powerboat handling certificate

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Course Types

About our courses, us powerboating's philosophy is that there is no substitute for practical, hands-on experience. after all, you wouldn't drive a car without taking driver's education so consider us your source for driver’s education for boaters tm ..

Our courses are offered at over 100 Course Providers and Powerboat Training Centers around the country and are taught by knowledgeable, professional instructors who are dedicated to ensuring you get the most out of your educational experience. With offerings ranging from beginner to advanced, we are sure we have something for everyone.

We strive to emphasize the fun side of boating while ensuring that you feel safe, comfortable and confident!

In addition to practical training, we offer comprehensive books and videos designed to help you learn quickly and easily. As a partner of the United States Coast Guard, we understand the value of high quality education and importance of safe boating practices.

What course is right for me?

Safe powerboat handling.

Safe Powerboat Handling combines classroom instruction with practical, hands-on experience. This course is run on boats 26 feet and under.

Recommended for:

• New boaters
• First-time boat owners
• Sailing instructors and coaches
• Race committee crews
• Advanced boaters looking to brush up on skills
• Professional mariners

Accelerated Safe Powerboat Handling

This course focuses on the practical application of skills, consequently it is NOT approved by the U.S. Coast Guard or the National Association of State Boating Law Administrators (NASBLA) as meeting requirements for a state boating safety education certificate.

Safety & Rescue Boat Handling

Safety & Rescue Boat Handling topics range from equipment, preparation and operator and crew responsibilities during an emergency to the practical techniques used in rescue situations.

• Mark boat operators
• First responders

Mark-Set Boat Handling

Coming Soon

Combination Courses

Typically reserved for more advanced students, our courses can be combined to assist those who have limited opportunity to receive training. Common examples of Combination Courses include: Accelerated Safe Powerboat Handling + Safety & Rescue Boat Handling or Safety & Rescue Boat Handling + Mark-Set Boat Handling.

Powerboat Instructor Courses

We are always in need of skilled Instructors to teach our courses. If you have a passion for teaching others and promoting boating safety, we want to speak with you!

• Experienced Boaters
• Marine Industry Professionals
• Certified Sailing Instructors

Safe Powerboat Handling Instructor

Cruising powerboat instructor, basic powerboat cruising.

The Basic Powerboat Cruising 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. This course is run on boats 26 feet and over, with a head, galley, berth, single or twin screwed.

Inshore Powerboat Cruising

Our Inshore Powerboat Cruising course will teach you to responsibly operate a cruising powerboat within sight of land for multiple days in unfamiliar waters.

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• Safe Powerboat Training
• Safety & Rescue Boat Handling

Get out of the classroom and behind the wheel!

US Powerboat Training offers the nation’s best and most comprehensive hands-on powerboat courses. Whether you’re looking for your first experience at the helm or aiming to improve your skills, we can help. As the National leader in on-the-water powerboat training and education, 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 behind the helm.

Whether you are looking to operate a powerboat under or over 26 feet, we have a course to cover it.

The best on-the-water powerboat instruction available, our courses.

Whether you are a lifelong boater looking to brush up on your skills or have never been on the water before, we have opportunities available for you! We offer a range of boating courses for individuals of all skill levels. Our hands-on, on-the-water courses get you out of the classroom and behind the wheel for an educational experience unlike any other!

Search & Rescue Training

Safety & Rescue Boat Handling

Happy Boaters

“We had the best boating experience!!! Kevin was so helpful and great to work with!! He went above and beyond expectations. He took us to the sandbar to search for sand dollars!! We also saw two dolphins in the intercostal. One of the best days ever!!”

COLLEEN STEPENSON RETTINGER

“I couldn’t have been more lucky to be out on the water learning and experiencing sailing, power boating, rules of the water, and knots with such a great instructor. Kevin is very knowledgable and calm on the water. If you haven’t been on the water this would be the best way to start. Kevin has great people to help him out when needed. I never felt unsafe or uncomfortable. These courses gave me the confidence and skills to take my boat out.”

