The Deception Pass Sail and Power Squadron is offering two boating classes at the Oak Harbor Yacht Club in January.

The first, America’s Boating Course, is set for 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturdays, Jan. 4 and 11.

The second offering, a Piloting Course, is the first course in the sequence of Unites States Power Squadron classes on coastal and inland navigation. Classes are 6-8 p.m. every Thursday from Jan. 7 through March 4.

Completion of American’s Boating Course qualifies participants for the Washington state boater education card required for most boaters.

The class will cover basic boat handling, safety considerations, federal and state requirements and nautical rules of the road.

The cost is $55; $20 for the second person if a couple chooses to share a book.

Free on-the-water training is available.

The Piloting Course focuses on modern navigation of recreational boats and embraces GPS technology, as well as covering traditional techniques for navigating if GPS fails.

The course includes many in-class exercises to develop the student’s skill through hands-on practice and learning.

Topics covered in the course are charts and their interpretation; navigation aids and how they point to safe water; plotting courses and determining direction and distance; the mariner’s compass and converting between true and magnetic (and uses of GPS); preplanning safe courses and entering them into GPS (and monitoring progress and determining position by GPS or by traditional techniques); and the “seaman’s eye” — simple skills for checking that one is on course.

The cost is $92, including plotter and dividers, for squadron members and $142 for non-members. Spouses and partners who share a text pay an additional $35.

For more information or to register for either course, contact SEO Karen Nelson at 360-320-3803 or knelson2007@gmail.com