us sailing safe powerboat handling course

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Course Types

Safety & rescue boat handling, course description, this 8-hour hands-on, on-the-water course is for anyone who will be using powerboats to perform safety and rescue functions. it is designed for regatta personnel, marine patrols, police and fire rescue personnel, park rangers, and on-the-water sailing instructors and coaches..

US Sailing Membership is not required to participate in a Safety and Rescue Boat Handling Course.

On-the-Water Sessions

• VHF radio communications
• Boat rescues, incl. capsizes
• Person in Water rescue
• Towing: astern & alongside
• Williamson turn
• Steering a range in/outbound
• Intercepting & maintaining position with moving vessel
• Use of bearings & GPS
• Search pattern

Classroom Sessions

• Weather & water briefings
• VHF radio procedures
• Safety & rescue equipment & procedures
• Towing concepts
• Search patterns concepts
• Plotting a position
• Calculating tides & currents

Prerequisites

• US Sailing/US Powerboating Safe Powerboat Handling Certificate

Suggested Age

Certification(s) earned.

• US Sailing/US Powerboating Safety and Rescue Boat Handling Certificate

Find a Course Near You

Copyright ©2018-2024 US Powerboating. All rights reserved. Website designed & developed by Design Principles, Inc.

Arizona Yacht Club

Safe Powerboat Handling

  Not Currently Offered.

Periodically, the nonprofit Arizona Sailing Foundation offers a US Sailing Safe Powerboat Handling course in partnership with Arizona Yacht Club. Learn Valuable High and Low Speed Skills . This two-day, hands-on, on-the-water course is for anyone who wants to learn how to safely operate a small motorboat and improve boat-handling skills. No previous experience is required!

CLASS SCHEDULE and FEES: Not scheduled at this time. See Powerboat Operators for TTL & LP on this page for more information.

The US Coast Guard and the National Association of State Boating Law Administrators (NASBLA) have approved this course and an increasing number of states have recognized it as meeting their requirements for a State Boating Education Certificate. In addition, the Arizona Yacht Club requires ALL operators of AYC powerboats to be certified by this course. The course is taught by US Sailing certified powerboat instructors and includes the safety, rescue and support endorsement for anyone using powerboats to perform safety and rescue functions, such as sailing instructors, coaches, regatta personnel, marine patrols, police and fire rescue personnel, and park rangers—as well as people who want to be certified as operators of race support boats. More information on course content is available here .    Sponsored link: Boating Safety resource page .

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16 Hours of On-The-Water Instruction

Achieving greater skill and confidence through private learning.

This course is a 16 hour hands-on, on-the-water course and is your jumping off course either as a beginner or a returning boater needing to refresh skills.  In this course you will learn how to safely operate a small motorboat and gain or improve your boat handling skills.

The US Coast Guard and the National Association of State Boating Law Administrators (NASBLA) have approved this course for the California Boater’s Card. The state of California recognizes this course as meeting their requirements for the California Boater’s Card.

The Safe Powerboat Handling course covers all the required education topics for you to operate safely and confidently on a small motorboat to 25′.  There are no prerequisites to taking this course.

• Private Class for up to 2 students
• Instructor, fuel, boat, materials, and insurance included
• $3,400 for one person. Add a second person for $1,500

On-the-Water Sessions

• Engine & electrical systems
• Starting procedures
• Leaving & returning to a slip
• Close-quarters maneuvers
• Steering a range
• Proceeding to a destination
• Person in Water rescue

Classroom Sessions

• Safety, preparation & weather
• Maneuvering concepts
• Registration & capacities
• Equipment requirements
• Preparation & fueling procedures
• Navigation rules of the road
• Aids to navigation
• Environment regulations

Prerequisites

• None, no experience necessary!

Suggested Age

• 10–adult (may be affected by state minimum age)

Certification(s) Earned

• US Sailing/US Powerboating Safe Powerboat Handling Certificate (NASBLA Approved)
• You’re ready to take the California Boaters Card Test

Get two free online sailing courses

National Safe Boaters Council

Domestic certifications, safe powerboat handling*.

