Boat Owners Association of The United StatesNews Room

September 05, 2023

NEWS from BoatUS
Boat Owners Association of The United States
5323 Port Royal Rd, Springfield, VA 22151
BoatUS News Room at https://www.boatus.com/news-room/

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Press Contact: D. Scott Croft, Vice President Public Affairs, 703-461-2864, SCroft@geico.comSCroft@geico.com

Learn How to Drive a Boat at the Annapolis Powerboat Show, Oct. 5-8

Affordable, on-water courses for beginners, women, and those looking to improve boat handling skills offered by the BoatUS Foundation

Whether it’s a new boater or one with years of experience, on-water training courses at the Annapolis Powerboat Show Oct. 5-8 hosted by the BoatUS Foundation improve confidence behind the wheel.
Whether it’s a new boater or one with years of experience, on-water training courses at the Annapolis Powerboat Show Oct. 5-8 hosted by the BoatUS Foundation improve confidence behind the wheel.
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Try power boating at the Annapolis Powerboat show this Oct. 5-8! Courses are offered by the BoatUS Foundation.
Try power boating at the Annapolis Powerboat show this Oct. 5-8! Courses are offered by the BoatUS Foundation.
Download hi-res photo

ANNAPOLIS, Md., Sept. 5, 2023 – The Annapolis Powerboat show, October 5-8, is a great place to buy a boat. But did you know that you can also learn how to drive a boat – or improve your boating skills? On each of the show’s four days beginning at either 10:15 a.m. or 10:30 a.m., the BoatUS Foundation for Boating Safety and Clean Water hosts on-water, at-the-helm training courses taught by U.S. Coast Guard-licensed instructors. Course-takers also enjoy free admission to the boat show!

Each of the four course “modules” is priced at $175, three-hours long, limited to four students per vessel, ensuring each student gets sufficient time at the helm. Courses follow National Safe Boating Council curriculum with content conforming to the American National Standard (ANSI) for on-water skills, and training is held aboard 21- to 24-foot, single-engine powerboats.

Courses include “Intro to Boating,” which covers centering the wheel, shifting gears, predeparture checklist and station holding, or staying in one place while wind or current affect the boat. “Women Making Waves” offers the same curriculum and is the perfect opportunity to spend a half-day learning boat-handling techniques in a supportive environment.

“Precision Docking & Boat Handling” courses cover 180-degree turnarounds, docking on port and starboard, departing from a dock, and using S.C.A.N. procedures to avoid distracted boating. “Open Water Boat Handling” includes using boat trim, displacement and planing handling, ferrying, and emergency stopping.

The minimum age to participate is 18 years old. Tickets are required, and courses fill quickly. Sign up today or learn more at BoatUS.org/On-Water. This is the fifth year the Foundation as offered on-water instruction at the show.

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Learn how to drive a boat at the Annapolis Powerboat Show, Oct. 5-8! On-water powerboat handling courses for both beginner and experienced boaters offered by @BoatUSFoundation. Sign up at https://www.BoatUS.org/On-Water  https://bit.ly/3YZxyBr  #annapolisboatshow #annapolis #annapolismd #boattraining #powerboattraining #learnboating #chesapeakebayboating

About the BoatUS Foundation for Boating Safety and Clean Water:

The BoatUS Foundation for Boating Safety and Clean Water is a national leader promoting safe, clean and responsible boating. Funded primarily by donations from the nearly 800,000 members of Boat Owners Association of The United States (BoatUS), the nonprofit provides innovative educational outreach directly to boaters and anglers with the aim of reducing accidents and fatalities, increasing stewardship of America's waterways and keeping boating safe for all. A range of safe and clean boating courses – including the nation's largest free online boating safety course – can be found at BoatUS.org/Courses.