Civic Service

The Pamlico Sail & Power Squadron is involved in a number of key Civic Service functions and projects supporting safe boating within the local Pamlico Sound recreational boating community.

Our Educational Programs include an introductory boating safety course and a series of 2 to 3 hour seminars for the general public. The seminars range from how to use charts, various electronics topics to onboard weather forecasting. The courses and seminars are offered to the boating public on a regular basis and there is no age limit for participants. USPS Squadrons have offered these courses for over half a century and have educated more than 3 million boaters to date. Successfully completing a USPS boating safety course meets the educational requirements for Boat Operation in all states.

New North Carolina Boating Law effective May 1, 2010 states:   No person under 26 years old shall operate a vessel with a motor of 10 horsepower or greater on the public waters of this State unless the operator has met the requirements for boating safety education.  The America's Boating Course offered by PSPS meets the NC State specific and National Association of State Boating Law Administrators (NASBLA) requirements for certification. Also, completion of this course may also qualify the owner for a discount from most boating insurance companies.

Visit our Education Calendar for all course dates or contact our PSPS Education Officer, Robert Stanley 252-940-8107 or email Robert. 

Vessel Safety Check is a very important program and it’s FREE. The program provides our recreational boating community with important guidance that insures key marine safety equipment is present on a boat, is compliant with Federal and State requirements, and is within prescribed functional limits. The Vessel Safety Check Program provides a trained, certified PSPS Examiner who will have the opportunity to discuss the purpose of marine safety equipment, clarify regulations if needed, emphasize safety procedures, and encourage additional boater education. PSPS schedules a number of planned Vessel Check Events as well as participates in National Boating Week.

Visit our Calendar for specific dates or contact Fred Schroeder, PSPS Vessel Safety Check Chair, at 252-948-0682 or email PSPS Vessel Safety to set up an appointment.

National Safe Boating Week is sponsored by the National Safe Boating Council. PSPS participates as a way to further emphasize the importance of safe boating and, in particular, wearing a life jacket. PSPS encourages you to practice safe and responsible boating throughout the boating season, always wear your life jacket, and be alert and aware while on the water. By practicing these simple steps you can save your life as well as the lives of the people boating with you.

National Safe Boating week for 2010 is May 22 through May 28.
Watch for our local promotion of this event....hope to see you there!

Cooperative Charting is a project PSPS has undertaken in the last couple of years. The cooperative charting is a joint effort between USPS and NOAA (National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration). NOAA is responsible for production of up-to-date charts used by recreational boaters as well as commercial shipping. The impact of wind, tide and man makes the publication of current and accurate charts difficult at best. PSPS assists in this effort. Corrections to water depth, bridge heights, buoy locations and man-made features are reported to NOAA by the squadron during specific boating events to gather and record this information.

PSPS also participates in NOAA’s Adopt-a-Chart Program. Our Chart is “11554”.  It’s a great excuse to get out on the water. If you are interested in participating, contact Tom Penders at 252-946-2100 or email Tom.

Maritime Education Days is sponsored by Beaufort County Chamber of Commerce, The North Carolina Estuarium, Beaufort County Schools and PSPS. PSPS’s role is giving instructions to the entire 8th grade population of Beaufort County as well as a few charter schools. In 2008, there were approximately 690 8th graders getting instruction on the proper use of PFD’s, Fire Extinguishers, and VHF Marine Radio as well as a session on the danger of Hypothermia. Safety for the youth of Beaufort County is important to PSPS.  We are hopeful that this program will repeat again in 2010.

For more information and to learn how you can participate in this youth program, contact Hal and Marcia Stash at 252-974-0486 or email PSPS Communications.

Washington Christmas Flotilla

In 2006, PSPS was asked to help with the annual Christmas

Flotilla in Washington.  Members of the squadron gladly stepped up to the plate to provide both on water organization, land management services, and education regarding the navigation components of the parade.  PSPS has continued in this role

for the past four seasons.

In addition, the squadron was instrumental in 2006 in highlighting the USMC Toys for Tots collection project.  The community response was terrific and the collection activity was the second largest single site event that year. Supporting this worthy cause for deserving children in Beaufort County has continued each year.

The flotilla brings joy and pleasure to hundreds of children and their parents. If you would like to enter enter your boat in the 2010 Flotilla planned for December 4, 2010 or would like to help in some other way please contact us at PSPS Communications.