Boating Education Courses
America’s Boating Club provides nationally recognized education for the recreational boater. Our philosophy is that better boaters feel more confident on the water, at the helm, and in the company of other boaters. Click here to learn more about our educational programs.
Upcoming scheduled courses offered by the America’s Boating Course of the North Shore are shown below. Click a course name for details.
Don’t see what you are looking for? Contact our Education Officer. You can also visit the District 34 website for courses offered by other squadrons in the area.
Please note that most squadrons do not offer boating courses during the heart of the boating season in order to allow our instructors time to enjoy their time on the water.
Advanced Marine Navigation Course
Advanced Marine Navigation Course
Advanced Marine Navigation is a 10-session, in-depth course offered by the United States Power Squadrons®, America’s Boating Club, Beverly Marblehead Sail & Power Squadron.
Advanced Marine Navigation teaches today’s boaters how to use electronic navigation tools, including chartplotters with vector charts, to plan routes and navigate in more challenging conditions. Students use OpenCPN, a free charting program, to learn and complete the charting work for the course. The course also covers essential backup navigation skills for electronic failures, including dead reckoning and the use of tides and currents. The class features numerous in-class exercises that build skills through hands-on practice. The course is typically presented in ten two-hour classes, and students have seven days to complete the open-book exam.
Topics include:
Advanced positioning techniques, such as advancing a line of position to obtain a running fix
Use of a variety of electronic tools: radar, depth sounders, autopilots, chart plotters, laptop computer software, and more
Hazard avoidance techniques using electronics (e.g. avoidance waypoints or safety zones in GPS)
Collision avoidance using radar, GPS, and AIS
Working with the tide and current data to determine clearances, depth of water, and effects of current
Piloting in various wind and current conditions
Simple skills for checking that one is on course
Putting it all together with a Practice Cruise
Date: Classes will be held on 10 Tuesdays starting September 22 2026
Time: 7 to 9 pm via Zoom
Cost: $100 (Comes with free BMSPS 1 year single membership)
*No prerequisite is required. However basic understanding of navigation would be beneficial
**Laptop to install OPENCPN is required
Online Pre-registration Required - https://www.usps.org/cgi-bin-nat/eddept/800/getregform.cgi?L-18694
For further information contact Patrick Pearce - patrickpearce@comcast.net
America's Boating Class (Virtual Live Instructors)
SAFE BOATING CERTICATE COURSE
FOR NORTH SHORE STUDENTS
AMERICA’S BOATING COURSE
Virtual Course with Live Instructors via Zoom
Students receive the all new materials & updated manual. This is a “Mandatory” course for Beginners and soon for all Skippers.
This Certificate Course is nationally approved and accepted by the U.S. Coast Guard and all state licensing authorities including Massachusetts. The course meets the Massachusetts State Environmental Police requirements and mandatory for all boat and PWC operators per the New Mass Boater Safety Certificate Law.
Cost: $60 per student.
Course Schedule: Classes will be held over four Wednesdays, September 16th through October 7th, from 6:30 TO 9:00 PM. Following the last class (to be scheduled by the instructor) will be an in-person proctored exam at the Jubilee Yacht Club, 127 Water St., Beverly, MA.
Preregistration is required. To register, click here.
If you have any questions, please contact us.
America's Boating Course
SAFE BOATING CERTICATE COURSE
FOR NORTH SHORE STUDENTS
AMERICA’S BOATING COURSE
Virtual Course with Live Instructors via Zoom
Students receive the all new materials & updated manual. This is a “Mandatory” course for Beginners and soon for all Skippers.
This Certificate Course is nationally approved and accepted by the U.S. Coast Guard and all state licensing authorities including Massachusetts. The course meets the Massachusetts State Environmental Police requirements and mandatory for all boat and PWC operators per the New Mass Boater Safety Certificate Law.
Cost: $60 per student. Discount for families upon request.
Course Schedule: Classes will be held over 4 Wednesdays, April 1 through April 22, from 6:30 TO 9:00 PM. Following the last class (to be scheduled by the instructor) will be an in-person proctored exam at the Jubilee Yacht Club, 127 Water St., Beverly, MA.
Preregistration is required. To register, click here.
Celestial Navigation Course
Celestial Navigation is a 10 session, in-depth course offered to both members and non-members by the United States Power Squadrons®, America’s Boating Club, Beverly-Marblehead Sail & Power Squadron.
