Affordable 3-Hour Courses Begin Apr 6 in Northern VA

Have you always wanted to try boating, but never had anyone to show you the ropes? A new partnership between Potomac Boat Rentals and the national nonprofit BoatUS Foundation for Boating Safety and Clean Water makes it easy and affordable with a series of three-hour courses for beginner and experienced boat operators alike starting Wednesday, April 6.

Weekday afternoon and weekend morning courses are three hours long and priced at $175. All are offered aboard Potomac Boat Rentals’ fleet of 25-foot single engine pontoon boats at Hampton’s Landing Marina, located on Neabsco Creek just off the Potomac River. Courses include Introduction to Powerboating, Precision Docking & Boat Handling, Open-Water Boat Handling, and Open-Water Advanced Maneuvering. Signup can be found at BoatUS.org/Woodbridge. Courses run through May 25.

Class size is limited to four 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 modular curriculum. The minimum age to participate is 18 years old. Early registration is encouraged, and there is a three-person minimum for courses.

“There is no simpler or more affordable way to get behind the helm of a power-driven vessel than our three-hour courses,” said Alan Dennison, program supervisor for BoatUS Foundation. “We can also help those looking to improve some rusty skills with help from a pro in a more advanced course. Building confidence and having fun are what it’s all about.”

All of the Foundation’s on-water courses can be found at BoatUS.org/On-Water.

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