Ordinary

The p’iint is to know more than what yer supposed to. ‘Twon’t do to cast the bowline an’ think ye know it all! The man as makes Ordinary han’some is the man as knows Able; the man fitten fer Able is his shipmates’ dream o’ Quartermaster!

From “Davy Shellback Gams with Apprentices.”

The second Rank a Sea Scout holds is Ordinary. This rate establishes the knowledge basis for the more challenging requirements. Ordinary is the most difficult Rank to earn, where the most “new” material has to be mastered.

In time, we will list resources for these requirements.

Ideals	Brief Description
1. Customs & Emblems.	Explain the meaning and symbolism of the Sea Scout emblem. Describe how and why is used. Demonstrate your understanding of the customs and courtesies of the sea.
2. Flag History.	Give a brief history of the U.S. flag, and show when to fly it and how to hoist, lower, fold, display, and salute it.
Active Membership
3. Attendance.	Attend 75% of the Ship’s meetings and activities over six months.
4. Quarterdeck Training.	Complete Petty Officer Training.
5. New Recruit.	Recruit a new member.
Special Skills
6. Boats.	Know the features and special advantages of ten of the following types of boats: canoe, catamaran, dinghy, dory, kayak, motor cruiser, motor life boat, motor sailer, motor lifeboat, motor whaleboat, pram, pulling whaleboat, punt, runabout, self-bailing surfboat, skiff, trimaraan. Name the principal parts of the type of craft commonly used by your ship. Know the proper display of boat flags and courtesy on small boats. Demonstrate your ability to handle a rowboat.
7. Marlinspike Seamanship	Using line appropriate to the craft you normally use, tie the following knots and explain the use of each: overhand knot, stevedore's knot, bowline on a bight, timber hitch, rolling hitch, marline hitch, midshipman's hitch, and double bowline (French bowline). Name the various materials used for rope, the advantages and disadvantages of each, and the characteristics of laid and braided rope. Understand the meaning of lay, thread, strand, and hawser. Demonstrate the ability to secure a line to pilings, bitts and rings, and to coil, flake, and flemish a line. Know how rope is sized and measured. Demonstrate how to cut and heat seal a synthetic line.
8. Ground Tackle	Describe five types of anchors. Describe how each type holds the bottom, the kind of bottom in which it holds best, and any other advantages or disadvantages. Name the parts of a stock and stockless anchor. Demonstrate the ability to weigh and set anchor.
9. Piloting	Explain the degree system of compass direction. Explain variation and deviation, and show how corrections are applied to correcting and uncorrecting compass headings assigned by your consultant. Name relative bearings expressed in both degrees and points. Be able to report objects in view and wind directions with respect to the boat, and know the duties of a lookout. Name three kinds of devices used aboard ship for measuring speed and/or distance traveled and, if possible, demonstrate their use. Make a dead reckoning table of compass and distances (minimum three legs) between two points, plot these on a chart, and determine the final position. Note: It is best if this requirement can be met while under way. If this is not possible, it may be simulated, but the courses and charts used must be those in the normal cruising area of the ship.
10. Communications.	Name the three principal methods of visual signaling and explain the advantages and limitations of each method. Name the three principal types of radiotelephone equipment in marine use and demonstrate your knowledge of correct radiotelephone procedures.
11. Time	Understand Universal coordinated time (Greenwich mean time) and zone time, and demonstrate the ability to convert from one to the other for your local area. Name the seven watches and bell time. Understand the 24-hour system of telling time.
12. Swimming	Meet the requirements for the Swimming merit badge.
13. Cruising	Take part in the planning and make a 2-day (including overnight) cruise in an approved craft under leadership. Submit a satisfactory log of the cruise. Name the wheel or helm orders specified in the current Pilot Rules manual. While on the cruise, perform the duties of a helmsman.
14. Safety	Know the man overboard, fire, abandon ship and all other drills used by your ship. List the equipment that should be contained in an abandon ship bag, and list the duties to be performed before abandoning ship. List safety equipment required by law for your ship's main vessel. Discuss BSA Safety Afloat with a ship's officer.
15. Galley.	While on a cruise or at a camp, prepare or take charge of a breakfast, lunch and dinner, including boiled, fried, and uncooked dishes. Demonstrate your ability to properly use the galley equipment or personal cooking gear aboard your craft. Demonstrate appropriate sanitation techniques for food preparation and meal cleanup. Submit a menu, list of provisions, and estimated costs before meeting the above requirement. Explain the use of charcoal, pressurized alcohol, propane, and compressed natural gas stoves including safety precautions for each.
16. Sailing	Name the principal parts of the masts, booms, spars, standing and running rigging, and sails of a gaff- or Marconi- rigged sloop, schooner, and ketch or yawl. Describe the identifying characteristics of a sloop, ketch, yawl, cutter, and schooner.
17. Work	As a Seaman Apprentice log at least 16 hours work on ship equipment, projects, or activities other than regular ship meetings, parties, dances, or fun events. Note: Arrange this through the ship's officers.
18. Electives Do any three of the following.	Drill: Demonstrate your ability to execute commands in close-order drill. Signaling: Send and receive semaphore messages using proper procedures at a rate of at least 30 letters a minute. Compass: Box the compass to 32 points and demonstrate your ability to compute the degree heading for each point. Describe the relationship between the 32 points and the relative bearing system using points. Yacht Racing: Describe the procedures used in yacht racing, and the signals used by the race committee to start a race, and serve as a crew member in a race sailed under current International Sailing Federation Rules. Note: Secure the help of your ship's officers to obtain a copy of the current version of the ISAF racing rules from the U.S. Sailing Association and secure a berth on your nearest qualified yacht club race, or sail in your local council or regional sailing races. Sailing: In a cat-rigged or similar small boat, demonstrate the ability to sail single-handedly a triangular course (leeward, windward, and reaching marks). Demonstrate beating, reaching, and running. A qualified instructor must observe this. Ornamental Ropework: Demonstrate your ability to make a three-strand turk's head and a three-stand monkey's fist. Use the monkey's fist to make up a heaving line. Note: Most ornamental ropework is far too complicated to describe and illustrate effectively within a manual of this type. Secure the help of a consultant and read the literature the consultant recommends. Engines: Perform routine maintenance on your ship's propulsion system, including filter, spark plug, oil changes, and other appropriate proper fueling procedures. Refer to operation manuals or ship officers for correct procedures.

