Take to the water with 3-hour on-water boat training courses in Highlands, N.J.
by Scott Croft 23 Mar 2021 12:54 PDT
Learn boat-handling basics during three-hour on-water training courses in Highlands every Friday during the month of April © Scott Croft
If you have never tried getting behind the wheel of a boat before, now is your time. Bridge Marina is partnering with the nonprofit BoatUS Foundation for Boating Safety and Clean Water to offer an easy way to try out recreational powerboating. Two courses, "Intro to Boating" and "Precision Docking and Boat Handling" will be held every Friday afternoon in April from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. Course details and signup can be found at BoatUS.org/On-Water. Additional dates are also expected to be announced.
Taught aboard single-engine powerboats, the semi-private lessons are priced at $299 and begin at Bridge Marina's Highlands Boating Club and Rentals location at 1 Atlantic Street. Class size is limited to just two students per vessel, ensuring each student gets sufficient time at the helm under the watchful eye of a U.S. Coast Guard-licensed captain certified to teach the National Safe Boating Council curriculum.
The minimum age to participate is 18 years old, and training follows all COVID safety protocols. Early registration is encouraged.
The "Intro to Boating" course covers centering the wheel, shifting gears, predeparture checklist and station holding, or staying in one place while wind or current effect the boat.
"Precision Docking & Boat Handling" courses cover 180-degree turnarounds, docking on port and starboard, departing from a dock, and using S.C.A.N. procedures to avoid distracted boating.