SaferBoater offers the only on-the-water training program authorized to meet the standards set forth in ALL 50 states , including those that require a Boater’s Education Training Course in order to rent or purchase a boat.

That means if your state requires a Boating License, our course will meet their education requirements.

For Instance, in our home state of S.C., those authorities would be US Powerboating, NASBLA and SCDNR, .

*NASBLA approved in all 50 states

Earn 3 Certifications

NASBLA’s  “Approved Boaters Education Course”, which represents the recreational boating authorities of all 50 states and the U.S. territories

US Powerboating’s  “Safe Powerboat Handling Certificate “, which is the only course approved through NASBLA in all 50 States for on-the-water training

SCDNR’s “State Boating Education Card”, the boating authority for the State of South Carolina

If your state requires a boat exam and license, watch this video.

International Certifications

The IPC, or International Proficiency Certification works much like a driver’s license for a car, except for Really Big Boats! 

If you will be traveling internationally, there are some requirements you need to know.

Renting & Operating Boats on your International Travels

Suppose you desire to charter a Sailboat or MotorYacht in the Mediterranean. Will your US Boat Captains License be sufficient? In most cases, NO!

The IPC carries a higher approval level than a USCG Captain's license when it comes to international boat rentals.

These certifications are authorized by the European Union to simplify the charter process and authorize permit holders to operate a vessel in European waters.

How Does an IPC Work? As mentioned, think of the IPC as a driver’s license for a yacht.  The certificate must be presented to a charter company to rent a boat and then carried aboard at all times while sailing in EU waters. The certificate is good for five years from the date of issue.  

This certification can also lower your insurance and allow you to drive your own yacht without a licensed captain.

The following countries require the International Proficiency Certificate ( per US Sailing as of 03/2018 ):

Austria Belarus Belgium Bulgaria Croatia Czech Republic Finland

France Germany Greece Hungary Ireland Italy Lithuania Luxembourg

Malta Moldova Netherlands Norway Poland Portugal Romania Russian Federation

Serbia Slovakia Sweden Switzerland Turkey Ukraine United Kingdom

Sailing - IPC Curriculum

Our Sailing Education Courses begins with the basics of sailing and concludes with skippering ability and crew coordination.

We take a novice with no knowledge and turn them into a competent sailor by beginning with our first 3 courses :

• Basic Keelboat
• Basic Cruising
• Bareboat Cruising

Upon completion of our core sailing skills you can apply for a US Sailing IPC and rent a sailboat basically anywhere in the world.

For advanced students, we also recommend & offer these 3 courses that go above and beyond the IPC requirement:

• Coastal Navigation
• Coastal Passage Making
• Ocean Passage Making

So yeah, the IPC is Kind of a Big Deal!

MotorYacht - IPC Curriculum

Our Yacht Education Courses begins with the basics of motor yachting and concludes with skippering ability and crew coordination.

We take a novice with no knowledge and turn them into a competent boater. The first two courses are required, and the third course below is recommended for your IPC

• Basic Powerboat Cruising
• Inshore Powerboat Cruising
• Night Operations Endorsement

Upon completion of our core powerboating skills, you can apply for a MotorYacht IPC and rent a Yacht basically anywhere in the world.

National Safe Boaters Council is approved by NASBLA and when complimented by BOATUS.org state test, then you meet the qualifications for licensing in any of the 22 states that currently require it. These on-the-water short modules give you the experience of safely running your boat for recreational use. With less time commitment, this course complements members of rental companies.

• Opening of the Bay 2024
• Blue Lane Rentals

Safe Powerboat Handling

Drivers Education for Boaters TM

US Coast Guard Approved

This 16-hour hands-on, on-the-water course is for anyone who wants to learn how to safely operate a powerboat or improve their on-the-water boat handling skills. No experience necessary. The topics are covered using a variety of techniques in the classroom and dockside, emphasizing on-the-water practical application of all skills. Topics covered include:

Instructor: US POWERBOATING Certified Instructor

Age: 12-adult

Group Size: 4 – 8

Time: 9:00 am – 6:00 pm

Certifications Earned:  Safe Powerboat Handling certificate

Fee: $400/per person ($450/per person if less than two weeks before course), includes all books, safety equipment and on-the-water instruction.

