Private 3 day Powerboating Program
Introduction to Yacht Ownership
Do you dream of owning and operating your own larger motor yacht? Do you dream of chartering a 50 foot motor yacht without crew? Since 1989, it's been a reality for us and many of our students and it can be a reality for you too when you learn powerboating from our experienced and certified powerboating instructors. Our program is designed for those that are seeking the skills required to own and operate their own 30-70 foot yacht. Or perhaps charter a 30-70 foot yacht in the Med or British Columbia. Through our private powerboating program, you can become certified in yacht operation and expand your own yachting experience.
Over the course of 30 years, we have owned over a dozen yachts at our Sailing and Powerboating Academy. This experience in owning, maintaining, insuring, upgrading and repairing yachts has brought us to our dream yacht.
Prairie Girl, our 1999 Offshore 48 raised pilot house motor yacht is a culmination of this experience. Considered by my First Mate and I to be our dream boat, PG is just under 50,000 pounds, 48 feet long and powered by two Cummins 450 hp 6CTA’s. We have a Northern Lights generator to power our two fridges, freezers, ice maker, laundry and supply power for all other needs. We can make up to 850 gallons of fresh water a day with our “Squirt” water maker. We can launch and recover our 11 foot hard bottom tender off our own crane. We have modern and traditional navigation equipment, RADAR, auto pilot and communications systems. We have a terrific anchoring arrangement, nice, wide side decks for safety, and three steering stations to facilitate docking.
In three days, you can earn a certification in Twin Inboard operation, learn about all of the systems above, and learn how to operate your yacht as a team of two. We can show you yachting can be a team sport, shared by a couple so that, while its nice to have a crew, it’s not needed.
Our three day course is offered on beautiful Shelter Island in San Diego Bay. It’s 9:30-3:30 three days in a row. You’ll learn what it takes to pre cruise, cruise and post cruise. Boat handling, navigation, emergency management, communications, anchoring, provisioning/galley, all ships systems including launching and recovery of the yachts tender are covered.
This private experience is $7500, for two. It includes exclusive, private, hands on instruction, fuel, insurance, fees, certification, and lunch provided each day. Click around and see some of our pictures and decide if yacht ownership is for you.
I have been a licensed Captain since September 1990. I have been a certified instructor since 1990. I have certified thousands of students in both sailing and powerboating. I’ve owned San Diego Sailing Academy and San Diego Powerboating Academy since 1989.
After your course, we can assist as your unbiased consultant. We can help you hire a broker, marine surveyor, engine surveyor, and marine engineer. We can help negotiate your deal. We can help with insurance, slips, upgrades and repairs. In fact, many of our clients have gone on to purchase their own yachts, some much larger than ours, and they keep them here, in our marina, as our neighbors.
Contact us today or power@sdpba.com to chat, reserve or speak with the instructors directly.