Has anyone used the practical navigator for their Radar endorsement? It says its an approved coast guard coarse. I’m just wondering about the material.
Hello, I operate this course. It is very similar to a traditional in-person program. It is about 35 hours of training. Some of the radar theory content is in lecture style videos in front of a whiteboard or a PPT. The rest is live, scheduled training using our Wartsila Cloud Simulator (similar to what is often used in-person). There are additionally some self-paced simulations once you learn how to log in. Lastly, there are maneuvering boards (plotting sheets) that you have to learn which most people find to be not-that-fun. The final exam, plotting tools, and a few other supplies are mailed out to you (we ship once per week). The exam is proctored over a zoom call, so you can test from anywhere. We have the ARPA combo too if you need that for your career. I believe Northeast Maritime also has an online approved course if you want to compare. Other people may chime in who have taken it or I can link you up with some graduates if no one does. There is a benefit to online learning but also some people learn better in the classroom with more structure. chris@practicalnavigator.org Thanks!
I’ve taken this course from Practical Navigator and can recommend. The material fits what’s needed to fulfill USCG course requirements and is probably similar to other radar courses.
The big advantages of taking the course through PN are that the explanations and problem walk-throughs are very well done and the instructor is typically highly responsive for any questions about course material or admin.
I also think these guys aren’t looking to push certs out the door, they want to make sure you can pass the test AND have practical skills/knowledge.