Boat handling skills are learned progressively. It doesn’t matter whether you are a novice or a boater with years of familiarity. To handle a boat like a pro, you need to be properly trained, which comes at a cost most of the time. 

This doesn’t have to be costly. There are simple steps you can follow that will teach you more than a professional trainer can. Here are some ways you can learn and improve your boat handling skills.

Get a boating license

You cannot escape this because it is mandatory for all motorized boat operators to obtain a pleasure craft operator card in Canada. This requires you to take a boating safety course in an approved Official Transport Canada institution. 

BoatSmartExam.com is a great platform to take a boating license course because it offers competitive discounts, interactive video courses, unlimited reentries, and card replacement in case of loss. You need the boaters’ card as proof of competency; otherwise, you will face a penalty if found operating one without it. Learn how to obtain a boater’s card in Canada and other useful information on https://www.boatsmartexam.com/ca/.

How to safely dock your boat

This is one of the most difficult skills to master, even with the help of a professional trainer. This is because not all docking ploys are similar, while the docking space may also be small. It can be easy docking one day and an extreme sport the next day depending on the number of boats also trying to end their boating trips.

To get your docking skills on point when you end your boating ride, visit the marina during off-peak hours of the day when other boats are docked so that you have control of the space. Gradually, you get to improve your confidence and skill without the help of a trainer.

Practice makes perfect

Just like any other sport, your skill in boating can grow if you continuously practice it. Beating navigation and dock huddles are only achieved through practice. Get your navigation skills on point by learning to establish navigation methods, whether electronic or conventional. You can learn both but you can only be perfect at one. 

Also, knowing your waypoint at your fingertips will give you a competitive edge as you grow your boating skills. Map out your way because there are no road signs and straight paths in the sea like on the road. Get nautical charts and other sources of information on the internet like weather and sea terrain before you set sail.

Don’t drink and dock

Yes, don’t drink and drive may sink in better if you want your boating skills to improve. A sober mind gets it better and faster, although some great boat moments have been had on a bottle of wine. But on a serious note navigating a boat while on an open free dock even when the weather is perfect can have dire consequences when under the influence. 

You can enjoy the whisky or a legal blunt (if your state permits) after a successful boat practice to reward yourself. You can also designate someone sober to cruise the boat as you have your good time.

You can do anything but not everything 

Although a professional trainer comes in handy, there are other options you may seek help now and then. As you improve your boating skills, you can only do as much as you can, but not all. Before going to ride the boat, clear all queries that you are not familiar with, even if it means asking for help on specific issues.