Certified US powerboating training

Getting out on the water is easier than you think

Certified US powerboating training

Basic Powerboating Cruising – ONLY OFFERED IN 2023 SUMMER

US Powerboating Basic Powerboat Cruising will teach you how to responsibly operate a powered cruising vessel during daylight hours within sight of land in light to moderate wind and sea conditions. Whether you’re looking for your first experience at the helm or aiming to improve your skills, our goal is to empower students with the skills and confidence they need to get more out of their boating experience and become more comfortable at the helm. This course is an international US Powerboating class.

Certification requirements include successfully completing the following knowledge and skill requirements with a confident and safe command of the boat in light to moderate conditions. Stronger conditions are acceptable if you can safely control the boat with an awareness of limitations in these conditions. You will safely operate a cruising powerboat of at least 26 feet in length.

Topics Covered

On-the-water Instruction:

  • Preparation: Weather, currents, safety systems, VHF radio, basic knots
  • Docking: arriving, departing, line-handling, speed control, shifting techniques
  • Navigation: Aids to Navigation, charts, symbols, Rules of the Road
  • Boat Control in Open Water: Speed control, steering a compass course, high-speed maneuvering
  • Anchoring: Dropping anchor, retrieving anchor, anchor scope
  • Emergency Procedures: VHF radio in emergency situations, man overboard drills
  • Securing a Boat: Secure boat to dock, boat cleaning, securing hatches & ports

Classroom Instruction:

  • Preparation: Weather information sources, float plan, trip planning
  • Systems: Part of a boat, electrical systems, engine systems
  • Powerboat Theory: Hull shapes, effects of wind & seas, turning radius
  • Docking: Alternatives for different wind conditions, line handling, basic knots
  • Navigation (Piloting): Avoiding collisions, Navigation Rules, lighting requirements
  • Boat Control in Open Water: Handling wakes, handling wind & waves, handling adverse weather
  • Emergency Procedures: Safety devices & aides, fire fighting, avoiding accidents, rendering assistance
  • Anchoring: Types of anchors, recommended scope, anchor setting theory
US Powerboating classes in Seattle
Learn to powerboat in Seattle

Basic Powerboating Conversion

The Basic Powerboat Conversion is for students who have already attained the US Sailing Bareboat Certification and want to apply their knowledge to powerboating. The course will teach you how to responsibly operate a powered cruising vessel during daylight hours within sight of land in light to moderate wind and sea conditions. Students will learn aboard our Camano 31’ for 4 hours of classroom and on-the-water training.

Certification requirements include successfully completing the following knowledge and skill requirements with a confident and safe command of the boat in light to moderate conditions. Stronger conditions are acceptable if you can safely control the boat with an awareness of limitations in these conditions. You will safely operate a cruising powerboat of at least 26 feet in length.

Topics Covered

On-the-water Instruction:

  • Preparation: Weather, currents, safety systems, VHF radio, basic knots
  • Docking: arriving, departing, line-handling, speed control, shifting techniques
  • Navigation: Aids to Navigation, charts, symbols, Rules of the Road
  • Boat Control in Open Water: Speed control, steering a compass course, high-speed maneuvering
  • Anchoring: Dropping anchor, retrieving anchor, anchor scope
  • Emergency Procedures: VHF radio in emergency situations, man overboard drills
  • Securing a Boat: Secure boat to dock, boat cleaning, securing hatches & ports

US Sailing Basic Bareboat Certification or equivalent

Prerequisites

Twin  Inboard Powerboating Conversion

The Windworks twin inboard conversion course will teach you how to responsibly operate a twin inboard engine cruising power boat. Students will learn aboard our Bayliner 4087 “Sunshine” for 8 hours of classroom and on-the-water training.

This class will build upon the skills you learned in the prerequisite US Powerboating Basic Powerboat Cruising course and subsequent experience skippering a single-inboard cruising powerboat. We will utilize the same US Powerboating Start Powerboating Right text. Advance training in cruising skills will be included, including the use of powerful tender and davit system.

Completion requirements include successfully completing the following knowledge and skill requirements on a 40’ power cruiser with a confident and safe command of the boat in light to moderate conditions. A high level of situational awareness must be demonstrated at all times. Stronger conditions are acceptable if you can safely control the boat with an awareness of limitation in these conditions.

