Whatever your on-water need, there’s a CPS-ECP course for you

Online Courses

Feb 24, 2022

Boating 1 PCOC Boating Basics – All operators of motorized pleasure craft are required to show operator competency and the Pleasure Craft Operator Card (PCOC) is the most common proof. This course provides all you need to know to prepare for the Transport Canada PCOC test. It is presented in an easy to follow format that is both informative and entertaining.

Boating 2 Beyond Boating Basics – This is an introduction to the art of navigation, anchoring, lines, ropes and knots, and what to expect when the boat is moving under power. Optional topics include towing, trailering and checklists for layup and launch.

Boating 3 – The third course in the series further explores navigation as you learn to plot and label on paper charts as well as what the skipper should do when underway, handling a boat under sail, and environmental responsibilities and electrical hazards. Optional topics include tides, currents, canals, locks and collision regulations.

Boating 1, 2 and 3 are available in various combinations.

Boating 4 – This course builds your confidence on the water when dealing with safety and emergency situations. Other course aspects include relative bearings, knots and splicing, medical emergencies, and coping with adverse weather.

Boating 5 Near Shore Marine Navigation Level 2 – Expand your knowledge for planning cruises using a variety of electronic devices to chart a course and plan your course under tidal, current and windy conditions. The course covers GPS, radar, chart plotters, sonar, autopilots and more.

Maritime Radio – All you need to know about how to operate a VHF radio in preparation for challenging the required writ-ten and oral test to get your Restricted Operator Certificate (Maritime) (ROC(M).

Other courses include Boating 6 and Boating 7, Offshore Marine Navigation, levels 1 and 2, Electronic Marine Navigation, Radar For Boaters, Boat and Engine Maintenance, Environment and Weather, and Extended Cruising and Sailing. Meanwhile, available seminars include Celestial Navigation In A Nutshell, Automatic Identification Systems (AIS), Protect-ing Our Waterways and Environment, Weather For Boaters, Tropical Weather for Winter Boaters, Tides and Currents, and Paddling and Board Sports.

Most courses and seminars can now be taken online. Register for courses at www.BoatingCourses.ca  or contact your local squadron directly. To get local squadron contact information, go to the national web site at www.cps-ecp.ca, click on Contact and then click on Squadron Locations.

By John Gullick, AP, Manager of Special Programs

Video Gallery

Neptunus 650F Review

Neptunus 650F 400

By Andy Adams

Over the years Canadian Yachting has had the pleasure of doing several boat review articles on new Neptunus models and we are familiar with the qualities that Neptunus is famous for. They have all been exceptional yachts, but this is the one I would most want to own myself. It’s a personal choice and a matter of taste as to whether you would prefer to have a sedan express model or a flybridge but in my opinion, the flybridge layout offers some wonderful attributes.

We met with Neptunus Managing Director Jan Willem De Jong this past fall to take the new Neptunus 650F out in Lake Ontario. 

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The Other Virgin Islands

Sunset off St John

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I was first seduced by the United States Virgin Islands during a ferry ride from St. Thomas to Tortola to begin one of our earliest British Virgin Islands charters nearly twenty years ago.

A perfect sunset off St. John with St. Thomas views for backdrop.

Clearing Pillsbury Sound, surrounded by voluptuous emerald mountains as the ferry sliced through royal blue waters, I was struck by the unspoiled ambiance of St. John, the island gliding past our starboard beam and the irresistible charm of a village called Cruz Bay visible from our quarter stern.

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Lifestyle