"Behind the Wheel" & Challenge Test-out

This 8- to 12-hour hands-on, on-the-water course is for anyone who has taken a classroom boating course but needs experience to safely operate a small motorboat and improve their boathandling skills. Students will be expected to study the course materials at home to challenge and pass a written exam covering equipment requirements, rules of the road, aids to navigations, preparation, environment regulations, safety and emergencies. This course focuses on hands-on application of all skills, consequently it is NOT approved by the US Coast Guard or the National Association of State Boating Law Administrators (NASBLA) as meeting requirements for a state boating safety education certificate. Students learn:

On-the-Water Sessions

• Engine & electrical systems
• Starting procedures
• Docking
• Leaving & returning to a slip
• Close-quarters maneuvers
• Anchoring
• Steering a range
• Proceeding to a destination
• Person in Water rescue

Classroom Sessions

• Safety, prep & weather briefings
• Maneuvering concepts
• Challenge test-out

Prerequisites: state boating education certificate recommended
Suggested Age: 12–adult (may be affected by state minimum age)
Certification Earned: Safe Powerboat Handling certificate