“If you’re looking for the best instruction on how to sail or operate a power boat, Kevin is your guy. Through his relaxed and calm demeanor and detailed instruction, I gained the confidence I needed to dock a boat and change tack to dodge the ferries. He will practice with you until it becomes second nature.”

Meet The Team

Capt. Kevin Hennessey

Kevin has been boating for 25 years. His love and passion for teaching and boating awarded him Instructor of the year from American Sailing Association for 2015.

Capt. Al Noble

Al has over 25 years on the water and tens of thousands of cruising hours under his belt. He maintains his 100 Ton Captians license and when he isn’t sailing can be found kayaking or fishing for trout in western North Carolina with his wife. Al has a passion for the sea that is unrivaled and experience that surpasses most.

OUR MISSION

Our mission aligns closely with the strategic objectives of the U.S. Coast Guard’s Boating Safety Division. We aim to support them in their mission to make America’s water ways safer for all and to minimize property damage, personal injury and loss of life by creating a new generation of educated and experienced recreational boaters.

[email protected]

606 W West St, Southport, NC 28461

• membership |

RPBA COURSES

Close Quarters Powerboat Handling

Close Quarters Powerboat Handling is an intensive, 12-hour powerboat handling course that is designed to provide the skills necessary to maneuver a powerboat confidently, competently and safely in tight spaces. Successful completion of the program indicates the student has demonstrated competence in handling either a twin inboard, single inboard or outboard/stern drive vessel in close quarters in light wind and or currents. Core program elements include basic and advanced docking and undocking maneuvers, situational assessment and planning, crew communication and passenger safety.

The goal of this course is to teach safe, efficient use of radar for small-craft navigation in any condition of visibility. Radar teaches safe, efficient use of small-craft radar for piloting, chart navigation, and collision avoidance, including radar principles and practical matters of radar operation as well as using a realistic PC based radar simulator to illustrate radar measurements. This course covers a broad range of topics related to radar. Specific topics to be learned include, how radar works, interpreting the screen, position navigation, radar and navigation rules.

Coastal Navigation

In this RPBA course you will learn to demonstrate the navigational theory required to safely navigate a powerboat in coastal or inland waters using paper and pencil techniques. Navigation includes determining your location and the best route to your destination plus a continual assessment of progress being made. The navigator must consider land masses, channels and the sea bottom, other traffic, obstructions, navigational aids, forcast and actual weather and sea conditions.

Marine Weather

Weather is a big subject with many facets, but when it comes to marine weather it boils down to the wind. The RPBA Marine Weather course teaches mariners how to take weather into account in the planning and navigation of voyages, both local and global. Anyone who ventures onto the water can benefit from this course. In this course you will learn to understand the proper use of weather information in planning and adapting navigation and demonstrate the ability to use both the latest technological tools as well as traditional maritime skills to forecast weather conditions.

RPBA Schools

• Boating Safety
• Twin Inboard
• Single Inboard
• Stern Drive / Outboard

Prerequisites:  None Required! Recommended Age:  10 - Adult Location : Your boat or Ours!

All classes are 16 hours and include:

Classroom sessions  .

Starting and Safety Safety, preparation & weather Maneuvering concepts

Boating Equipment Registration & capacities Equipment requirements Preparation & fueling procedures

Navigation and Rules of Driving Navigation rules of the road

Aids to Navigation and Environmental Regs Aids to navigation Environment regulations

Exam Review Session Review for the Final Exam (separate session)

On-the-Water Boat Lessons

On-The Water (Deck Hand) Engine & electrical systems Starting procedures

Docking Leaving & returning to a slip Close-quarters maneuvers

On-The Water (Deck Hand) Anchoring Steering a range Proceeding to a destination Person in Water rescue

Final Exam Skill

Certified Drivers License, Certified in all states! Earn your boat insurance savings by joining boat lessons.

DEVELOPING LIFE SKILLS THROUGH AN AFFINITY FOR THE SEA

Powerboat training, powerboat training to meet your needs.

