Nationally Recognized Education for the Recreational
Boater

Choose from any full course or seminar that interests you. Courses are comprehensive, in-depth and usually require 12-16 hours over 6-8 weeks. Seminars are focused 2-hour workshops on a variety of boating subjects. You can mix and match to suit your boating education needs, and our members can help guide you.

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Beginner, intermediate or advanced — whatever your skill level, our in-depth boating education courses will boost your knowledge and confidence on the water.

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• America’s Boating Course gives you the basics you need to get out on the water safely. This course is approved for certification to operate Personal Watercraft by persons in NC, 14 years of age and up and those operating any other vessel with more than 9.8 hp. who were born after Jan. 1, 1988. For those in SC, this course is approved for anyone operating a vessel 15 HP or greater and under 16 years of age. This counts for the NC and SC Boater Certification.    See our current list of course dates and locations here and sign up.
   

• Sail lets you learn about basic sailboat designs and nomenclature, rigging, and safety from experienced sailors. Then tackle the physical aspects of all forces and techniques, sail applications, marlinespike, helmsmanship, and handling of all difficult conditions.

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• Boat Handling builds your competence and confidence on the water with an in-depth look at the practical boating skills. Also available online.
   

• Marine Navigation and Advanced Marine Navigation give you the skills you need to get where you’re going using charts and marine electronics as well as a knowledge of winds, currents, and tides.
   

• Offshore Navigation (Junior Navigation) and Celestial Navigation, a must for oceangoing captains. The classes teach you about planning and monitoring your voyage using modern marine electronics and how celestial observations can help you estimate your vessel’s position with confidence.
   

• Cruising and Cruise Planning prepare you for a multi-day voyage.
   

• Engine Maintenance gives you information on how engines work and basic maintenance procedures, as well as how to recognize problems.
   

• Marine Electrical Systems provides information on Alternating and Direct current, as well as boat electrical systems
   

• Marine Communications Systems explains the different types of radios and communication options
   

• Electronic Navigation gives you basic information on the various electronic devices available today that help you navigate and select routes
   

• Radar for Boaters gives you basic information on radar.

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• Weather is a detailed study of the causes of weather, various types of storms, clouds, and predicting weather.