How To Join

Make a difference in your boating community. Help yourself and then help others learn how to boat safely and more enjoyably here.

Weekend Boating Class

>>> get info here

This is the only monthly FREE instruction boating class in the San Francisco Bay Area. Covering all aspects of basic boating in one weekend. Get further details about Boat Smart and Chart Smart Classes here.

Make a donation

Your tax deductible* donation help support our efforts to further boater education.

*please see your tax adviser for eligibility

Free Vessel Check

Make sure that your boat has all the safety gear and is seaworthy. Get a FREE Vessel Examination HERE.

Public Boating Classes

USPS® makes a number of Educational Courses, both instructor led and self learning, available to the public. Our Boating Course, Boat/SMART® Course and Chart/SMART Course are instructor led courses given locally by individual squadrons.

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Reserve your seating at our monthly Boat Smart Weekend Class here


Boat/SMART	Chart/SMART	Boating Course

Our self learning courses are available directly to members of the USPS® and the general public.

Additional educational courses are available to USPS® members. Every squadron offers its members many carefully planned courses in subjects like Seamanship, Piloting, Plotting and Position Finding, Celestial Navigation, Cruise Planning, Engine Maintenance, Marine Electronics, Sailing and much more, (see below). These courses are taught by experienced member instructors, and members who complete them are recognized for their accomplishments.

Member classes are available to any USPS® member in good standing. Please check the current class schedule for availability, time and dates. These classes are on going year around.

Member Boating Classes

SEAMANSHIP: Building on the basics taught in the Boat/Smart® Class.
PILOTING: Building on the basics taught in the Chart/Smart® Class. The first of a two-part program studying inland and coastal navigation.
ADVANCED PILOTING: Is the final part of the inland and coastal navigation series.
JUNIOR NAVIGATION: The first part of a two-part program of study in offshore (open ocean) navigation.
NAVIGATION: Is the final part of offshore celestial theory and more
CRUISE PLANNING: Planning for cruising for a day or a year.
SAIL: A thorough study of the terminology and dynamics of sailing.
ENGINE MAINTENANCE: Attempts to make students more self reliant afloat.
WEATHER: Teaches how to make weather observations and predictions for more enjoyable boating.
MARINE ELECTRONICS: Teaches essential knowledge about a boat's electrical and electronic systems.
INSTRUCTOR DEVELOPMENT: Unlike other USPS® classes, this one deals with effective communications for speaker and teacher.