You will learn about:
Identifying the navigational planets and stars
Use of a marine sextant to measure altitudes accurately
Time zones and accurate time keeping at sea
Sight reduction by calculator and tabular methods
Plotting information to find position at sea
The celestial “Day’s Work” summary and example cruise
Classes: Tuesdays, 7 to 9 pm, starting February 3, 2026 via Zoom
Cost is $120 ($100 for U.S. Power Squadron Members)
Instructors: Alex Pszenny, Patrick Pearce, Pascal Miller, Aiden Bunting
For more information, please see the course description here.
Online Pre-registration is Required. Please register here.
If you have any questions, please contact Patrick Pearce at PatrickPearce@comcast.net.
Please see flyer for additional details.
Weather Course
Marine Weather Course
Updated Marine Weather is a 10-session, in-depth course offered by the United States Power Squadrons®, America’s Boating Club®, that introduces students to the science of meteorology and focuses on the causes, analysis, and forecasting of weather events. The aim of the course is to make you weather-wise.
The course meets the practical needs of today’s boaters by introducing weather maps, upper-air charts, local and zone text forecasts, wind/wave and other graphic forecasts, radar images, and watches, warnings and advisories. This course also highlights use of internet resources, weather apps, and Wi-Fi, cell phone, radio, and satellite weather communications for mariners.
You will learn about:
Basic meteorology
Weather systems affecting the U.S.
Fundamentals of weather dynamics
National Weather Service forecasting tools
VIRTUAL CLASSES will be held on Ten Tuesdays, 7 to 9 pm, starting September 16, 2025 WITH LIVE LOCAL INSTRUCTORS VIA ZOOM TECHNOLOGY.
Cost is $95 for U.S. Power Squadrons members, $135 for others. Add $50 for family members sharing materials.
Pre-registration is required. To register, please visit here.
For further information, contact Patrick Pearce 508-932-1229 or patrickpearce@comcast.net.
America's Boating Course
This Safe Boating Certificate Course is nationally approved and accepted by the U.S. Coast Guard and all state licensing authorities including Massachusetts. The course meets the Massachusetts State Environmental Police requirements and mandatory for all boat and PWC operators per the New Mass Boater Safety Certificate Law.
This in-person boating course will be held at the Jubilee Yacht Club, 126 Water St., Beverly, MA over five consecutive Wednesday evenings from September 10 through October 8 from 6:30 - 8:30 PM. Students will receive all new materials & updated course manual.
The course fee is $60 per student Discount available for for families.
Pre-registration is required. Click here to register.
If you have questions, please contact Patrick Pearce.
America's Boating Course
America’s Boating Course
This is a must-have course for beginner boaters or a valuable refresher for experienced skippers and pefect for first-mates and crew.
This Certificate course is accepted by all 50 states and meets state licensing requirements including the Massachusetts State Environmental Police for power and required for boat and PWC operators between 12 and 17.
Students receive the new completely updated manual.
This course will be held on Thursdays from May 1 through 22, 2025 from 6:30 TO 9:00 PM via Zoom, followed by an in-person proctored exam in Beverly.
Course fee is $60 per student. Discount for families upon request.
Pre-registration is required. To register, click here.
Click here if you have any questions.
America's Boating Course
America’s Boating Course
This is a must-have course for beginner boaters or a valuable refresher for experienced skippers and pefect for first-mates and crew.
This Certificate course is accepted by all 50 states and meets state licensing requirements including the Massachusetts State Environmental Police for power and required for boat and PWC operators between 12 and 17.
Students receive the new completely updated manual.
This course will be held on Thursdays from March 6 through 27, 2025 from 6:30 TO 9:00 PM via Zoom, followed by an in-person proctored exam in Beverly.
Course fee is $60 per student. Discount for families upon request.
Pre-registration is required. To register, click here.
Click here if you have any questions.
Marine Navigation Course
Marine Navigation Course
Marine Navigation is a 9-session, in-depth course offered by the United States Power Squadrons®, America’s Boating Club, Beverly Marblehead Sail & Power Squadron.
Avoid getting lost or running aground when you know marine navigation, whether for short day trips or long multi-day cruises. Learn the essentials of safe coastal and inland navigation using GPS chart plotters, paper charts + other marine data. The Marine Navigation course teaches you OpenCPN© electronic charts along with traditional paper dead reckoning techniques for planning and laying out safe routes, - then ensuring that you are on-course while underway even when electronics fail or are not available.
You will learn about:
Charts and their interpretation
Landmarks and navigation aids (buoys, day marks, lights, etc.)
