Safe Powerboat Handling Instructor

COURSE DESCRIPTION

An intensive 3-day course for advanced powerboat operators who will operate boats 26 feet and under, instructor candidates will learn the fundamentals of on-the-water instruction. Candidates must successfully demonstrate superior presentation, teaching, and powerboat operation skills in order to complete this course.

On-the-Water Skills and Classroom Topics

  • Fundamentals of teaching; teaching theory
  • Classroom, dockside, and on-the-water teaching techniques
  • Powerboat handling skill assessment and error correction
  • NASBLA Standards
  • Risk management and legal requirements
  • Lesson planning
  • Powerboats and propulsion types
  • Systems: engine, fuel, electrical, and troubleshooting
  • Powerboat handling principles
  • Boat control: speed, docking, precision maneuvering
  • Collision prevention; COLREGS review
  • Handling emergencies
  • Overboard rescues
  • Safety and rescue procedures
  • Search and rescue boat operations
  • Concepts of bearings and ranges, position and course plotting
  • Using GPS and hand-bearing compass
  • How to conduct Safe Powerboat Handling Courses

 

 

COURSE FORMAT & LENGTH

This is a 3-day, 30-hour course. Attendance at all course sessions is mandatory. Absence from any portion of the course excludes the instructor candidate from certification.

COURSE PREREQUISITES

  1. Successful completion of the (student level) US Powerboating Safe Powerboat Handling course
    • ***If the Accelerated Safe Powerboat Handling course is taken, candidates must also have a current NASBLA Safe Boating Certification and a current USCG full, limited Master’s, or OUPV license.
  2. Meet the minimum age.
    All candidates must have reached their 18th birthday within the calendar year that the course is being held in.
  3. Current US Sailing Individual, College or Family Membership
    Youth membership is not applicable, and only one instructor is allowed per family membership.
  4. Ability to swim 50 yards both with and without life jacket.
  5. Ability to exhibit appropriate personal and interpersonal skills.
  6. Teaching and Coaching Fundamentals Online (TCFO). This approximately 90-minute online course is $10.00 (Registration is independent of the instructor course registrations). A guide on completing the course can be found here, and a few Frequently Asked Questions are answered here. Candidates who have not completed TCFO will not be allowed to participate in the course.

CERTIFICATION REQUIREMENTS

  1. First Aid and CPR Certification from the American Red Cross, American Heart Association, or a U.S. Coast Guard-approved provider. Candidates must not complete the CPR/First Aid Training before the Safe Powerboat Handling Instructor course. However, a certification will NOT be valid unless accompanied by current First Aid and CPR.
  2. Valid SafeSport Certificate. Anyone 18 years of age or older is required to hold a valid SafeSport certificate for their US Sailing instructor certification to be valid. This free online training course must be completed every year. A few notes on completing Safesport:
    • Enter your US Sailing member number during registration. If you need to find it click here.
    • Complete all the modules. You DO NOT have to complete it all at once.
    • The course allows you to log in and out without losing your progress.

    TAKE THE SAFESPORT TRAINING

WHAT YOU CAN TEACH WITH THIS CERTIFICATION

Safe Powerboat Handling is a student-level course. To issue state-specific certificates, registering with the specific state may also be required.

COURSE MATERIALS

Course materials provided as part of registration include Start Poweboating Right! and the Safe Powerboat Instructor Manual. All course materials are delivered digitally but are available for purchase in a print format during the registration process.

COURSE FEES

$425.00 per candidate. Registration is on a first pay basis. US Sailing/US Powerboating will not reserve spots without full payment. Please remember that a
US Sailing membership is required for all instructor courses.

CANCELLATION & TRANSFER POLICIES

Course fees are non-refundable but can be transferred to another course up to one week before the course start date. Course Transfers are not available within the week of the course start. Fees are not transferable to another candidate. The fee for all transfers is $25.00.

To transfer into a different session:

  1. Log in to your US Sailing account here: My Account
  2. Select the My Certs and Courses tab from the options on the left, then click the transfer link.
  3. Submit Payment details
  4. Confirm transfer

US Sailing reserves the right to cancel, postpone, abandon or change the venue, date and time of the course should unforeseen circumstances occur or course minimums are not reached. In the event the course is unable to proceed, a course credit will be made available which is good for one (1) year or you may choose a refund.

BELOW IS A MAP OF INSTRUCTOR COURSES AVAILABLE AT THIS TIME

This map shows where the available courses are located. Click the box on the right to enlarge the map and see the courses by name.
Some courses might not show up on the map. When you find the course you wish to attend, register via the course calendar below.

 

Want to know when an instructor course becomes available in your area? Add your name to our Contact List!

 

REGISTER

To enroll in an Instructor Course, please select "Enroll Now" under the desired offering. Interested in hosting an Instructor Course? Please fill out the online "Host a Course Form."

Questions? Contact us at 401.342.7900 or powerboat@ussailing.org