Boat Handling Instructions and Trip Planning

Boat Handling Instructions

Are you a new boat owner? Or perhaps you’ve owned a boat before but just upgraded to a larger boat and are unsure how to maneuver it? Or maybe your teen just got their license and would like to “borrow” your boat and you’d like them to know what they are doing before that happens! We offer boating instructions on how to safely and comfortably handle your boat on your boat with a qualified boat captain! The best way to receive boating lessons is one on one with you on your boat.

Captain Dan Cantrell is a U.S.C.G. Licensed 100 ton Master with over 35 years of experience. Captain Dan is patient and understands that there is a big difference between knowing how to run a boat and teaching someone else to do so. Whether it’s docking, maneuvering, or running your boat or basic safety and seamanship, Captain Dan has done it all from the Bahamas to Brownsville, Texas to the tropical water of the Florida Gulf coast and Cayman Islands on boats from 15 feet to 80 feet.

This personal instruction is customizable to include any of the following topics:

• Emergency Procedures
• Rules of the Road
• Knots and Line Handling
• Basic Pre-Cruise Inspection
• Start-up Procedures
• Leaving the Dock
• Wind, Waves & Currents
• Anchoring
• Docking
• Shutdown Procedures

Suggested instruction time: Approximately two hours, depending on skill level, 2 sessions. All instructions are held on your boat.

Call or e-mail us today to discuss our programs and how affordable safety can be!

Planning a trip

If you’re getting ready to make a trip and need some help plotting your courses and knowing where to tie up for the evening, we’ll be happy to assist you. We’ll take fuel burn, speed, and distance that you give us into consideration. From 7 knots to 40, from 1 gallon per hour to 100 or more, we’ll give you the radio frequencies to communicate on, tell you where to check in with vessel traffic, and give you fuel dock telephone numbers.

The Boat Yard is standing by ready to meet the task! Our rates are reasonable, and yes, we are insured!

For additional resources including tide charts and real-time weather updates, visit 2CoolFishing!