Learn the fundamentals of safe boat handling and operation plus basic piloting in this comprehensive classroom course. This newly revised course will give you the basics of line throwing, knot tying, boat handling, anchoring, navigation rules and aids, emergencies on the water and more.
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Our organization's primary goal is to promote safe boating by offering courses in all aspects of boating: seamanship, navigation, cruise plannig, use of electronics, marine weather forecasting, engine maintenance, sailing, and more.
Members can take advantage of events with interesting speakers, draw on the knowledge of experienced boats, and build friendships with people with the same love of the water.
Message from Commander Joe Velez
July 2026
Dear Friends and Colleagues,
I love everything about the Fourth of July, and America’s 250th Anniversary was especially meaningful to me because I was happily joined by family and friends for a barbecue and fireworks.
Reflecting on all that has happened in the 250 years since July 4, 1776, I am struck by how much of the American story can feel like an impossible dream come true.
Think about it: if, at the outset, you were asked what chance of success a new country would have if it were made up largely of poor immigrants from many different countries, cultures, and religions—and if it were governed by a political system in which leaders reported to citizens who had to vote, compromise, and accept life-changing decisions with which many disagreed—would you have bet that it would not only survive, but thrive and improve for 250 years?
Most people would have thought that virtually impossible. Yet America has been exceptional for 250 years.
I also know how fortunate I have been to live through an important part of that history. I distinctly remember family conversations about the American world order, and those conversations gave me an early love for the United States as the best place in the world.
These reflections give me a deep appreciation for the principles and practices—what Charlene would call the “secret sauce”—that created and sustained this remarkable American story. They also give me concern that we may be losing sight of those principles, and a sense of responsibility to help sustain them.
God bless the United States Power Squadrons, and God bless the United States of America.
Cordially,
Joe Velez
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District 4 of the United States Power Squadrons is an active participant in the USPS Vessel Safety Check program. Click the green logo for information on how to schedule an inspection in your area. Click the buttons below for information on other USPS information useful to boaters. National Safe Boating Test America's Boating Course State Boating Information |
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