Favorite Nautical Links | Willamette River Sail & Power Squadron, Salem, Oregon

View from the Portland Spirit during an educational cruise.

WRSPS Links Policy

In summary, the USPS Web site disclaimer statement says that any link we provide on our Web site is for your convenience and reference only. WRSPS does not endorse nor profit, in whole or in part, from any product or service offered or promoted by any of the Web sites whose links appear below. We retain the right to add or remove links at our sole discretion.

To view the complete USPS Web site disclaimer statement regarding the use of Web site links, go here. Note: selecting any link below will open a new browser window.

USPS Related Sites

D32 Events Calendar — Go here to see a calendar of District 32 events for 2006.

D32 Home Page — Our District provides administrative oversight and ties all the squadrons within it together. Follow this link to its Home Page.

Flag Etiquette — The how, where and when to display different types of flags on your boat.

Member Benefits — The current list of merchants providing discounts to USPS members.

online Membership Renewal — You can renew your USPS membership online by visiting this secure USPS site. Have available your membership and invoice numbers as well as credit card information.

Squadrons of United States Power Squadrons — The complete list of squadrons that comprise USPS with links to those with Web sites.

USPS Boat Insurance Program — This program, created in 1988, is exclusively for USPS members.

USPS Home Page — Home page of the national organization.

Commercial Web sites

Boat Insurance Agency — This is an independent, Northwest agency representing several quality marine insurance companies.

iboats.com — A one-stop online source for a wide range of boating and marina services and information, including the largest and most visited boating forums to be found anywhere online.

Nobeltec — Jeppesen Marine (formerly Nobeltec) is the leading developer of PC-based marine navigation products.

SailNet — A resource where sailors can find everything they need to support their own pursuit of the sailing lifestyle. It has been recognized as one of “Forbes Best of the Web” for content, resources and community.

TR-1 Autopilots — This Nautamatic Marine Systems company uses proprietary technology in its TR-1 Gladiator and TR-1 Gold autopilots.

West Marine — Provider of marine supplies and services at over 400 retail stores nationwide and to over 150 countries worldwide through its mail order and Internet divisions.

Noncommercial Web sites

Animated Knots — This site will show you, in actual photograph animation, the tying of over 72 knots, splices and whippings—from the Albright Knot to West Country Whipping. Knots are categorized by their most common use, i.e., Boating, Climbing, Fishing, Scouting, Search/Rescue and Rope Care. They will even show you how to tie a bowline with one hand!

Antique and Classic Boat Society:Columbia-Willamette Chapter — This site will connect you with antique and classic boat enthusiasts in northwestern Oregon and southwestern Washington. This organization has monthly meetings, cruises, clinics, garage tours, a monthly newsletter, The Hull Truth, and provides local activities for the antique and classic boat enthusiast.

Buoy Marine Data Reports — What sets this site apart from NOAA’s National Data Buoy Center is that the maps include a running report (air and water temperature, current barometer and trend, wave height with dominant period, wind speed and direction and wind gust speed) of all the stations on each map simultaneously–as opposed to viewing data one station at a time. Though this PD Family weather site is based in New England, it does have an index for buoy data by regions of interest, from Alaska to the United Kingdom and France. Each region’s data is presented single page in both table and map format. Clicking the link above will take you to the site’s Columbia River buoy page. To go to the site’s Buoy Index page click on the “Nautical” tab and then “Buoy Index” from the drop-down menu, then left-click on your region of interest from the list on the right side of the page.

Coast Guard Auxiliary–Salem Flotilla — The local civilian arm of the United States Coast Guard Auxiliary.

Commander Bob’s — This site contains links to safety-related boating sites plus other great information.

Guide to Sailing and Cruising Stories — A collection of personal accounts by sail and motor boat cruisers of blue water ocean sailing voyages, coastal cruising, ocean passage making, exploring the wilderness by boat, living aboard, river voyages and boat adventure travel around the world.

Homeland Security — The unifying core for the vast national network of organizations and institutions involved in efforts to secure our nation.

Marine Electronics — Boat and aviation electronics expert, Chuck Husick, provides a wealth of knowledge through his articles about everything electronic for your boat. If you’re not quite sure which new electronic toy on which to spend this year’s tax refund, this site from BoatU.S. is a great first-stop resource and includes an on site search engine for quickly finding what you want.

Maritime Mobile Service — The Maritime Mobile Service is an internationally-allocated radio service providing for safety of life and property at sea and on inland waterways. There home page is aimed at providing up-to-date information to radio users, telecommunications service providers, as well as radio equipment manufacturers.

National Weather Service — The National Weather Service provides weather, hydrologic, and climate forecasts and warnings for the United States, its territories, adjacent waters and ocean areas, for the protection of life and property. This link will give you a daily or weekly weather forecast specific to northwestern Oregon and southwestern Washington. Or, type in a city and state to get forecasts for anywhere in the US.

Nautical Charts online — NOAA’s 1,000-plus US coastal and Great Lakes nautical charts can be viewed here online. Each chart is up-to-date with the most recent Notices to Mariners. Use these online charts as a ready reference or planning tool. Use one of NOAA’s printed or digital charts on your voyage. NOTE: Use the official, full scale NOAA nautical chart for real navigation whenever possible. The official charts are available from authorized NOAA nautical chart sales agents.

Navigation Rules online — The US Coast Guard’s Navigation Center has combined the International and Inland Navigation Rules on its site, so comparison between the two sets of Rules and facilitating your Navigation Rules queries is much easier.

NOAA Home — The National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration is a federal agency focused on the condition of the oceans and the atmosphere.

Noonsite.com — This site aims to provide a one-stop Web site featuring essential information on all matters of interest to sailors planning an offshore voyage anywhere in the world, whether already underway or still in the preparatory stages.

Oregon State Marine Board — If you have any questions about boating in Oregon, this is the official site that will answer them.

Rope Splicing — This is New England Rope’s Splicing Guides page with links to instructions for 21 different splices with various rope types.

Tide Tables — Wondering what the Oregon or Washington tides will be on your next visit to the Coast? This site is NOAA’s Tides and Currents page where you can get predictions for tidal stations in any state; not just Oregon and Washington.

United States Coast Guard — The official home page for this military maritime service and one of the nation’s five Armed Services.

Do you have a favorite nautical site you think should be included here? If so, contact the webmaster with the site’s URL. Though there is no guarantee your favorite site will be added to our list, all submitted sites will be thoughtfully reviewed. We would also appreciate your notifying the webmaster of any broken links.