Ellsworth Adult and Community Education

Ellsworth Adult & Community Education Center hosts this class.  It is offered by the Penobscot Bay Sail & Power Squadron-America's Boating Club®, For Boaters, By Boaters® We’ve been making boating safer and more enjoyable for over 100 years.

This basic boating class reduces your risk of accidents and injuries, saves you money on boat insurance, and qualifies you for a state boat license or operator certificate in most states (including Maine).  It is the most comprehensive, single source, in-person boating course available to give you the skills you need to enjoy your time on the water and boat with confidence.  Please go to our website, call or email for more information. The course covers:

• safety equipment;
• trip planning;
• navigation rules and aids;
• state and federal regulations;
• anchoring, dealing with adverse conditions and emergencies;
• communications;
• trailering; and
• knots and lines.

The course also introduces navigation and the use of charts-important information on determining where you are and how to go where you wish to go safely. The information is useful for users of all sorts of watercraft (power, sail, paddle) and for both ocean and freshwater boating.

The Penobscot Bay Power Sqadton will provide a course manual in one of two formats -print ($40) or ebook ($30). You will want to read through the manual before the start of the course.  Often people take this course with a family member or friend, and the manuals are easily shared so it's not included in the cost of the course. When you register for this course you will be asked to complete a survey regarding the manual. It will give you details about securting it. This is an in-person class.   

Scott has been making adventurous use of the sea since his teens. He’s owned several “cruising and racer/cruiser” sailboats over the last twenty years, and is an active member of the East Coast offshore singlehanded racing circuit. He races single and shorthanded to and from Bermuda almost every year, and has sailed across the Atlantic, singlehanded, 2-½ times (he can tell the story of the half-time in class). He currently races (and cruises) in Resolute, a 46’ sloop. Scott is a strong proponent of practical seamanship for all, and holds the Royal Yachting Association’s RYA Yachtmaster Offshore Certification, several US Sailing Certifications, and teaches virtually the full range of America’s Boating Club courses.