Sea Island Boating Instructors

Maximize the Enjoyment of Your Time on the Water

Do you want to share your love of boating with your friends and family but you don’t have the confidence – you don’t feel ready to take the big step out on the water?

Would you like to know more (or to refresh your skills) so you can operate your boat safely and with confidence when you go out alone or with a group?

To enjoy boating, you have to know how to captain your boat safely and confidently.
The US Coast Guard recommends that ALL boaters participate in safe boating instruction even BEFORE they ever launch their boat.

SEA ISLAND BOATING INSTRUCTORS

Our UNIQUE Approach

Why is training from the Sea Island Boating Instructors unique and far more effective than traditional approaches?

Hands-on training is conducted on the owner’s boat (if available).
Content is based on a unique set of comprehensive training modules that cover all aspects of recreational boating.
Individual modules are designed for a range of skill levels – from new boat owners to experienced boaters who might be graduating up to a new, bigger, more powerful boat.
Our instructors are all licensed captains with years of fascinating stories to tell, valuable knowledge to share, and important lessons to teach.
Training can be customized to your need-to-know based on which module(s) you choose to include.

Our Personal Guarantee

After you’ve been trained by Sea Island Boating Instructors, you will have the confidence and skills needed to fully enjoy your time on the water – whether it be cruising to an interesting port or just plain relaxing on local waters with family and friends. Click here for Client Comments.

What to Expect

Our Instruction Takes Place On Your Boat

Our boating instructors will meet you at your boat. Depending on which of our eight instruction modules you choose, your training can be a dock-side session, or it can take place underway.

If your boat is not available, or if you don’t own a boat yet, or if you want to learn how to use a boat while in the process of buying a boat, we can provide a boat for your instruction.

What You Learn

Choose a Curriculum That Meets Your Needs

We offer 8 comprehensive instruction sessions which include training for boaters of every level – whether you are a new boat owner or graduating to a new boat.

When you sign up for instruction, our boating instructors will talk to you about your skill level and your goals so that your training curriculum of one or more sessions will fit your needs.

Our training sessions are outlined below.

Who Should Enroll

Instruction for a Variety of Audiences

Our instruction sessions are for one or two people. But you can add more. You’ll just want everyone to be ready for the content of the training session that you have selected.

Are you a couple who just bought your first boat and can’t wait to get out on the water? Then you are perfect “class mates.”

Are you a woman co-owner resigned to just being a passenger because you don’t feel confident enough to solo captain your family boat? Do you have friends who feel the same? Then you and your friends are perfect “class mates.”

Do you know some teenagers (kids 12 to 18) begging to take the wheel? Let our instructors turn their energy into a realistic understanding of how to safely operate the family boat. Note: A DNR license is not required to take our instruction.

Of course, one-on-one instruction with our captain is a win-win situation.

Our Boating Instruction Modules

Module 1

GETTING TO KNOW YOUR BOAT

GETTING TO KNOW YOUR BOAT Learn all about the equipment on your boat – its functionality and how it should be used. Review important boating terminology. For example, bilge refers to the lowest section inside a boat’s hull where water collects. Click here for more boating terminology. Learn how to take care of your boat to ensure its optimal performance.

Module 2

BOATING RULES AND REGULATIONS

Learn the rules and regulations needed to operate your boat safely and legally.

Understand the safety equipment required for your specific boat and its area of operations.

Become familiar with the “Rules of the Road” for your boat.

Identify situations that can result in boating fatalities.

Module 3

BASIC BOAT HANDLING

Learn the art of Marlinspike seamanship (line handling)

Learn how to get underway, and to cruise and to return to port

Learn how to safely dock your boat.

Practice proper lookout techniques.

Become familiar with the local waters.

Module 4

COASTAL PILOTING AND SEAMANSHIP

Understand the practical application of boating regulations

Practice following the rules of the road as they relate to maneuvering through a narrow inlet, encountering a crossing situation, responding to a head-on collision path, or handling a passing situation.

Read and use charts to identify safe boating areas

Make and follow float plans

Module 5

On-Board Management

For a Safe and Enjoyable Day on the Water

Learn how to read and understand weather forecasts.

Prepare a predeparture checklist to be followed before every departure.

Develop a welcome message that addresses the importance of passenger safety while underway.

Define what information your passengers need to know in case of an emergency.

Make a float plan.

Module 6

EMERGENCY RESPONSE

What to Do When Emergencies Arise

Person Overboard
Medical emergency on-board
Flooding
Fire
Weather-related emergencies
Collision

Learn the skills required to handle these emergencies.

Module 7

BOATING AT NIGHT AND OVER NIGHT

Learn how to safely operate your boat at night.

Understand lighted navigational aids.

Identify appropriate places to anchor.

Apply proper anchoring techniques – how to securely set your anchor.

Secure the vessel for overnight.

Module 8

A DAY WITH THE CAPTAIN

Spend a full day of personalized instruction from our captain.

Practice coastal piloting in areas around your home base.

Spend time focusing on the skills you want to master.

Listen to the captain’s stories about lessons learned the hard way.

Become familiar with the official reference book of seamanship.

Additional Services that We Can Provide

Buyer’s representative when you’re purchasing a boat
Owner’s representative when dealing with boatyards, shipyards or repair facilities
Professional crew services for your outing – for an hour, a day, or even longer.
Boat delivery service

For more information, call Captain Richard at
843-247-1107
or send an email to
CaptainR@boatinginstructors.com

We want you to be safe and have fun on the water.

What Our Clients Have to Say

Our Clients Are Talking

Based on over 40 years of commercial maritime experience, our training (on your boat or ours – at your dock or on the water) is just what you need to be more than just a boat owner. Let our boating instructors help you become a confident and competent captain. Just look at what our clients have to say!

★★★★★ 5/5

“Before my afternoon with Captain Richard, I had been feeling a bit apprehensive about taking my boat out on the water. His patient and comprehensive instructions gave me the confidence I needed to start really enjoying my boat. This picture says it all. Thank you, Captain Richard.”

Bill

★★★★★ 5/5

“The time my daughter and I spent on our boat for dock-side training with Captain Richard inspired us to take the next step. After his “Basic Boat Handling” instruction, we actually started taking our boat out on the water without my husband along.” Trish

★★★★★ 5/5

“My wife and I were very impressed with the hands-on training during Captain Richard’s Coastal Piloting session. Now we’re ready to do some island hopping – maybe between Georgia’s Barrier Islands (Jekyll, St. Simons, Sea and Tybee) with some friends.”

Tom

★★★★★ 5/5

“A fabulous session! And I thought I knew everything about boating. (ha) THANKS, Captain Richard.”

Hank

Get More Enjoyment Out of Your Time on the Water

Give Captain Richard a call at 843-247-1107 to define a curriculum of training modules that can change you from an insecure boat owner to a confident captain who enjoys every moment on the water.