Frequently Asked Questions
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We have 2 locations: Kent Narrows & Annapolis. Be sure you check your registration to confirm your location.
Kent Narrows Location
Wells Cove Marina 120
Channel Marker Way, Grasonville, MD. 21658.
Park in the townhome parking lot. You will see parking signs “For Visitors & Guests”. Once parked, walk between the 2 townhomes towards the marina. Once in the marina, go left towards A Dock. Walk down A Dock and you will see the training boat on the right in slip A35. The training boat is navy blue with a black bimini top. You will see a dock box with BoatUS On-Water Training and Chesapeake Boating Academy on it.
Annapolis Location
Oak Grove Marina
2820 Solomons Island Rd. Edgewater, MD. 21037
Additional Parking and Arrival Information Coming Soon
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We suggest packing a water bottle, sunscreen (please no aerosol sunscreens as they turn the gelcoat orange- lotion sunscreens are fine, hat, sun shirt and comfortable shoes. Depending on the weather, you may want a windbreaker or light rain jacket. We will provide life jackets and a wearable ECOS (engine cut off switch) watch.
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Students must be 12 years or older.
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We recommend taking the free online Boating Safety Course that is offered by the BoatUS Foundation. Visit www.BoatUS.org, find your state and take the online course. This course is the only Boating Safety Course that is approved by the Maryland Natural Resources Police.
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There is a small port-potty aboard, however we encourage all students to use the bathroom facilities at the marina before we depart.
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Most insurance companies will provide a discount of up to 10% off of your insurance rates for completion of these courses. Please check with your insurance company for details. Please feel free to ask us for a certificate of completion if you are submitting this course to your insurance company,
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Individual modules cost $199. Each module last 3 hours.
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BoatU.S. Foundation and Chesapeake Boating Academy have the highest commitment to quality courses with small instructor to student ratios. Due to the specialized nature of these courses we book our certified instructors and licensed captains in advance and are unable to issue refunds for cancellations made less than 14 days prior to the scheduled course. Our rescheduling and refund policy is set forth below.
More than 14 days notice: BoatU.S Foundation/Chesapeake Boating Academy will reschedule you for another course or will issue you a coupon code for use in the future. BoatU.S. Foundation/Chesapeake Boating Academy may also issue you a full refund to your credit card if desired.
Less than 14 days notice: BoatU.S. Foundation/Chesapeake Boating Academy will issue you a coupon code for the full value of the purchased course for another course in your area.
Less than 7 days notice or no notice: BoatU.S. Foundation/Chesapeake Boating Academy not be able to offer any refund or credit.
BoatU.S. Foundation/Chesapeake Boating Academy will do everything possible to avoid having to cancel or postpone courses. There may be times when this will be unavoidable; student safety is paramount and is at the forefront of any decision made.
Weather postponements: If a course date needs to be cancelled or postponed due to unsafe weather or due to another event outside of BoatU.S. Foundation’s or Chesapeake Boating Academy’s control, a full refund or transfer to another course at the student’s choosing will be offered.
In the unlikely event that courses are cancelled on the day they are scheduled to take place the final decision will rest with the BoatU.S. /Chesapeake Boating Academy administrator or other BoatU.S. Foundation designated person in charge. In this scenario the student will be issued with their choice of a full refund or a credit for another course.
No refunds or compensation will be offered to students beyond the full cost of the course. Extraneous expenses incurred by the student such as hotel, travel, parking and other costs are not covered under this cancellation policy.
If you are unable to participate in a course for which you have signed up, or wish to change your registration to another date or location, please get in touch with the BoatU.S. Foundation course administrator/Chesapeake Boating Academy via telephone or email as soon as possible.
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Yes, we do offer individualized on-water training courses aboard people’s personal vessels. Please call us for details and pricing.
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If you are prone to motion sickness, we do recommend taking medicine for this before coming aboard. Staying well hydrated, avoiding excess caffeine and big meals before the trip can also help lessen sea sickness. Although we do a lot of our courses in protected waters, there are times where there may be more wind and waves. We try our best to keep everyone aboard comfortable.
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If the National Weather Service has issued a Small Craft Advisory (generally 20+ knots) we reserve the right to reschedule the course to another date. If there is lightening, we also will not go out. The safety of our students is our highest priority. We will do our best to cancel and reschedule as far in advance as possible.
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Yes. You can purchase The Essentials of Close-Quarters Boat Control Student Training Manual and/or The Open Water Boat Control Student Training Manual on the NSBC Website. Each manual is $11.