Plotting courses and determining direction and distance
The mariner's compass and converting between True and Magnetic courses
Pre-planning courses, setting up waypoints and routes, staying on a course
Monitoring progress and determining position by both electronic and traditional techniques such as bearings and dead reckoning
Seamans Eye - simple skills for checking that one is on course
Classes will be held on Tuesdays, 7 to 9 pm, starting February 11 through April 8, 2025 via Zoom.
Cost is $135 ($105 for U.S. Power Squadron Members).
Pre-registration is required. To register, please visit here.
See https://abc-d34.org/course_sched.shtml for additional courses and seminars.
Click here if you have any questions.
America’s Boating Course (Virtual)
We are offering America’s Boating Course online. Click here for more details about this course.
The course will be held from 6:30-9:00 PM via Zoom over four Tuesdays (September 17, September 24, October 1 and October 8). Following the classes will be an in-person proctored exam. The exam must be passed to earn your Boating Certificate. Tentative date for the exam is October 13th at the Jubilee Yacht Club (127 Water St, Beverly, MA).
The cost of this course is $65.00.
Pre-registration is required. Click here to register.
Advanced Marine Navigation Course
Advanced Marine Navigation Course
(Formerly known as Advanced Piloting)
Advanced Marine Navigation is a 10-session, in-depth course offered by the United States Power Squadrons®, America’s Boating Club, Beverly Marblehead Sail & Power Squadron.
Advanced Marine Navigation is the second in the sequence of USPS courses on navigation. It continues to build coastal and inland navigation skill, allowing the student to take on more challenging conditions like unfamiliar waters, limited visibility, and extended cruises. GPS is embraced as a primary navigation tool while adding radar, chartplotters, and other electronic navigation tools. As with Marine Navigation and Piloting, the course includes many in-class exercises, advancing the student’s skills through hands- on practice and learning. Ten classes of two hours each are scheduled for presentation of this course with additional seven days to complete the open book exam.
Topics covered include:
Review of skills learned in Marine Navigation and Piloting
Advanced positioning techniques such as advancing a line of position
Other electronics: radar, depth sounders, autopilots, chartplotters, laptop computer software, etc.
Hazard avoidance techniques using electronics (e.g., “keep out” zones in GPS)
Collision avoidance using radar and GPS
Working with tides: clearances, depth, effects of current
Piloting with wind and currents
The “Seaman’s Eye” – simple skills for checking that one is on course
When and where is the course being offered?
Classes will be held on Thursday evenings, 7 to 9 pm, starting September 12, 2024 via Zoom. Registered students will receive a link to join the online meetings.
How much does it cost?
Cost is $100 for U.S. Power Squadron & Jubilee YC members, $130 for others.
Navigation Tools are an additional $20 if needed.
How do I register?
Online Pre-registration Required. To register, please click here.
What if I have questions?
For further information, please contact Patrick Pearce
America's Boating Class (Virtual)
America’s Boating Class (Virtual)
This condensed version of our boating safety class will be held over four virtual sessions (two Tuesdays and Thursdays) for North Shore students with live instructors from the Buzzards Bay Squadron on June 18, 20, 25, and 27th from 6:30 - 9PM. This will be followed by an In-Person exam on June 29th or 30th at the Jubilee Yacht Club in Beverly, MA.
This is the certificate course required of all Massachusetts junior boaters 12 to 17 years old.
Classes will be recorded for students who miss a session on zoom.
The cost for this course is $65.00.
Pre-registration is required; please visit here to register.
Virtual Boating Safety Class
America’s Boating Course
Live in-person instruction via Zoom for North Shore Students.
The course will be conducted over four Tuesday evening sessions from 6:30 - 9PM on April 30th., May 7, 14, and 21. Following the last class, an in-person PROCTORED EXAM will be held on May 25th in Beverly which must be passed to earn Boating Certificate.
For more details about this course, click here.
Pre-Registration is Required. To register, please click here.
To contact the course chair, click here.
America's Boating Class (virtual)
America’s Boating Course
Students receive the all new completely updated manual. This is a “must” course for beginners, valuable refresher for experienced skippers and prefect for 1st mates and crew.
This Certificate course is accepted by all 50 states and meets all state licensing requirements including the Massachusetts State Environmental Police. Required for power boat and PWC operators ages 12 to 17 in Massachusetts.
This course will be held on-line (Zoom) for four Tuesdays from 6:30 to 9 PM starting February 27, 2023. Following the classes will be a procotred exam in Beverly.
Fee is $65./student Discount for families.
Click here for more information about this course. If you have any questions, contact Walter Riley at wriley3@comcast.net.