If you want to improve powerboating, we are here to help. SeaAffinity provides hands-on powerboat training to meet your needs.  First, if it is certification you need, we provide US Powerboating hands-on certification.  or, if there are certain skills you want to improve, we provide private powerboat training on our boat or yours. 

US Powerboating: Safe Powerboat Handling

We offer the course as a blend of self-study and guided hands-on training.  Because you asked, we have also split the hands-on portion into two sessions.  This allows more processing time and has shown excellent results in our students. Digital textbook and online resources included.

We offer this course on our 20′ center console RIB. Cost: $650 (multiple family member discount available)

Private Powerboat Training

We offer this training on our 20′ center console RIB or on you own boat.

 Cost: $350 for a two-hour lesson (plus travel time to your boat)

Contact us to schedule a course or a lesson

   410-812-3757  

  [email protected] 

Charters and lessons

Are you interested in more sailing and boating opportunities check out a few of our popular charters and lessons below., come sail with us, introduction to sailing, wine and cheese sunset sail, private lessons, sailing under the stars, powerboat training.

Certifications & Credentials

The los angeles powerboat academy offers u.s. powerboating certifications..

Los Angeles Powerboat Academy is a US Powerboat Certification course provider for larger twin-inboard motor yachts. We offer several USPB courses, so you can pilot and charter boats without a licensed captain.

We offer the following USPB courses:

Basic Powerboat Cruising

This “on-the-water” powerboat-handling course teaches the responsible operation of a powerboat in daylight within sight of land through theory and hands-on instruction of a twin-screw powerboat. Build your knowledge and practical skills for safe and effective boat handling in light to moderate wind and sea conditions.

Night Operations Endorsement

After basic powerboat certification, the next step in seamanship training is to learn to responsibly operate a powerboat at night (in sight of land). This “on-the-water” course will train you how to safely navigate a cruising powerboat at night.

Inshore Powerboat Cruising

Advance your skills even more and cruise the world with ease by taking the Inshore Powerboat Cruising class. This “on-the-water” course focuses on the responsible operation of a cruising powerboat for multiple days in unfamiliar waters in sight of land.

International Proficiency Certification

Once you complete your courses, you are eligible to obtain the US Powerboating International Proficiency Certificate©. This international certification is designed specifically for the EU, and allows boaters to charter boats without a captain in international waters. In order to obtain an International Proficiency Certificate©, applicants must have completed the Basic, Night Ops and Inshore certifications. 

Note that local independent charter operators in the EU and beyond may accept the US Powerboating log books as evidence of your competency even without the additional International Proficiency Certificate. We recommend that you contact the charter operator to confirm the credentials they require to rent boats.

Ready to Get Started?

California boater card.

On January 1, 2018, California began implementing a new law that boaters are required to carry a vessel operator card while operating a recreational motorized vessel on California waterways, known as the  California Boater Card.

What Is The California Boater Card?

The California Boater Card shows that its holder has successfully taken and passed a NASBLA/state-approved boater safety education examination. In 2018, the California Boater Card program will be phased-in by age for operators of motorized boats on state waterways.

Boaters have the option of taking online courses to obtain their boaters card, however these online courses do not provide the “hands-on” instruction required to teach boaters the national skill-based standards on how to safely operate motor vessels.

How To Obtain The California Boater Card

Note that the US Powerboating certificate does not take the place of the California Boater Card. Boaters are required to submit their US Powerboating certificate to the Department of Boating and Waterways to obtain their California Boater Card. After successful completion of your US Powerboat course, apply for the California Boater Card following this link:  http://californiaboatercard.com/applynow/ .

For more information, visit  http://californiaboatercard.com/ .

Additional information – “California law states that NO person under 16 years of age may operate a boat with a motor of more than 15 horsepower, except for a sailboat that does not exceed 30 feet in length or a dinghy used directly between a moored boat and the shore (or between two moored boats). The California law allows children 12-15 years of age to operate boats with a motor of more than 15 horsepower or sailboats over 30 feet if supervised on board by an adult at least 18 years of age. Violating these provisions constitutes an infraction.”