Ideals

Brief Description

1. Customs & Emblems.

Explain the meaning and symbolism of the Sea Scout emblem. Describe how and why is used. Demonstrate your understanding of the customs and courtesies of the sea.

Give a brief history of the U.S. flag, and show when to fly it and how to hoist, lower, fold, display, and salute it.

Active Membership

Attend 75% of the Ship’s meetings and activities over six months.

Complete Petty Officer Training.

Recruit a new member.

Special Skills

Know the features and special advantages of ten of the following types of boats: canoe, catamaran, dinghy, dory, kayak, motor cruiser, motor life boat, motor sailer, motor lifeboat, motor whaleboat, pram, pulling whaleboat, punt, runabout, self-bailing surfboat, skiff, trimaraan.

Name the principal parts of the type of craft commonly used by your ship. Know the proper display of boat flags and courtesy on small boats. Demonstrate your ability to handle a rowboat.

Describe five types of anchors. Describe how each type holds the bottom, the kind of bottom in which it holds best, and any other advantages or disadvantages. Name the parts of a stock and stockless anchor. Demonstrate the ability to weigh and set anchor.

Name the three principal methods of visual signaling and explain the advantages and limitations of each method. Name the three principal types of radiotelephone equipment in marine use and demonstrate your knowledge of correct radiotelephone procedures.

Understand Universal coordinated time (Greenwich mean time) and zone time, and demonstrate the ability to convert from one to the other for your local area. Name the seven watches and bell time. Understand the 24-hour system of telling time.

Meet the requirements for the Swimming merit badge.

Take part in the planning and make a 2-day (including overnight) cruise in an approved craft under leadership. Submit a satisfactory log of the cruise. Name the wheel or helm orders specified in the current Pilot Rules manual. While on the cruise, perform the duties of a helmsman.

Name the principal parts of the masts, booms, spars, standing and running rigging, and sails of a gaff- or Marconi- rigged sloop, schooner, and ketch or yawl. Describe the identifying characteristics of a sloop, ketch, yawl, cutter, and schooner.

As a Seaman Apprentice log at least 16 hours work on ship equipment, projects, or activities other than regular ship meetings, parties, dances, or fun events. Note: Arrange this through the ship's officers.

Name the principal parts of the type of craft commonly used by your ship.
Know the proper display of boat flags and courtesy on small boats.
Demonstrate your ability to handle a rowboat.

Describe five types of anchors. Describe how each type holds the bottom, the kind of bottom in which it holds best, and any other advantages or disadvantages.
Name the parts of a stock and stockless anchor.
Demonstrate the ability to weigh and set anchor.

Name the three principal methods of visual signaling and explain the advantages and limitations of each method.
Name the three principal types of radiotelephone equipment in marine use and demonstrate your knowledge of correct radiotelephone procedures.

Take part in the planning and make a 2-day (including overnight) cruise in an approved craft under leadership. Submit a satisfactory log of the cruise.
Name the wheel or helm orders specified in the current Pilot Rules manual. While on the cruise, perform the duties of a helmsman.

Name the principal parts of the masts, booms, spars, standing and running rigging, and sails of a gaff- or Marconi- rigged sloop, schooner, and ketch or yawl.
Describe the identifying characteristics of a sloop, ketch, yawl, cutter, and schooner.

As a Seaman Apprentice log at least 16 hours work on ship equipment, projects, or activities other than regular ship meetings, parties, dances, or fun events.
Note: Arrange this through the ship's officers.