Pre-Registration is required. Please click here to register.
Marine Navigation Course (f.k.a. Piloting)
Marine Navigation Course
(Formerly known as “Piloting”)
Marine Navigation is a 9-session, in-depth course offered by the United States Power Squadrons®, America’s Boating Club, Beverly Marblehead Sail & Power Squadron. You won’t ever get lost or run aground when you know marine navigation, whether for short day trips or long multi-day cruises.
Avoid getting lost or running aground when you know marine navigation, whether for short day trips or long multi-day cruises. Learn the essentials of safe coastal and inland navigation using GPS chart plotters, paper charts + other marine data. The Marine Navigation course teaches you OpenCPN© electronic charts along with traditional paper dead reckoning techniques for planning and laying out safe routes, - then ensuring that you are on-course while underway even when electronics fail or are not available.
You will learn about:
Charts and their interpretation
Landmarks and navigation aids (buoys, day marks, lights, etc.)
Plotting courses and determining direction and distance
The mariner's compass and converting between True and Magnetic courses
Pre-planning courses, setting up waypoints and routes, staying on a course
Monitoring progress and determining position by both electronic and traditional techniques such as bearings and dead reckoning
Seamans Eye - simple skills for checking that one is on course
Online Pre-registration is Required (see below).
When: Classes will be held on Thursdays, 7 to 9 pm, starting January 25 2024.
Where: The classes will be held on-line via Zoom. A meeting invitation will be sent to all registrants.
Cost: The cost is $105 for U.S. Power Squadron & Jubilee YC members, or $135 for others.
How to register: Click here.
For further information, click here or contact Patrick Pearce at patrickpearce@comcast.net.
Virtual America’s Boating Course
We will be conducting the America’s Boating Course over four Thursday evenings from 6:30 - 8:30 PM starting September 21, 2023. The classes will be followed by a proctored exam in Beverly. The cost is $65.
This class will be held virtually / online. The class may convert to in-person classroom instruction in Beverly if there is sufficient enrollment.
Click here for the course flyer.
Pre-registration is required which may be done here.
Marine Weather Course
Marine Weather is a 10-session, in-depth course offered by the United States Power Squadrons®, America’s Boating Club®, that introduces students to the science of meteorology and focuses on the causes, analysis, and forecasting of weather events. The aim of the course is to make you weather-wise.
The course meets the practical needs of today’s boaters by introducing weather maps, upper-air charts, local and zone text forecasts, wind/wave and other graphic forecasts, radar images, and watches, warnings and advisories. This course also highlights use of internet resources, weather apps, and Wi-Fi, cell phone, radio, and satellite weather communications for mariners.
You will learn about:
Basic meteorology
Weather systems affecting the U.S.
Fundamentals of weather dynamics
National Weather Service forecasting tools
Classes will be held on Tuesdays, 7 to 9 pm, starting September 19, 2023 via Zoom.
Cost is $95 for America’s Boating Club, U.S. Power Squadrons & Jubilee YC members, or $135 for others.
Pre-registration is required. Click here to register.
For further information please contact Patrick Pearce at patrickpearce@comcast.net.
ABC Virtual Course
We are conducting the America’s Boating Class via on-line sessions. ABC is the USPS Boating Safety Course, and upon passing the exam, the certificate you earn is accepted by US Coast Guard and all 50 states.
Students must be at least 12 years of age.
This class will be held over four Thursday evening sessions starting May 4, 2023 from 6:30 - 8:30 PM, followed by a live proctored exam.
The cost of this course is $65.
Pre Registration is required. Please click here to register. Important: on the registration form, please check “I want to register for this course”, and then click the Submit button. Otherwise we will not receive your registration request.
If you have any questions about this or any course we offer, please contact us.
ABC Virtual Course
We are conducting the America’s Boating Class via on-line sessions. ABC is the USPS Boating Safety Course, and upon passing the exam, the certificate you earn is accepted by US Coast Guard and all 50 states.
Students must be at least 12 years of age.
This class will be held over four Thursday evening sessions starting April 6, 2023 from 6:30 - 8:30 PM, followed by a live proctored exam.
The cost of this course is $65.
Pre Registration is required. Please click here to register. Important: on the registration form, please check “I want to register for this course”, and then click the Submit button. Otherwise we will not receive your registration request.
If you have any questions about this or any course we offer, please contact us.
Sail Virtual Course
We are conducting our Sail Course virtually (online) over 10 Tuesday evenings from 7-9 PM starting March 14, 2023.
