Powerboat Instructor Course
Prerequisites and course information

Goals
Prerequisites
Successful completion of the course
Course materials
Validation of instructors
Course fees
Cancellation policy
Register

Goals
· Teach safe powerboating at your facility or at facilities across the country.
· Gain US Sailing Certification as a Powerboat Instructor.
· Prepare your prospective sailing instructors for the rigid powerboat requirements of US Sailing Instructor Courses.
· Teach your race support and powerboat operator’s precision boathandling and sailboat rescue and towing techniques.

Topics covered in the course include: classroom and on-the-water teaching techniques, risk management, safety issues, lesson planning, creative activities, ethical concerns, and sports physiology and psychology.

Prerequisites
· Safe Powerboat Handling Certification is highly recommended.
· A US Sailing-recognized Powerboat Instructor must be at least 18 years old or turn 18 within the calendar year of the course you are taking.
· Current First Aid and CPR certification. US Sailing accepts courses from the US Coast Guard’s approved list.
· Ability to swim 50 yards both with and without life jacket.
· Ability to exhibit appropriate personal and interpersonal skills.
· Current US Sailing Adult Individual Membership.
· Completed Application Form accompanied by appropriate course fees (and any late charges).
· Completed US Sailing Medical Form provided to Instructor Trainer BEFORE the course begins.
· US Sailing strongly recommends at least a US Coast Guard OUPV License for this certification.

  • SafeSport. This program, developed by the US Olympic Committee, is required training for all Instructors. This requirement is also being put in place for other National Governing Bodies. This free online training course must be completed every 2 years. Instructor certification is not active unless SafeSport training has been completed.
    • A few notes on completing Safesport…
      • Enter your US Sailing member number. If you need to find it click here.
      • Complete all the modules.
      • You DO NOT have to complete it all at once. The course allows you to log in and out without losing your progress.

TAKE THE SAFESPORT TRAINING

This is a rigorous course. It is highly recommended that you take a Safe Powerboat Handling course prior to taking this course.

Successful Completion of the Course
Practical and written tests each stand on their own, and each must be passed in order to pass the course. The determination as to whether a candidate passes or fails rests with the Instructor Trainer. In addition to Pass or Fail, there is a Plan of Improvement or a chance to re-test in the area of weakness. Re-testing for Plans of Improvement carries a $75 re-testing fee; re-tests are scheduled with specific representatives of US Sailing and must be performed within a specific time frame.

1. Powerboat Operation Skills Practical Test: Execute, with comfort and confidence: system, equipment and starting checks, leaving and docking, high and low speed maneuvering, holding position upwind/upcurrent, backing, pivot turn (180 degree turn within boat’s length), anchoring and/or making fast to a mooring, overboard rescue and landing alongside a moored boat.
2. Marlinspike/Seamanship Practical Test: Demonstrate ability to tie the following knots and hitches: Figure-8, bowline, sheet bend, clove hitch, two half hitches, rolling hitch, and cleat hitch. Also coil and throw a line.
3. Personal and Interpersonal Practical Skills: Demonstrate professional conduct, an open-minded, positive and enthusiastic attitude, appropriate appearance (clothing, footwear and tidiness), participation in discussions, collaboration skills/team player, confidence and ease of manner.
4. Classroom Presentation Practical Skills: Demonstrate lesson preparation, with clear, logical and accurate content, good voice enunciation/clarity/volume/pace/pitch, good non-verbal communication (gestures and body language), effective visual aids, good timed presentation(s) with introduction, conclusion, demonstration, clarity and use of notes, use of multiple pathways techniques, and ease in handling questions.
5. Land Drill and Water Drill Teaching Practical Skills: Demonstrate good class positioning, control and positioning of powerboat, demonstration skills, effective on-the-water communication, evaluation, and feedback technique.
6. Written Exams: A proctored, combined exam on the Powerboat Instructor Manual, Start Powerboating Right manual, the Safety Rescue and Support manual as well as an exam on the Teaching and Coaching Fundamentals for Sailing text. A passing grade of 80% is required on all exams.
7. Attendance at all portions of the 3-day course.
8. The Instructor Trainer’s overall evaluation
ATTENDANCE AT ALL COURSE SESSIONS IS MANDATORY. ABSENCE FROM ANY PORTION OF THE COURSE EXCLUDES THE INSTRUCTOR CANDIDATE FROM EVALUATION.

Course Materials
There are approximately 600 pages to read – so plan on studying prior to and each night of the course.
1. Powerboat Instructor Manual
2. Teaching Fundamentals(TF)
3. Start Powerboating Right Textbook
4. Powerboat Standards Booklet
5. Safety, Rescue & Support Boat Handling Textbook
6. Review questions for the Instructor Manual/Start Powerboating Right and TF Tests.
7. Medical Form plus additional forms to be completed and/or reviewed before the course.

Validation of Powerboat Instructors
Validation will be for three years providing First Aid, CPR, and US Sailing Adult membership are kept current. Visit the website or contact the office for more information. F. Minimum Age Limit for Powerboat Qualification

Course fees
Training Fee for Powerboat Instructor Course: $325
Early Registration Discount within 4 weeks: $25
Late fee for application received 1 week prior to a course $50
US Sailing Adult Individual Membership ($65 1 yr, $120 2 yr, $160 3 yr)

Cancellation policy
Course fees are nonrefundable.
For cancellations more than 4 weeks before the course date, the fee is transferable to another course.
For cancellations within the 4 week period, ½ of the course fee will be transferable to another course.
For no-shows, 100% of the course fee is forfeited.

Register
Registration is only accepted via our online registration system. Should you need assistance, please contact education@ussailing.org. Register securely online below.