Safe Powerboat Handling

This 16-hour hands-on, on-the-water course is for anyone who wants to learn how to safely operate powerboats up to 26 feet and improve their boat handling skills. No previous experience is required! The US Coast Guard and the National Association of State Boating Law Administrators (NASBLA) have approved this course and an increasing number of states have recognized it as meeting their requirements for a State Boating Education Certificate.

These national and state approvals call for the course to include a total of six to eight hours of classroom sessions covering required education topics.

AGES: 18+

DATES: Third weekend of each month

TIMES: 9:00 AM - 5:00PM, Saturday and Sunday

CLASS SIZE: Maximum 6 students per class

MEMBER PRICE: $625

NON-MEMBER PRICE: $775 - Purchase a CWB Membership here.

Washington State sales tax (10.35%) will be added at checkout.

INSTRUCTORS: US Powerboating Instructors.

LOCATION: South Lake Union.

This class is designed to give you the knowledge that you need to safely operate a powerboat that is under 26 feet. Many of these skills and concepts are transferable to larger craft. The classroom time will provide information on trip planning, navigation rules, boat systems, maneuvering theory and much more. In between classroom sessions you will get to go out on our powerboats with an instructor to get hands on training about boat systems as well as learning how to maneuver and dock them.

For a complete set of the topical knowledge and practical skills this course covers, visit the US Powerboating Safe Powerboat Handling page. The learning elements for the CWB version of this course are listed below:

  • Start Powerboating Right! textbook: Available in advance of scheduled practical on-the-water coaching. Watch for an email when your materials are ready for pickup.

  • 16 Hours of on-the-water and classroom learning: Instruction time will be distributed across two 8-hour days (Saturday/Sunday). The course will be a mix of classroom learning and on the water practice. We will be using our powerboat fleet of Boston Whalers and various rescue boats for this class.  The classroom time will cover the state and federal regulation, safety, maneuvering concepts, aids to navigation, trip planning and more. For the on-the-water portion of the course, you will be paired with another student to learn how to safely handle your boat in close quarters as well as open water maneuvering

  • Course fee includes:

  • US Powerboating Start Powerboating Right! Textbook

  • US Sailing/Powerboating Student Logbook and Certification

Sign Up Online!

Session 3: March 21 - 22, 2026

Session 4: April 18 - 19, 2026

Session 5: May 16 - 17, 2026

Session 6: June 6 - July 4, 2026 - Coming soon!

Session 7: July 4 - August 1, 2026 - Coming soon!

Session 8: August 1 - September 5, 2026 -Coming soon!

Session 9: September 5 - October 3, 2026 - Coming soon!

Session 10: October 3 - November 7, 2026 - Coming soon!

Join the Waitlist - You can add your name to our waitlist. If a spot opens up, we’ll reach out to you.

Cancellation Policy: 

  • Cancellation more than 30 days in advance: refund less a 10% administrative fee. 

  • Cancellation 30-15 days in advance: 50% refund of the course fee. 

  • Cancellation 14 or fewer days in advance of the course: No refund.

Cancellation requests must be submitted via email to: adultsailing@cwb.org.

Please Note: CWB reserves the right to cancel any course due to emergency or lack of enrollment. In such case, we will refund tuition in full. If traveling from out of area, we strongly recommend purchasing travel insurance in the event we must cancel this class.

Next Steps:

Small Boat Navigation: Learn navigation and piloting skills for small boats. This class is ideal for small boat cruisers, kayakers and others who want to roam closer to nature.

Small Boat Cruising Clinic: Small boat cruising is a fantastic way to discover our local waters and provides to opportunity to explore countless lakes and waterways all over North America.