Learn about basic sailboat designs and nomenclature, rigging, and safety from experienced USPS sailors. Then tackle the physical aspects of sailing forces, techniques, sail applications, marlinespike, helmsmanship, and handling of difficult sailing conditions. This course will benefit non-sailors as well as novice and experienced sailors. Click here for the course flyer.
The cost of this course is $105. For USPS (ABC) and JYC members, the cost is $75.
Pre Registration is required. Please click here to register. Important: on the registration form, please check “I want to register for this course”, and then click the Submit button. Otherwise we will not receive your registration request.
If you have any questions about this or any course we offer, please contact us.
ABC Virtual Course
We are conducting the America’s Boating Class via on-line sessions. ABC is the USPS Boating Safety Course, and upon passing the exam, the certificate you earn is accepted by US Coast Guard and all 50 states.
Students must be at least 12 years of age.
This class will be held over four Thursday evening sessions starting March 9, 2023 from 6:30 - 8:30 PM, followed by a live proctored exam.
The cost of this course is $65.
Pre Registration is required. Please click here to register. Important: on the registration form, please check “I want to register for this course”, and then click the Submit button. Otherwise we will not receive your registration request.
If you have any questions about this or any course we offer, please contact us.
America's Boating Course (virtual)
America’s Boating Course
Online / Virtual Presentation
America’s Boating Course will be conducted on the 4 days of August 1, 2, 4, and 5, 2022. Click here for more details about this class.
Pre-registration is required which can be done here.
Please contact Walter Riley if you have any questions.
America's Boating Course (Virtual)
We are conducting the America’s Boating Course online via Zoom on Tuesday evenings starting July 5. Cost is $65 per person with family discounts available.
Click here for more information and to register.
If you have question, contact our Education Officer Walter Riley.
America’s Boating Course (ABC)
America’s Boating Course is the most comprehensive, single source, in-person boating course available to give you the skills you need to enjoy your time on the water and boat with confidence. This course is held on eight Tuesdays from 7:00 to 9:00 PM starting September 28 at the Bass Haven Yacht Club.
Click here for more information on this course.
If you have questions, please contact course chair Ray Tilton.
Click here to register for this course.
Marine Navigation (Piloting)
Marine Navigation (formerly called Piloting) is a 10 session in-depth course offered by the United States Power Squadrons, America's Boating Club covering the basics of coastal and inland navigation. It embraces GPS as a primary navigation tool while covering traditional hands-on plotting techniques. Many in-class exercises. Ten Mondays, 7 to 9 pm, starting September 29 through November 29, 2021 at Jubilee Yacht Club, 127 Water Street, Beverly. Materials include manuals, optional Ebook, charts & plotting tools.
For more information, click here or contact Jack Reed 978-288-9480.
To register, visit here.
Offshore Navigation
Offshore Navigation(aka Junior Navigation) is a 16 session course covering the practical aspects of daytime celestial navigation. Students learn to take sights on the sun with a marine sextant (provided) and derive a line of position. Non-USPS AP graduates need instructor permission to enroll. 16 sessions on Wednesdays 7 to 9 pm, starting September 22 and concluding January 19, 2022 (no classes Nov 24 and Dec 29) at Jubilee Yacht Club, 127 Water Street, Beverly. 2 weeks additional to complete open book exam.
For Information, click here or contact Alex Pszenny at 978-764-4663.
To register, please visit here.
Weather Course
Updated 2021 Weather is a 10 session in-depth course offered by the United States Power Squadrons, America's Boating Club that introduces the students to the science of meteorology and focuses on the causes, analysis and forecasting of weather events. Classes held on consecutive Tuesdays, 7 to 9 pm, starting September 21 -November 23, 2021 at Jubilee Yacht Club, 127 Water Street, Beverly. Materials available Include a hybrid combination of hardcopy and digital items or a digital student kit.
For more Information, click here or contact Alex Pszenny 978-764-4663.
To register, click here.
America's Boating Course (Youth, Accelerated)
USPS Accelerated Boating Safety Course for 12 to 15 year-old students only offered by America's Boating Club of the North Shore. This course recognized by US Coast Guard, Massachusetts and all other states. Successful students qualify for a Safe Boating Certificate.
This accelerated course will be held over two days, Saturday July 24 & Sunday July 25, for four hours each day: 10 - 12 AM & 1 - 3 PM.
Basic introductory course (ABC) for young power and sail boater. Students must be 12 to 15 years old.
To register, please submit this registration form. Class size limited, so don’t wait.
For more information, please contact Skip Whittaker at 603-930-5512.