The U. S. Coast Guard Auxiliary's Advanced Coastal Navigation
(ACN) course is a comprehensive course to prepare the advanced boater with the knowledge
needed to safely pilot a boat.
Topics include:
INTRODUCTION TO COASTAL NAVIGATION -- course overview;
names and definitions of various types of navigation; steps of voyage planning and
underway navigation; earth's coordinate system and its use to specify location; how
direction can be measured on the surface; conversion of direction (true, magnetic, compass
and relative) to another.
THE MARINE MAGNETIC COMPASS -- parts and principle of
operation of the marine magnetic compass; concept of deviation and distinctions between
compass north, magnetic north, and true north; "swinging ship" and deviation
table preparation; rapidly and reliably solving TVMDC and/or CDMVT computations.
THE NAUTICAL CHART -- characteristics of nautical charts,
particularly Mercator and polyconic projections; plotting positions in terms of latitude
and longitude; various chart types/scales and their appropriate uses; basic knowledge of
chart symbols; rapid and reliable measurement of direction, distance, and location on
Mercator and polyconic nautical charts.
THE NAVIGATOR'S TOOLS AND INSTRUMENTS -- navigator tools
used in everyday practice; basic skills and familiarity with the use of plotting
instruments; use of other instruments and equipment used in the practice of navigation.
DEAD RECKONING -- working knowledge of dead reckoning
methods including plotting, labeling, measuring, and determining DR positions; speed,
time, distance formulas and problem solving; speed estimation, tachometers and speed
curves.
PILOTING -- Line of Position (LOP) concepts; bearing use in
LOPs; running fix by advancing or retiring an LOP; danger bearings; estimated positions
when the data are lacking for a FIX.
CURRENT SAILING -- understanding current and the motion of
the vessel; current problems on both the nautical chart and maneuvering board including
determination of EP given set and drift, course steered, and speed maintained;
determination of actual set and drift given course steered, speed maintained, and a FIX;
determination of course to steer and resultant SOA given set and drift and intended track;
determination of course to steer and speed to maintain given specified track and speed of
advance and current set and drift.
TIDES AND TIDAL CURRENTS -- understanding tidal phenomena,
causes, and typical variations; appreciate the practical reasons why tides are important
to the mariner; know how to use the Tide Tables to estimate the height of the tide at any
time; know how to use the Tidal Current Tables to estimate the strength and direction of
the current at any time.
RADIO NAVIGATION -- understanding the basics of RDF,
Loran-C, Radar, and GPS, their respective advantages, disadvantages, limitations and how
they can be used to fix position; radar use for collision- avoidance CPA and target course
and speed.
NAVIGATION REFERENCE PUBLICATIONS -- Acquaintance with the
U.S.
Coast Pilot, the Light List, and the Notices to Mariners; computation of
visibility of lights given height of light, observer, prevailing visibility and nominal
ranges; importance of up-to-date charts and other publications.
FUEL AND VOYAGE PLANNING -- Understand the basics of fuel
planning, including the definitions of fuel efficiency, fuel reserves, endurance, and
range; fuel consumption affects of such factors as hull design, engine horsepower,
throttle settings, condition of bottom etc.; developing a fuel consumption curve; effects
of current in fuel planning; preparing and using a "Howgozit" chart for a
voyage.
REFLECTIONS -- Examples of 10 principles of navigation
learned the hard way.
