Accelerated Safe Powerboat Handling Course

This 8-hour hands-on, on-the-water course is for anyone who wants to learn how to safely operate a small motorboat and improve their boat handling skills on REAL BOATS.

US Powerboating, an affiliate with US Sailing, has been working with the USCG to provide the best powerboating course out there. 

The Accelerated Safe Powerboat Handling Course is designed for those individuals who have their state boater's certificate but want on-the-water training. Maryland residents can earn their Safe Boater's Certificate through Boat US Foundation's NASBLA approved certification course HERE.

New for 2016, professional mariner Juan Watson of Pelorus USA will be working with the DSC to lead our program!

While the online course is rigorous and informative, the Accelerated Safe Powerboat Handling Course is designed to build the critical on-the-water skills you need to effectively operate powerboats. 

This course is great for young and old alike, and our top notch instructors enable us to cater to your personal learning style.

The Accelerated Safe Powerboat Handling Course is not NASBLA approved; Proof of a state boater's certificate is a prerequisite for the course. The MD State course is available online for free and takes about six hours to complete.

For the 8-hour course, approximately 50-60% of the course focus is on 'close-quarters' maneuvers, which includes docking, departing, and turning within confined areas. The remaining 40-50% of the course focuses on high-speed safety, including what to do in emergency situations. US Powerboating's teaching methodology incorporates on-the-water and off-the-water tools that maximize your effective learning time on the water.

contact Stuart via stuart@downtownsailing.org for more info.