Boat and Seamanship Training

New to Boating? We can help.

Buy a new boat? Would like to learn more? Private on the water training for the recreational boating community

Don't learn the hard way, learn the safe way.

These private boating lessons are designed to teach the basics of recreational boating using your boat or ours as the classroom. From DOCKING and BOAT HANDLING, to mastering MARINE WEATHER, private boating lessons can not only be a more effective learning process than taking public courses, it can compliment and refresh what you have learned in the classroom and apply it to your vessel! Overall, they can make your boating experiences safer, professional, and gratifying for everyone involved.

  • THE Fishers of Men Team will come to your boating location and design a private boating lesson program that fits your needs and schedule.
  • If your new to boating, these private boating lessons are perfect for getting started and feeling comfortable on your own vessel.
  • If you are an experienced boater, you may want to just take one or two boating courses to brush up on areas you may be deficient in. Marine weather in particular, is a very important area that too many boaters neglect. Big mistake!
  • You may be in a transition from a smaller single screw vessel, to a larger vessel with twin screw. I have 30 years experience on 50' to 120' vessels all having twin to quad screw.
  • Successful docking in close quarters is a pre-requisite in my profession. I can help improve your DOCKING and BOAT HANDLING SKILLS by teaching you the techniques that I have learned over the past 40 years of experience, both recreationally and professionally.

The bottom line is that these private boating courses can make a big difference in your boating life!

If you have already taken various quality boating courses through the U.S. Power Squadrons, or Coast Guard Auxiliary, all the better. My program will take what you have learned in the classroom and apply it to YOUR BOAT and YOUR BOATING ENVIRONMENT.

2008 Pricing includes Multi-lesson discounts and referral rebates. Conditional price match on competitors! Call for details! Gift certificates available!

Why should I take a boating course?
Taking a boating course can literally mean the difference between life and death out on the water. A good course can eliminate many problems that can occur in typical boating day for both the novice, and even the experienced mariner.

Do I need license to operate my boat?
 Currently there are no laws that require a "drivers license" to operate recreational watercraft at least in Massachusetts. Therefore, anyone can operate a watercraft without any education because the law does not require it. There is nothing more dangerous than an uneducated boater out on the water not only for themselves, but for other boaters as well, educated or not! Imagine an ocean full of inexperienced boaters? Unfortunately this is reality! This is another important reason to take some sort of boating education. Anyone can go out and buy a boat if they have the means. They find out they do not need to take a course, or need a license. They are eager to get started, and hence you have the formula for disaster. They buy, they launch, they operate! This is not good for anyone on the water.

Why should I pay for your course when there are some out there for free?
 My suggestion is take all of the free courses you can fit into your schedule. You can never have to much information when it comes to marine education. When your done, my course can compliment and refine any course you have already taken. It can also be the first and last lesson you will ever take. The other differences and benefits of my course is that it is hands on, personalized, informal, and is geared to your schedule. This is on the water training! I come to your boat on the day you want without the 20 or 30 other classmates that sometimes can be a disadvantage in the learning process.

Being on your own boat is a big advantage and can help expedite the learning process dramatically. There is nothing more gratifying for a serious boater, than plotting a course on your chart and then testing it out right away with successful results! Or maneuvering your boat through heavy traffic knowing the rules of the road with full control of your vessel big or small. Last but not least docking with confidence!

Are there any subjects that you teach that are not covered in the traditional classroom courses?
 This being a "Hands On" course makes all the difference in the world.
Yes there are quite a few when it comes to conditions and handling.
Generally, I find the one subject that is not covered with enough emphasis, is marine weather.
The three boating seasons we encounter here in Ohio (i.e.. Spring, Summer, and Fall) all possess unique properties that can make for varying extreme conditions and I don't just mean warm temperatures verses cold. Sea conditions, and visibility, are the two most important factors in safe boating. There are many factors that affect, both. I can teach you, with reasonable certainty, to anticipate and actually predict what the sea conditions and visibility are likely to be, so that you, "the Captain" can make an informed decision! Take the course and find out!

