Chesapeake Boating Academy offers hands-on, on-the-water boating instruction designed to build real-world skills and confidence for recreational and professional boaters. Accredited by U.S. Powerboating and the National Safe Boating Council, the academy provides structured courses taught by USCG-licensed captains who are certified instructors in both organizations. Chesapeake Boating Academy+1
Training is available at two Maryland locations--Kent Narrows (Wells Cove Marina) and Greater Annapolis (Oak Grove Marina)—as well as at select events like the Annapolis boat shows. All courses are on-the-water aboard our training boats or private instruction aboard our training boat or your boat.

• Intro to Boating (3 hours – NSBC)
  Covers boating fundamentals including basic handling, safety equipment, terminology, and rules of the road.
  
• Precision Docking (3 hours – NSBC)
  Focuses on close-quarters maneuvering, line handling, and docking in wind and current.
  
• Open Water Boat Handling (3 hours – NSBC)
  Develops confidence in open water boat control, situational awareness, and practical on-water skills, planing, engine trim. 
  
• Advanced Maneuvers (3 hours – NSBC)
  Builds higher-level handling skills including emergency techniques and challenging operating conditions in open water, engine trim, trim tabs, MOB recovery.
  
• Safety & Rescue Boat Handling (8 hours – USPowerboating)
  Emergency response training, rescue techniques, and man-overboard procedures.
  
• Accelerated Safe Powerboat Handling (8 hours – US Powerboating)
  A one-day course  covering boat handling, docking, knots, navigation, safety, and emergency procedures and more. Earn your Safe Powerboat Handling certification. 
  
• 16-Hour Safe Powerboat Handling (16 hours – US Powerboating)
  Comprehensive two-day training covering boat handling, docking, knots, navigation, safety, and emergency procedures and more. Combines classroom and on-water instruction that meets state boating education requirements. Earn your Safe Powerboat Handling Certification and your State-Specific Boating Education Card.
  
• Navigation 1 (Nav 1) (8 or 16 hour formats – US Powerboating)
  Instruction in electronic navigation, charting, GPS use, and route planning, tides, ATONs and more. 
  
• Women Making Waves (3 hours – NSBC)
  Designed for women, taught by women captains. Any of the 3 hour NSBC courses are offered as women-only boating courses. Confidence-building, hands-on instruction in a supportive learning environment- 
  
• Private Instruction (3 hours or more)
  Customized on-the-water training tailored to the student’s experience level and vessel. Offered aboard our training vessel or yours. 
  

Chesapeake Boating Academy