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

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

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