I take pride in this subject and know I can make a difference in your boating day with this lesson.

How much time is required to take your course?
 Either a full fledged course as described below or you decide what subjects you want to emphasize. You decide how much time you would like to spend on a particular day. FLEXIBILITY is the operative word here! Most of the courses offered today, have a set time span, usually 8 to 10 weeks. Missing one class could significantly set you back. I have successfully taught many people in one or two sessions.

How much do you charge for your service?
 SAVE, bring a friend and both will get the price of one.
I work on an hourly basis and prefer to discuss rates one on one. I will say that compared to other services that charge a fee, my rates are very reasonable.

Do I need to purchase any books or other study materials?
 No, I will bring your study guide and the necessary tools and materials I need to teach. A notepad is suggested, and any of the required equipment you have on your vessel will be sufficient.

Fishers of Men Sport Fishing Team is offering, "Safely Moored". We offer superior hands on boat training. Our courses are designed with all experience levels in mind.
Your Boat, Your Dock, Your Waterway or Ours.

A review of state accident records for 2006 shows that 86 percent of all fatal accidents involved boaters older than 21 who were NOT required to have formal boating safety education or training.

However, if that age requirement were expanded, as many as 20 lives could be saved each year, according to the state’s chief boating law administrator. National statistics show that boaters who receive formal water safety education and training are 25 percent less likely to be involved in an on-the-water collision than those who do not.

At FOM Safely Moored, education & training is our mission. An educated and trained boater is more confident and as a result, more competent. We are proud to have formed a company dedicated to being a part of making our waterways safe and enjoyable.

The bottom line is that you can design and create the situation that will best serve YOUR learning and boating requirements, not to mention YOUR SCHEDULE! So be a better Captain and DON'T LEARN THE HARD WAY! LEARN THE SAFE WAY! with Fishers of Men. It could save you and your passengers in more ways than one.

Happy and safe boating! You can be comfortably ready to operate in one day depending upon your basic experience! Available by appointment 7 days a week. SAFETY TIPS ,TRICKS OF THE TRADE, AND MUCH MORE!

Weekend Warrior: 1 session/ 4 hours $299

  • Safety inspection
  • Pre-trip planning
  • Rules of the Road
  • Boat operation
  • Navigating waterways
  • Anchoring
  • Close quarter handling
  • BOAT HANDLING SKILLS AND DOCKING
  • Boating etiquette
  • Basic knots & line handling
  • Marine Weather

  • Course options & pricing:

  • Seaworthy Skipper ”The Confidence Builder”: 2 sessions/ 7 hours $499
  • 4 hour Weekend Warrior +
  • Safe boating practices
  • Navigation>
  • 3 hour additional session within 2 weeks- this allows students more time to improve their skills and expand on topics covered.

  • Master Mariner*: 3 sessions/ 10 hours $699
  • 7 hour Seaworthy Skipper +
  • Advanced knot tying
  • READING AND UNDERSTANDING CHARTS, Chart plotting
  • Emergency situations
  • Preventative maintenance
  • Advanced navigation
  • Advanced Rules of the Road

  • Trailering: 1 session/ 3 hours $299
  • Proper hook-up
  • Launching
  • Retrieveing
  • Docking

  • Refresher Session**: 3 hours $299
  • Fully customizable

We also offer fully customizable training sessions, extended, and vacation training. Imagine taking a trip on YOUR boat with our captain to learn boating while cruising... Perfect! Call us today! 330-626-2693

*Completion certificate may be submitted to individual insurance companies for discounted rates.
*Prerequisite: prior completion of Safely Moored course. ***Fishing training requires fishing equipment & tackle, Safely Moored will supply select equipment at an additional cost.

    Fishing Training Session***: 1 session/ 6 hours $599
  • Fully customizable
  • Trolling
  • Kite Fishing
  • Bottom fishing
  • Swordfishing (night time
  • Bait fishing
  • Equipment