal navigation, helping you avoid costly, stressful mistakes. While we can’t cover every detail of tides and currents here, you’ll gain the core knowledge needed to boat safely in tidal zones. Perfect for: Boaters heading into coastal waters or tidal rivers.
- Available in-person & Online
- Suggested Pre-requisities
Mini-Course: How to Use a GPS
This introductory online mini-course is for boaters who want to know the basics of how to set up their GPS/Chartplotter, understand how it works, how to use it to and how it can connect to other boat electronics including tablets and smart phones. In this seminar, you will learn about waypoints, routes and how to best use the display options available for charts and data. Knowing how to plan and safely execute a route and interpret what you see on the charts is important A section is included on the capabilities of multi-function displays connected to an autopilot, sensors, radar, AIS or DSC radio. This is an interactive seminar and to help you assess your learning, there are question and answer segments located throughout the various sections.
- Available Online
- Suggested Pre-requisities
Seminar: How to use AIS
AIS or Automatic Identification System, is a wonderful collision avoidance aid for those who do their boating in areas with a moderate to high volume of heavy shipping traffic. The intent of the seminar is to help the prospective buyer decide which is the best unit for his/her needs. There is enough easy-to-understand technical and operational information, including a comparison chart, to make it easy to decide.
- Available in-person
- Suggested Pre-requisities
Mini-Course: Celestial Navigation in a Nutshell
The Mini-Course is designed to be done in one sitting of about 90 minutes. Before electronic navigation aids like GPS and electronic chartplotters came along, coastal sailors plotted fixes by using natural and man-made references, such as lighthouses, buoys, church steeples, radio/TV towers, and so on, that were plotted in their exact locations on paper navigation charts. They did this by taking quick-succession bearings on two or more of these objects, thus producing lines of position (LOPs) that crossed each other at some point. When these LOPs were plotted on the paper chart, the sailor could see the fix, indicating the boat’s position. This process is called getting a terrestrial fix. However, if the sailor is in the middle of an ocean, there are no lighthouses or church steeples. There is a solution however, and as the Friendly Giant used to say, “Look up … way up,” and there are all those heavenly bodies, “lighthouses in the sky.”
- Available in-person & Online
- Suggested Pre-requisities
Seminar: Weather for Boaters
There’s nothing can quickly ruin a pleasant cruise on a sunny afternoon than getting caught in a sudden, unexpected storm. This show of Mother Nature’s powers can be frightening at the very least, and fatal in its worst form. Weather For Boaters presents many of the basic meteorological principles that create our weather, and is an excellent primer for the more advanced Canadian Power and Sail Squadrons course, Introduction to Weather For Recreational Boaters.
- Available in-person & Online
- Suggested Pre-requisities
Offshore Navigation for the Recreational Boater
Covers the planning and execution of offshore voyaging, including routine and emergency procedures. Electronic hardware, such as chart plotters, radar, communications, AIS, etc are covered along with software programs for planning and conducting voyages on the open ocean. The course can be completed in 10 to 12 weeks and includes a practice cruise which is completed in stages as the course progresses. An open-book exam is written over a two-week period, which includes a continuation of the cruise which began during the course.
- Available in-person & Online
- Suggested Pre-requisities
Celestial Navigation
Covers the use of a sextant and timepiece to take sights on the sun, moon planets and stars and to plot lines of position using two methods of sight reduction, the Law of Cosines and Sight Reduction Tables. The theory behind celestial navigation is extensively covered, as is the navigator’s daily routine for maintaining the ship’s position. The course will normally take 10 to 12 weeks to complete. Credit for course completion is contingent upon submission of a Sight Folder containing a record of all sights taken, including reduction and plotting, as specified in the course documents.
- Available in-person & Online
- Suggested Pre-requisities
Seminar - Paddling and Board Smart
Kayaking, Canoeing, and Paddle Boarding have become a tremendously popular water recreations, but there are a number of water safety issues that paddlers have to be aware of. This seminar covers how to select the proper craft for you, safe boarding procedures, the correct safety equipment to carry and the care of that equipment, and an excellent section on safety and weather, plus some basics on navigation and charts.
- Available in-person & Online
- Suggested Pre-requisities
Mini-Course - Chart Reading for Beginner's
The is an excellent teaser for the boater who has his/her PCOC, but would like to learn more navigation and seamanship skills, and would like to get a glimpse of what sort of information and courses are available. Subjects cover the latitude/longitude system navigators use to locate points on earth’s surface, basic navigation chart reading, the magnetic compass, tides and currents, and buoyage systems.
- Available in-person & Online
- Suggested Pre-requisities
Seminar - Introduction to Collision Regulations
Although there are no highway signs, traffic lights, or painted highway lanes out on the water, there are a very definite set of rules that govern the movements of boats of all sizes, and this seminar covers them all, right from the correct navigation lights carried by boats, buoyage systems, which boat is the “stand on” boat and which is the “give way” boat in a crossing or passing situation, whistle or horn signals, and much more. This seminar goes well beyond what is covered in the PCOC course.