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• Safe Powerboat Training
• Safety & Rescue Boat Handling

Safety & Rescue Boat Handling

Course description.

This 8-hour  hands-on, on-the-water  course is for anyone who will be using powerboats to perform safety and rescue functions. It is designed for regatta personnel, marine patrols, police and fire rescue personnel, park rangers, and on-the-water sailing instructors and coaches.

US Sailing Membership is not required to participate in a Safety and Rescue Boat Handling Course.

• $895 plus fuel

Prerequisite

• US Sailing/US Powerboating Safe Powerboat Handling Certificate

Suggested Age

Certification(s) earned.

• US Sailing/US Powerboating Safety and Rescue Boat Handling Certificate

On-the-Water Sessions

• VHF radio communications
• Tying towing Knots
• Person in Water rescue
• Towing: astern & alongside
• Williamson turn
• Steering a range in/outbound
• Intercepting & maintaining position with moving vessel
• Use of bearings & GPS
• Search pattern Expanded Square and Ladder Search
• Weather & water briefings
• VHF radio procedures
• Safety & rescue equipment & procedures
• Towing concepts
• Search patterns concepts
• Plotting a position
• Calculating tides & currents

Home  Education

Learn to Sail with US Sailing

Whether you’re a first time sailor or an experienced instructor... we have an educational opportunity for everyone...

Part of US Sailing’s vision is to introduce as many people as possible to this great sport. We want to make sure you’re learning in a safe, fun, high-quality environment…because if you’re a well-trained, competent sailor you’ll love sailing as much as we do.

US Sailing provides education and instruction in four separate areas: Small Boat (i.e. day sailing), Keelboat, Powerboat and Windsurfing. Learn more about the different programs offered by US Sailing schools and instructors. We’ll help you decide what kind of boat you want to learn on and find a course to take – and we’ve written the books ourselves to make sure they’re the best around.

Youth Education

Quality instruction at all levels.

US Sailing is committed to ensuring that young people learn how to sail from certified instructors in a safe and fun environment. We have set the standard for youth sailing programs in the U.S. by offering certification courses for instructors and coaches, as well as the innovative Reach STEM education program.

Learn More about Instructor Certifications

• Learn to Sail
• Reach Program - STEM Education
• Junior Big Boat Program Guide
• Youth Development
• US Sailing & SafeSport 

Adult Education

Build your skills.

The Keelboat Certification System offers seven levels of adult education ranging from Basic Keelboat through Offshore Passagemaking. These certifications follow a building-block technique of combining learned skills with experience. New sailors gain knowledge and experience at each level and can take their sailing skills as far as they want to go at their own pace

Find a Course Near You

• Certification Courses & Endorsements
• Safety at Sea Courses
• Adaptive Sailing
• Adaptive Sailing Resource Manual

Instructor Training & Certification

Teach others to sail.

For those interested in teaching sailing or powerboating, there are several opportunities to achieve Instructor Certification. We offer certification for smallboat, keelboat, powerboat, windsurfing and STEM instructors. Courses range from 2 days to 5 days, and are hosted by boating programs around the country, year-round.

See All Instructor programs

• Small Boat Instructor Programs
• Keelboat Instructor Programs
• Powerboat Instructor Programs
• Teach Windsurfing

Race Officials Training & Certification

Represent us sailing on the race course.

Race officials ensure quality, integrity, and consistency for all participants in the sport of sailboat racing, from casual weeknight club racing to world championships. Our training and certification programs allows sailors to give back to the sport by supporting the racing sailor out on the water.

See All RO programs

• Find a Seminar
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• Race Officials & SafeSport

Risk Strategies - Gowrie Group

• Junior Sailing Safety Guide

Andrew Clouston SVP Programs & Services Email Andrew Clouston

Stu Gilfillen Director of Education Email Stu Gilfillen 401-342-7967

Peri Burns Educational Operations Manager Email Peri Burns 401-342-7963

Bradley Schoch Senior Instructional Designer Email Bradley Schoch

Andi Barton Sr. Education Coordinator Email Andi Barton 401-342-7910

Bonnie Braddock Learning Design and Development Specialist Email Bonnie Braddock

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