This mini-course will introduce the recreational boater to the various types of echolocation devices that are common on smaller recreational vessels. In it you will find information that is often missing from the manuals and glossy brochures of the market-place.
Depth Sounders have evolved into compact electronic aids that allow you to determine a great deal of information about the seabed beneath your boat. They are at once a safety device, a navigational guide, a method of determining the makeup of the bottom, and a view of fish and plant life. We will look at the history and development of depth sounders, the various types of units available today, and discuss how they are best used. By understanding their principles of operation and the purposes of the different features, you will be able to select the unit that best fits your needs and pocketbook.
All types of boaters; recreational, sport fishermen and commercial, can benefit from depth sounders. We hope this short course will be of value to you.
Topics
Interpreting the Display
Controls, Adjustments, Features
Technical Features
Advanced Types of Depth Sounders
Installing a Depth Sounder
Navigating with the Depth Sounder
Troubleshooting
Electronic Charting includes CD
This course takes over where Navigating with GPS leaves off. It builds upon the information you have learned and teaches the more advanced features of electronic charting (EC). You learn about the different kinds of EC, how they were developed, their advantages and disadvantages, how to use them in a practical manner. You learn about connecting your GPS to a laptop, desktop, PDA or tablet computer. There is information about the use of navigational programs for computers. You get practical knowledge about EC by utilizing a great program that is included on the accompanying CD.
The CD has a variety of features and includes over 200 electronic charts and an EC program that displays and uses these charts. You can put your PC computer to work as a practical learning tool by running this program.
Recommended pre-requisites: Navigating with GPS, Boating Course
Navigating with GPS includes CD
This seminar will introduce you to the versatile Global Positioning System (GPS) receivers that are now common in everyday life.
GPS is one of the technical marvels of the space age which has put exceptional accuracy into the hands of anyone who will take the short time needed to learn about its pros and cons. Within this course you will find simple explanations of the system which makes GPS so effective as a navigational aid, and methods of extracting the maximum navigational information from your equipment. Improved position information, course planning and real time speed/direction data improves your boating safety and cruise enjoyment but reduces transit time and fuel consumption.
Take the opportunity to attend Navigating with GPS. The results may surprise you.
Understanding a navigational marvel. Now includes CD (PC only).
Radar for Pleasurecraft includes CD
This course covers the different types of RADAR equipment, including their capabilities and limitations. Understand the available features and how they apply to your needs. Learn to navigate using RADAR, and to determine where you are.
Course materials include the RADAR for Pleasurecraft text book, and a CD (PC only) containing a RADAR simulator so that you may practice many of RADAR's features.