- Available in-person & Online
- Suggested Pre-requisities
Extended Cruising
Extended Cruising is an essential first step in understanding the elements of the long-distance passage making lifestyle under sail or power. Through this course you will become confident in the boat you select by understanding seaworthiness, stability, and other design concepts. You will gain an awareness of the maintenance required for critical systems, passage planning, provisioning, and visiting foreign countries, safety issues, emergency preparedness and weather tips. If you want to cruise coastal waters, experience remote anchorages far from home or explore countries across oceans, Extended Cruising provides you with a deeper understanding of the skills necessary for confident, safe passages.
- Available in-person & Online
- Suggested Pre-requisities
Seminar: Boater Responsibilities
This seminar helps you to better understand the rules, regulations and best practices needed to keep safe on the waterways. It offers training material and resources to help boat operators understand their responsibilities and comply with rules and regulations.
- Available Online
- Suggested Pre-requisities
Mini-Course: Avoiding Collisions
Just like road rules keep cars safe, the “rules of the road” on water help prevent accidents. This must-take mini-course teaches how to avoid boat collisions, understand right of way, and apply Canadian boating regulations with confidence. Based on the International Regulations for Preventing Collisions at Sea (with Canadian modifications), it’s your go-to course for smart decision-making and effective collision avoidance. Perfect for: All boaters, especially in busy waters or shared channels.
- Available Online
- Suggested Pre-requisities
Mini-Course: Knots and Lines
Know your knots. Learn the must-know boating knots every mariner should master — when to use them, and how to tie them quickly and securely. This mini-course also covers the different types of rope (cordage) used on board, how to choose the right one, and how to handle lines safely to protect your boat and crew. Perfect for: All boaters — from first-timers to experienced cruisers brushing up.
- Available Online
- Suggested Pre-requisities
Mini-Course: Docking with Confidence
Docking doesn’t have to be stressful. This mini-course teaches how to dock and undock a boat safely, even in wind or tight spaces. Learn proven docking tips and step-by-step procedures to approach and leave the dock, with techniques for handling wind from different directions. Gain confidence to protect your boat, your crew, and your pride — every time you pull in. Perfect for: New boaters or anyone who wants smoother, stress-free docking.
- Available Online
- Suggested Pre-requisities
Mini-Course: Anchor with Assurance
Anchoring is more than just dropping a line — it’s a skill every boater needs. In this essential mini-course, you’ll learn how to anchor a boat safely, choose the right anchor, calculate your rode, and apply proven anchoring techniques for different conditions. Whether you’re stopping for lunch or managing an emergency, gain the confidence to keep your boat secure. Perfect for: Day cruisers, overnight boaters, and anyone anchoring for the first time.
- Available Online
- Suggested Pre-requisities
Seminar: Weather
This seminar provides details on: weather patterns and their impact on the marine environment; weather hazards and how these can be avoided or managed; accessing and interpreting marine weather forecasts. Understanding weather systems and how these impact safety on the water will contribute to your boating comfort and safety. Be "Weather Wise” and be safe.
- Available Online
- Suggested Pre-requisities
Seminar: PCOC Review
Review of Pleasure Craft Operator Card (PCOC) material so that students may continue in the BNBH (Boat Navigation + Boat Handling) seminar series.
- Available Online
- Suggested Pre-requisities
Mini-Course: Aids to Navigation
Learn to read buoys, markers, and beacons like a pro. Aids to navigation are water- or land-based devices that help you know where you are, avoid danger, and follow the safest route. This mini-course explains how to recognize their shapes, colours, and chart symbols — and how they guide your journey on the water. Perfect for: New or returning boaters who want to feel confident reading marine signs and avoiding hazards.
- Available Online
- Suggested Pre-requisities
Seminar: Nautical Charts
This seminar describes the key features of nautical charts and how these can be used to navigate safely. A nautical chart represents an overhead view of the water surfaces of the earth particularly the oceans, seas, river systems, lakes, and adjacent shorelines. For the water surface the charts identify aids to navigation, water depth, underwater hazards and water movement.
- Available Online
- Suggested Pre-requisities
Seminar: Magnetic Compass
A magnetic compass provides directional information to assist in navigation and can be used to establish and steer a course to a safe location. Understanding how to navigate with a compass is particularly important when land and aids to navigation sightings are not available due to reduced visibility or darkness or if electronic navigation devices fails.
- Available Online
- Suggested Pre-requisities
Beyond Boating Basics
This course is available in the classroom, virtual classroom and self-study formats. The course focuses on improving your knowledge, understanding, and boat handling and navigation skills. The course covers the fundamentals of traditional navigation – understanding global positioning, interpreting nautical charts, basic electronic navigation, using a magnetic compass, and planning a cruise using paper charts. Boat handling topics include collision avoidance rules, handling a boat under power, rope, lines and knots, anchoring techniques, understanding marine weather forecasts, and interpreting tide/current tables. The course includes course notes, quizzes to check your understanding of the topics and a final exam that may lower your boat insurance if you complete it with a 75% or higher test score.
- Available Online
- Suggested Pre-requisities