Boating Classes
Were you born on or after July 1, 1972 (Maryland), January 1, 1978 (Delaware), or January 1, 1982 (Pennsylvania)? If so, you MUST successfully complete a boating safety course before operating a motorized boat, including personal watercraft. America’s Boating Club Wilmington offers this course to the public. See the Education tab for details.
Educational Opportunities
In addition to the required Basic Boating Safety Course, ABC Wilmington also offers many other boating education courses including more advanced subjects such as Seamanship, Marine Navigation, Advanced Marine Navigation, Offshore Navigation, and Celestial Navigation.
Other boating education courses include elective courses in Sail, Weather, Engine Maintenance, Marine Electronics, Cruise Planning, and Instructor Qualification. We also offer home study courses such as Compass Adjusting, Navigational Astronomy, and many more.
We can accept non-members into any of our classes although non-members will pay a premium, whereas we strive to charge members only what it costs the squadron per student."
Advanced Courses | Elective Courses |
Please contact our Education Officer at education@abc-wilmington.com if you are interested in any of our courses.
Check out the link for some great news regarding Education Awards received by ABC Wilmington at a recent Fall Conference!
Check out the link for some great news regarding Education Awards received by ABC Wilmington at a recent Fall Conference!
Basic Boating Certification Course
(an introductory course)
Boater Certification is required for operators of mechanically propelled vessels born after January 1, 1978 on Delaware waters and July 1, 1975 on Maryland waters, and highly recommended for ALL boaters.
Our club offers the Delaware Safe Boating and Certification course two times a year, usually in the Spring. The course is NASBLA approved and meets the educational requirements of all state and local authorities. We strive to ensure that students are prepared to have fun on the water through safe practices. Course topics are broad introduction to boating laws and skills—boat hulls and propulsion, rules of the road, aids to navigation, charts, anchoring, emergencies, trailers, water sports and more.
It is taught in three three-hour sessions with an exam at the end of the final session. Upon successfully completing the Boater Certification course and becoming a member of America's Boating Club - Wilmington, you are eligible to attend the many educational opportunities available as Advanced Courses and even some Home Study courses. Advanced Courses include: Boat Handing, Marine Navigation, Advanced Marine Navigation, Offshore Navigation, and Celestial Navigation. Please see our Advanced Courses page for descriptions of each course.
Electives Courses include: Cruising and Cruise Planning, Engine Maintenance, Marine Electrical Systems, Marine Communications, Electronic Navigation Systems, Radar for Boaters, Sail, Weather, and Instructor Development. Please see our Elective Courses page for descriptions and prerequisites of each course.
Our club offers the Delaware Safe Boating and Certification course two times a year, usually in the Spring. The course is NASBLA approved and meets the educational requirements of all state and local authorities. We strive to ensure that students are prepared to have fun on the water through safe practices. Course topics are broad introduction to boating laws and skills—boat hulls and propulsion, rules of the road, aids to navigation, charts, anchoring, emergencies, trailers, water sports and more.
It is taught in three three-hour sessions with an exam at the end of the final session. Upon successfully completing the Boater Certification course and becoming a member of America's Boating Club - Wilmington, you are eligible to attend the many educational opportunities available as Advanced Courses and even some Home Study courses. Advanced Courses include: Boat Handing, Marine Navigation, Advanced Marine Navigation, Offshore Navigation, and Celestial Navigation. Please see our Advanced Courses page for descriptions of each course.
Electives Courses include: Cruising and Cruise Planning, Engine Maintenance, Marine Electrical Systems, Marine Communications, Electronic Navigation Systems, Radar for Boaters, Sail, Weather, and Instructor Development. Please see our Elective Courses page for descriptions and prerequisites of each course.