Topics Covered

On-the-water Instruction:

  • Use of separate throttle and shift levers
  • Helm control without rudder indicator
  • Boat control in close quarters
  • Ferrying
  • Hanging by the props
  • Split gears
  • Holding station
  • Weathervane turn
  • 3 escapes
  • Proper use of bow thruster
  • Boat control in open waters and high speed
  • Procedures for docking and undocking from upper helm station
  • Techniques for docking in higher winds
  • Mitigating high windage
  • Docking stern first at a facing pier using a stern line
  • Departing a facing pier using a spring line
  • Docking bow and stern first in a slip
  • Line handler communication and safety with high freeboard
  • Deploying and re boarding the dinghy using the davit system
  • Handling 20 horsepower dinghy safely
  • Systems monitoring
  • Managing variety of integrated electrical systems
  • Lifesling techniques specific to cruising powerboat
  • Williamson and Racetrack turns
  • Boat handling in waves
  • Anchoring safety
  • Use of Hook and Moor to attach to a mooring ball
  • Safe stowage of equipment

Classroom Instruction:

  • Twin inboard engine maneuvering concepts
  • Use of Simrad navigation system
  • Systems review
  • Outboard engine troubleshooting
  • Diesel engine troubleshooting
Prerequisites

US Sailing Powerboat Cruising or Windworks Powerboat Conversion

+ BASIC POWERBOATING CRUISING

Basic Powerboating Cruising – ONLY OFFERED IN 2023 SUMMER

US Powerboating Basic Powerboat Cruising will teach you how to responsibly operate a powered cruising vessel during daylight hours within sight of land in light to moderate wind and sea conditions. Whether you’re looking for your first experience at the helm or aiming to improve your skills, our goal is to empower students with the skills and confidence they need to get more out of their boating experience and become more comfortable at the helm. This course is an international US Powerboating class.

Certification requirements include successfully completing the following knowledge and skill requirements with a confident and safe command of the boat in light to moderate conditions. Stronger conditions are acceptable if you can safely control the boat with an awareness of limitations in these conditions. You will safely operate a cruising powerboat of at least 26 feet in length.

Topics Covered

On-the-water Instruction:

  • Preparation: Weather, currents, safety systems, VHF radio, basic knots
  • Docking: arriving, departing, line-handling, speed control, shifting techniques
  • Navigation: Aids to Navigation, charts, symbols, Rules of the Road
  • Boat Control in Open Water: Speed control, steering a compass course, high-speed maneuvering
  • Anchoring: Dropping anchor, retrieving anchor, anchor scope
  • Emergency Procedures: VHF radio in emergency situations, man overboard drills
  • Securing a Boat: Secure boat to dock, boat cleaning, securing hatches & ports

Classroom Instruction:

  • Preparation: Weather information sources, float plan, trip planning
  • Systems: Part of a boat, electrical systems, engine systems
  • Powerboat Theory: Hull shapes, effects of wind & seas, turning radius
  • Docking: Alternatives for different wind conditions, line handling, basic knots
  • Navigation (Piloting): Avoiding collisions, Navigation Rules, lighting requirements
  • Boat Control in Open Water: Handling wakes, handling wind & waves, handling adverse weather
  • Emergency Procedures: Safety devices & aides, fire fighting, avoiding accidents, rendering assistance
  • Anchoring: Types of anchors, recommended scope, anchor setting theory
US Powerboating classes in Seattle
Learn to powerboat in Seattle
+ BASIC POWERBOATING CONVERSION

Basic Powerboating Conversion

The Basic Powerboat Conversion is for students who have already attained the US Sailing Bareboat Certification and want to apply their knowledge to powerboating. The course will teach you how to responsibly operate a powered cruising vessel during daylight hours within sight of land in light to moderate wind and sea conditions. Students will learn aboard our Camano 31’ for 4 hours of classroom and on-the-water training.

Certification requirements include successfully completing the following knowledge and skill requirements with a confident and safe command of the boat in light to moderate conditions. Stronger conditions are acceptable if you can safely control the boat with an awareness of limitations in these conditions. You will safely operate a cruising powerboat of at least 26 feet in length.

Topics Covered

On-the-water Instruction:

  • Preparation: Weather, currents, safety systems, VHF radio, basic knots
  • Docking: arriving, departing, line-handling, speed control, shifting techniques
  • Navigation: Aids to Navigation, charts, symbols, Rules of the Road
  • Boat Control in Open Water: Speed control, steering a compass course, high-speed maneuvering
  • Anchoring: Dropping anchor, retrieving anchor, anchor scope
  • Emergency Procedures: VHF radio in emergency situations, man overboard drills
  • Securing a Boat: Secure boat to dock, boat cleaning, securing hatches & ports

US Sailing Basic Bareboat Certification or equivalent

Prerequisites
+ TWIN INBOARD POWERBOATING CONVERSION

Twin  Inboard Powerboating Conversion

The Windworks twin inboard conversion course will teach you how to responsibly operate a twin inboard engine cruising power boat. Students will learn aboard our Bayliner 4087 “Sunshine” for 8 hours of classroom and on-the-water training.

