On-Water Boat Handling Courses Coming to Florida and Texas

The nonprofit BoatUS Foundation for Boating Safety and Clean Water together with Freedom Boat Club is offering on the water training courses aboard single-engine powerboats at two locations. In coordination with Freedom Boat Club of West Palm Beach/Lake Park, the courses will be held February 23 and 24 in Lake Park, Florida. In partnership with Freedom Boat Club Lewisville, the classes will be held March 2 and 3 in Lewisville, Texas.

Both the “Intro to Boating” and “Women Making Waves” courses start each day at 9:00 a.m. and run for three hours. Class size is limited to three students per vessel, ensuring each student gets time at the helm under the guidance of a U.S. Coast Guard-certified instructor.

The “Intro to Boating” course covers shifting and steering, basic docking, open-water handling and basic navigation. The ladies-only course, “Women Making Waves,” offers the same curriculum but the class is only available to women.

The goal of the BoatUS Foundation and Freedom Boat Club courses is to address the high costs typically associated with at-the-helm training, making hands-on boating education more accessible at a cost of just $149. The courses also offer area residents the chance to try out recreational boating and give boaters the opportunity to brush up on their boat-handling skills.

Space is limited. Participants must be 21 years or older. To sign up for a course or see other course offered, go to www.BoatUS.org/On-Water.