Private Boating Instruction LLC

Get private on-the-water boating instruction ON YOUR POWER BOAT. 

Capt. Linda Lewis customizes the training to focus on your needs and those of your boating partner, working on your own Power Boat in the Seattle, WA area. 

Your goals might include building skills in:

• Docking

• TODAY's Electronic Navigation

• Anchoring

• Radar

• Tides and Currents

• Autopilot

• Power Boat Crew Overboard Rescue

• VHF Radio

• How to Transit the Ballard Locks

• Boating Apps and Websites

• Training Program that meets Insurance Company requirements for coverage

With her professional educator background and years of hands-on experience cruising the Inside Passage, Capt. Linda Lewis can help you:

• Build your skills a step at a time, starting with close-quarters handling and docking

• Brush up on the newer things in boating, like today's electronic navigation, including chart plotters, tablets, smartphones, laptop and mobile-device apps

• Make the switch to handling a boat with different engine controls (such as Twin engines)

• Work out set procedures for docking, anchoring, radar watch - that are right for your boat

• “If you don't have more than one person who can handle the boat, you don't have a safe boat” - think safety

• Both captain and crew need to build their knowledge and skills as a safety priority and as an investment in satisfying boating experiences

• They call it pleasure boating, not misery boating; learn how to make your time on the water a great experience by building your skills and your confidence

• CALL or EMAIL to discuss your current skill level, to identify the things that you want to learn, and to get started on smarter, more capable boat handling

SPEAKING Topics

Available as a speaker via the Zoom platform for yacht clubs/boating organizations. To see my speaking schedule from the past, visit my Speaking Page. Topics can include: 

• “Twin-Engine Boat Handling”

• “First-Mate/Co-Captain Training”

• "Using the “Navionics” App as a Tool for Learning Navigation and for On-board Redundancy"

• "What Happens If ……… and It Is Up To Me?”

• "Smart Tools for Boaters - Apps and Websites"

• "Currents: How to Master Them at the Dock, Underway, and at Tidal Narrows"

• "Couples Sharing the Boat Handling: Tips for Making it Work"

• "Overboard Recovery on Power Boats - Using the Lifesling"

• "VHF Marine Radio and AIS Basics"

• "Today's Radar: How to Use it for Navigation & Collision Avoidance"

• "How to Plot Paper Chart Dead Reckoning and Lines of Position" - for the traditionalists

Captain Linda Lewis

As an Emeritus Associate Professor from the University of Washington, I bring my professional educator background and 48 years of hands-on boating experience to my skills-focused teaching. I have taught hundreds of individuals and couples on their power boats over the last 15 years. Helping people to learn on boats is a great joy for me. 

I have also been a regular speaker on navigation & boat handling topics yearly at the Seattle Boat Show, Trawlerfest, yacht clubs, and other groups throughout the Pacific Northwest. Having cruised the Pacific Northwest's 'Inside Passage' for 27 years - on both sail and power boats  - (including nine cruises to Southeast Alaska on our 45’ trawler) has given me real hands-on experience.

•   U.S. Coast Guard 100-Ton Master's license 

•   48 years boating experience 

•   Member U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary; Coxswain; Instructor

•  Speaker: Yacht Clubs; Seattle Boat Show; Trawlerfest

•  Faculty: Cruisers College, Anacortes WA (cruiserscollege.org)

•  Teach yearly coastal navigation course to the public for U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary 

•  Member Northwest Women in Boating

•  Cruising the Inside Passage since 1991

•  Editor & contributor to Douglass Exploring SE Alaska cruising guide, 2007 (Find book information here) 

Private Boating Instruction LLC

Call or email if you would like to schedule power boat instruction or a speaking engagement. Thank you! 

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