Learn to safely handle a powerboat and gain confidence in your boat handling skills. Courses focus on teaching about powerboats and outboard motors and the required equipment for safe operation. Properly preparing your boat for a fun day on the water, making smart decisions for launching your boat, and towing your boat over land to the waterway are all skills you will learn by taking our courses.
- Safe Powerboat Handling Certification
- Youth Powerboat Training (class description under Youth Programs)
Safe Powerboat Handling Certification
A two-part blended learning course combining classroom instruction with practical, hands-on experience for the new boater as well as boaters with prior experience who wants to improve both knowledge and skill.
Successful completion of Part 1 (live online) followed by Part 2 (in-person) and a passing grade on the written exams, is required to qualify for the US Powerboating Safe Powerboat Handling Certification and the California Boater Card. Part 2 may also be taken by students who already have a California Boater Card.
No previous experience is required! The US Coast Guard and the National Association of State Boating Law Administrators (NASBLA) have approved this course and the course is recognized in California as meeting the requirements for a California Boater Card.
By the end of the course, you will know about powerboats and outboard motors, required equipment, boat preparation, launching, and trailering. You will be able to perform basic boat handling skills including docking, turning, securing a boat, anchoring, minimum control speed, and person in the water rescue. We will also cover basic terminology and boat systems, knots, weather and tides, right of way rules, navigation, safety and emergency procedures, environmental regulations and CA boating laws.
Safe Powerboat Handling PART 1 – LIVE ONLINE
A great class for boaters of all skill levels this in-depth class covers essential boating and seamanship information from types of boats, boating laws, safety equipment, safe boating, navigation, safety and emergency procedures and more. Follow up with Safe Powerboat Handling Part 2, Introduction to Twin-Screw Powerboats, or any other on-the-water class.
- Prerequisite
- Ability to swim 50 yards
- Students must be 14 years of age or older
- Text & Materials included in course fee
- US Powerboating Start Powerboating Right
- Test study questions
Safe Powerboat Handling PART 2
A hands-on, on-the-water class using OCC’s 13’-15’ Whalers. You will learn how to perform safety checks, proper set-up, docking, use of spring lines, maneuvering at low and high speed, boat control in confined waters, navigation, towing, anchoring, person-in-water rescue, knots and lots more.
- Prerequisite
- Successful completion of Part 1 or possession of a California Boater Card
- Ability to swim 50 yards
- Students must be 14 years of age or older
- Text & Materials
- US Powerboating Start Powerboating Right