National Safe Boating Council On-Water Training
Boat Control On-Water Training Course
Whether you are new to powerboating or would like to increase your confidence in docking and maneuvering the boat in close quarters, this course is for you. Boat Control On-Water Training Course is taught in four course modules and designed to teach boat handling skills to recreational boaters or personnel hired to operate a vessel used in marine patrol.
The courses are taught on new 2023 center console Grady White vessels provided by Tri-State Marine. Each module is 3-hours on the water. Annapolis School of Seamanship offers these courses in the evenings and weekends. We also offer multiple modules thru private instruction, call for details.
Course 1 Introduction to Powerboating
Our USCG/NSBC professional Captains will guide you thru the basics of boating. Safety is foremost, we start with and introduction to boat nomenclature, pre-departure checklists, and the use of safety equipment. Once all are comfortable we head out on the water to learn boat handling at slow speeds. Our goal is to get you comfortable and confident with moving the vessel and understanding the dynamics of boat control. This is a 3-hour course taught on the water.
Course 2 Precision Docking and Boat Handling
Docking is a very important skill for all boaters to have. In this course we will build on your boat handling skills while introducing the fundamentals of docking with practice, practice, and more importantly practice. You learn to have a docking plan before you leave or approach the docks, then brief that plan to your crew.
Course 3 Open Water Boat Handling
In this course we continue to build on your boat handling skills in the open water and away from the docks. We start to build your “situational awareness” enabling you to recognize problems on the water before they happen. During this module we will cover aids to navigation and using them in unknow waters.
Course 4 Open Water Advanced Maneuvers
In this course we don’t shy away from wakes, waves or other vessels. We practice handling these ever day situations you may run into on the water. As we practice- the turns, stops, and collision avoidance maneuvers become tighter and more aggressive preparing you for the day you might need them. We also drill man overboard and other important advanced skills.
