Powerboat School in Ft. Myers, Florida

Power Cruise Course, located in Ft. Myers Florida, offers the opportunity to learn how to handle powerboats safely. Two courses are offered, four-day courses and two-day courses. The boat used during these courses is a new Pilot�® 30-II by Mainship. This is a beautiful express trawler equipped with everything needed for a safe, fun, skillful coastal cruise. This boat can handle everything from fishing to long-range cruises, making it perfect for the training included in these courses.

The four-day course begins with arrival on Sunday and departure on the following Friday, with instruction on Monday through Thursday. Instruction is five hours per day, which leaves time to enjoy the rest of your vacation. Package rates are either during the winter season or during summer season. Winter season is December 24 to May 29 for $2726 for single per person or $1960 for double per person. Summer season, May 30 to December 23 is $1687 for a single per person or $1340 for double per person. This course includes five night accommodations.

The two-day course begins with arrival on Thursday and departure on Sunday, with instruction Friday through Saturday. Instruction is eight hours per day, making it a fast-paced learning experience. Package rates are also divided into winter and summer seasons like the four-day courses. Fees for winter season are $2115 for single per person and $1655 for double per person and summer fees are $1403 for single per person and $1193 for double per person. These rates also include three nights’ accommodations. There is a $100 dollar discount per person if two or more people sign up together for either the four-day course or the two-day course. Course packages include the course tuition of $995, South Seas Harborside room accommodations and room taxes, US POWERBOATING course textbook, US POWERBOATING Powerboat Certification and a graduation destination day cruise.

These courses cover on-board systems, navigation rules, steering, coastal navigation, open water practice, rules of the road, docking, overboard recovery, engine maintenance and troubleshooting and fueling techniques and safety.

On-board systems cover electrical, VHF, bilge, marine sanitation devices, fresh water systems and stove- proper and safe use. Navigation rules cover lookout, safe speed, sound signals and lights, meeting situations, restricted visibility and traffic separation. Steering covers directed thrust, rudder and prop walk. Coastal navigation covers reading charts, aids to navigation, tides and currents, plotting a course and determining ETA (estimated time of arrival), time, speed and distance as well as taking fixes and knowing where you are. Open water practice include starting and stopping, holding position, turning maneuvers, driving backwards and outboard use. Rules of the road cover right of way rules in inland waterways and channels and identifying and using lights. Docking includes crew teamwork, approach in wind and current, tight maneuvering in crowded harbors, proper radio contact for slip space, mooring pickup, knots, dock lines, spring lines. Anchoring is also covered in docking and includes holding ground and anchors, proper scope, current, wind considerations, and tight maneuvering in crowded anchorages. Overboard recovery covers wind and current considerations, how to approach, safety and retrieval procedures, use of life-sling. Electronics and safety are also included in overboard recovery and covers what should be aboard and safe practices.

US POWERBOATING Certified Powerboat Instructors conduct all courses and graduates of the courses are issued US POWERBOATING Powerboat Student Certifications. For more information, call 1-800-221-4326 or visit www.powercruiseschool.com.