Boat Handling Skills Without Water – Only In Simulation! New Generation Four Functionality…. Would you like to learn to drive a 20 ft. Boston Whaler and improve your boating skills with no risk and no worries? The United States Power Squadrons® (USPS) will discuss the development of their Boating Skills Virtual Trainer® (BSVT) and how the new generation four functionality can be incorporated into boating education. The BSVT is the 2015 winner of the NASBLA Innovations Award. The small boat simulator provides hands-on experience with steering wheel and real Mercury throttle operated on a virtual lake with other sail and power boats, navigation aids, and a full marina for close-quarters maneuvers and docking. Instructors can vary the difficulty by changing wind and current direction and velocity and day/night scenarios. For over 100 years, the U.S. Power Squadrons, the nation’s largest recreational boating organization, has been transferring knowledge to recreational boaters in the classroom, online, and on the water. These portable units have been uniquely developed as a partnership of the U.S. Power Squadrons and Virtual Driver Interactive under U.S. Coast Guard grants and are available for purchase. For videos and more info, visit www.usps.org/boatingskillsvt.

1. Boating Skills
Virtual Trainer
P/C Lisa Herndon Wilson, AP
United States Power Squadrons®
April 25, 2017

2. Grant Update
THE FLEET AND FUNCTIONALITY
CONTINUE TO GROW!
• USPS was awarded a fourth grant of $190k by
the Coast Guard through September 2016
• TOTAL 22 UNITS IN 2017 and total of
$793,000 in USCG investment in the program
through four grants beginning 2013.

3. Current exercises
 Exercises developed in grants one through three were
designed to support the environments needed for all
USPS Practical On the Water training certifications and
ANSI Power Boat standards with input from Department
of Natural Resources:
 :
• Departing the Dock
• Working with Spring Lines
• Fairways
• Pivot Turns
• Moorings
• Docking
• Crossing/Overtaking/Meeti
ng
• Slalom Course
• Emergency Stop
• Boat Ramp/
Trailering
• Man Overboard
• Beaching

4. Features and Functionality
 Three 20” monitors, steering wheel, horn and Mercury
Marine throttle with trim controls and buttons on the
wheel provide “slewing” of vision to left and right
 Multilingual: English, Spanish, French (platform will
support other languages)
 Features are designed to create a variety of teaching
environments for beginner to advanced:
 Working compass, RPM, new depth gauge
 Variable wind, current and wave action
 Day and night scenarios
 Navigation buoys and day marks and range marker
 360 degree visibility
 Mini-Map “GPS” w/ Compass Rose
 Stop Watch/Timer

5. Features and Functionality
Generation Four
4.0 Launched January 2017:
 Working Wind sock for docking
 Narrow channel/river-like exercise for constrained maneuvering
 Navigation exercise with increased ICW channel day marks and
narrow channel entry day marks
 Working depth meter
 Improved spring line exercise – release from dock
 Continued increase in traffic, jet-skis
 New views including overhead and “down the gunwale”
4.1 Launch April at IBWSS
 Towing exercise with inflatable
 Rear view mirror

6. Features and Functionality
Generation Four
Narrow
channel/river-
like will also be
setting for
towing
inflatable
Navigation
exercise has
more “ICW”
day marks as
well as
markers for
river channel
New !

7. Features and Functionality
Generation Four
• Improvement in spring line
exercise allows release of
line for leaving dock
• Working wind sock for
docking

8. Introducing the new 34”
Curved Model
 Ease of installation with 2 USB’s and
1 power plug
 2 travel cases plus banner
 Speakers and CPU are included in
the monitor + wireless mouse
 Four curved units in the fleet

9. Features and Functionality
Generation Four steering wheel

10. Features and Functionality
Generation Four
Gunwale
view for
docking,
mooring
ball, MOB
Top down
view for
educational
direction

11. 4.1 Features and Functionality
Rearview mirror for towing exercise and for docking

12. 4.1 – Towing inflatables

13. 4.1 – Rotating views
with mouse

14. Strategic Relationship with
NMMA/Discover Boating for BSVT at
2016-2017 Progressive Boat Shows
 Relationship benefits USPS districts/squadrons through
increased promotional visibility and decreased cost
 Relationship benefits NMMA with an exciting interactive
feature attraction at shows
 NMMA covers costs of intra-show transport on their
trucks and include BSVT on website and in show guide
 USPS squadrons are responsible for set-up/pack-up and
manning the BSVT during the show
 Contributing to the larger planning relationship with
NMMA

15. External sales continue to grow
The following organizations have purchased a
total of 14 units in addition to the twenty-two
owned by USPS Headquarters:
• Virginia Dept Game & Inland Fisheries
• State of SC Dept. of Nat Resources
• USPS District 12
• USPS Sarasota
• State of Hawaii
• Canadian Power and Sail Squadrons (CPS/ECP) - 3
• NACTEC (Alaska) - 4
• USPS District 29
• USPS District 25
• Price per unit: $19,500 plus shipping/taxes.
Pelican cases: $1850

16. New potential BSVT
relationship with USCGAux
 BSVT shown at recent CGAux National event
 New National Director of Education has specific
goals for more joint CGAux-USPS events and
incorporaiton of BSVT. 3 Step plan was
proposed at CGAux National -
 Step #1 - Basic Rules of road, terminology, etc - The USPS "ABC" ,
CGAUX " ABS" or NYS on-line course and integrate a limited BSVT to
show docking, put on a trailer, etc.. This establishes the draw to
come back for the next level of training -
 Step #2 - Intermediate level training - BSVT, Basic Seamanship,
Suddenly in Command, etc.
 Step #3 - USPS only - On Water Instructors

17. Regional Administration
 Expanding program for regional disbursement
with seven Regional Administrators with HQ
scheduling and prioritization
 Increase local usage by having unit available for
classes and smaller events
 transport by car to more events saves on shipping
from USPS headquarters
 Continuing to expand geographic coverage

18. Tools and Tracking
 Since inception, BSVT units have been shown in 30 states
including Alaska and Hawaii
 In 2016 , the reservation system confirmed 81
reservations (most including multiple events) across 26
states
 Recent events have included joint activities with US Coast
Guard Auxiliary and Sea Scouts
 Internal site for USPS reservations:
www.usps.org/php/bsvt
 External site for videos:
www.usps.org/boatingskillsvt

19. Next Steps
 Upgrade fleet to version 4.1 and new steering wheels
 Continue to increase geographical dispersion and
regional administration
 Update documentation manuals
 Increase Hispanic usage
 Manuals and flyers now available in Spanish
 Grant is funding shipping for a 3 month trial for six squadrons in
Puerto Rico
 Increase usage through partnerships with organizations
like Sea Scouts and U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary
 Awaiting USCG Grant five response

20. Questions?