This class will build upon the skills you learned in the prerequisite US Powerboating Basic Powerboat Cruising course and subsequent experience skippering a single-inboard cruising powerboat. We will utilize the same US Powerboating Start Powerboating Right text. Advance training in cruising skills will be included, including the use of powerful tender and davit system.

Completion requirements include successfully completing the following knowledge and skill requirements on a 40’ power cruiser with a confident and safe command of the boat in light to moderate conditions. A high level of situational awareness must be demonstrated at all times. Stronger conditions are acceptable if you can safely control the boat with an awareness of limitation in these conditions.

Topics Covered

On-the-water Instruction:

  • Use of separate throttle and shift levers
  • Helm control without rudder indicator
  • Boat control in close quarters
  • Ferrying
  • Hanging by the props
  • Split gears
  • Holding station
  • Weathervane turn
  • 3 escapes
  • Proper use of bow thruster
  • Boat control in open waters and high speed
  • Procedures for docking and undocking from upper helm station
  • Techniques for docking in higher winds
  • Mitigating high windage
  • Docking stern first at a facing pier using a stern line
  • Departing a facing pier using a spring line
  • Docking bow and stern first in a slip
  • Line handler communication and safety with high freeboard
  • Deploying and re boarding the dinghy using the davit system
  • Handling 20 horsepower dinghy safely
  • Systems monitoring
  • Managing variety of integrated electrical systems
  • Lifesling techniques specific to cruising powerboat
  • Williamson and Racetrack turns
  • Boat handling in waves
  • Anchoring safety
  • Use of Hook and Moor to attach to a mooring ball
  • Safe stowage of equipment

Classroom Instruction:

  • Twin inboard engine maneuvering concepts
  • Use of Simrad navigation system
  • Systems review
  • Outboard engine troubleshooting
  • Diesel engine troubleshooting
Prerequisites

US Sailing Powerboat Cruising or Windworks Powerboat Conversion

Eddie Melvin
Eddie Melvin
2022-08-27
Friendly staff and easy process. Shilshole location has good amenities and ample parking.
Mary Danielle Burton
Mary Danielle Burton
2022-08-26
We worked with Victor Evans to sell our sailboat and we really had the best possible experience. He was very easy to work with and was super responsive through the entire process. I would highly recommend him if you are looking to buy or sell a boat!
Matt Velinder
Matt Velinder
2022-08-26
Victor and the Windworks family are truly amazing. Victor guided me through the boat buying process and was always responsive and professional. He made the entire process a wonderful experience. He is also a thoroughly capable and experienced sailor. I cannot recommend him and Windworks enough!
Taylor Beck
Taylor Beck
2022-08-12
I had a wonderful day taking BK1 with Victor as my instructor. Victor has a vast fund of knowledge for sailing and creates a great learning environment. His passion for sailing comes through in his teaching. I also appreciated the small class size (four students). I highly recommend this class if you have an interest in learning to sail, you learn a lot in your first day!
David Lester
David Lester
2022-08-10
We took out Chester, a 34 ft Bavaria on a trip to Port townsend. Nice roomy boat. Most everything was in working order. A couple of minor things: no electric hot water but engine warming worked good and we used shore facilities at all our stops. We were somewhat disappointed with the mainsail not coming totally out from the roller furler. Don't know what was wrong. Otherwise, the boat was clean, roomy and in good shape. Before departure we had good support from the shore crew. Also good support coming back in. Because of problems with moorage at our destination I had to change boats on this reservation two times. Windworks staff were very helpful and patient with those changes.
Daniel Wicklund
Daniel Wicklund
2022-07-13
Basic keelboat one with Chris, was an excellent class. The instructor was patient, knowledgeable, and willing to answer all the questions we threw at him. The experience was also an excellent value with the midweek discount!
Sophia Kassotakis
Sophia Kassotakis
2022-06-27
Spent two full days with #Windworks instructors (Gordon and Norm). Had a blast, learned a lot, and met some new people. Highly recommend Windworks if you're wanting to learn to sail. The instructors had very different teaching styles and approaches, but were equally effective at teaching the class what we needed to know.
Garett Bass
Garett Bass
2022-06-24
My wife and I took the Basic Keelboating 1 course to begin learning how to sail and make progress toward a sailing license, which will require 2 more 8-hour courses. Our instructor, Victor Evans, was very knowledgeable and patient, and helped us clearly understand how the boat was sailing, and how to effectively perform both a tack and a jibe maneuver including which instructions we should provide to the crew, and which actions we should perform as skipper. After a day of sailing, we have scheduled our Basic Keelboating 2 course and look forward to becoming licensed and spending more time on the water.