Boat Lessons and Docking Training

Private and Group Boat Lessons

Precision Docking lessons, Close Quarters, Open Water and Anchoring

Private boating lessons and boating classes on your boat or ours,
anywhere in South Florida. Call or text 718-956-5000.

Learn docking, close-quarters control and confident open-water handling with real time at the wheel
not a classroom lecture. Come solo, or bring family and friends.

On-Water Boat Training Courses

Our powerboat training courses offer a fun, affordable way to enhance your boating skills. You’ll master essential boat handling techniques, safety practices, and navigation rules. Our powerboat lessons follow NSBC standards and the NASBLA On-Water Standard Course. That same curriculum path helps many boaters meet state and insurance skill requirements. When your insurer asks for a captain sign-off after training on your boat, we can provide it.

Boat Delivery & Relocation

We arrange vessel delivery and relocation for boats and yachts of any size. Captain Rick runs deliveries himself and refers trusted captains he knows personally when a job calls for it, so your boat is in good hands for maintenance transfers, marina moves or hurricane relocations. Call 718-956-5000 to discuss your trip.

Get your Captain’s License Online

Become a Licensed Captain with Mariners Learning System’s simple, effective eLearning program. No in-person Coast Guard testing required! Choose your course, take the exam online at your convenience, and earn your license on your own schedule.

Docking Lessons & Boating Lessons

We are Certified Instructors

Boat Lessons captains are USCG-licensed and National Safe Boating Council (NSBC) instructors. Capt. Rick Mendez, a USCG 100-Ton Master and NSBC instructor trainer, leads the program and trains our captains to the same on-water standard. Your lesson may be with Capt. Rick or another of our NSBC captains, matched to your boat, schedule, and location in South Florida or New York / Long Island. When a schedule or area needs it, we also refer other NSBC captains. Together the team has 15+ years of certified instructional experience, more than 3,000 students taught, and over 20,000 nautical miles underway. Read student reviews on Google, or call (718) 956-5000 to book.

Our Services

Years of Experience

At Boatlessons.com we bring decades of on-the-water experience in docking and boat handling, taught hands-on aboard your own boat. Our expertise ensures high-quality instruction and guidance for all boaters.

Nationally Accredited

We follow National Safe Boating Council (NSBC) curriculum and the NASBLA On-Water Standard Course recognized with the U.S. Coast Guard. Hands-on docking and open-water training stays aligned with that standard.

Hands-On Training

We specialize in hands-on training for boats and yachts, focusing on docking and open-water skills. Boat lessons for beginners start with the basics—boat handling, docking, and safety—at your own pace, so first-time boaters build confidence at the helm. Advanced, custom classes are also available for experienced boaters seeking to improve their skills.

Have more confidence on the water!

If you don’t own a boat yet, contact Capt. Rick — we can discuss a suitable training setup. Home bases South Florida and New York / Long Island. Travel available. Call or text (718) 956-5000. Looking for boat lessons near me, or ready to learn to drive a boat near me in South Florida? Private lessons are on the water—on your boat or ours—from Miami to Stuart (New York / Long Island home base also available; travel by arrangement). Call or text 718-956-5000 · Email rick@boatlessons.com.

Looking for docking lessons near you? Private instruction is available on your boat in South Florida:

If you keep your boat in Delray Beach, Pompano Beach, Boynton Beach, or Jupiter, Captain Rick can build private docking and boat-handling practice around the waterways you actually use. Lessons stay on your boat or at your marina, with drills shaped by local bridges, canals, ICW traffic, wind, current, and inlet conditions. We also train boaters around Boca Raton, Miami, Fort Lauderdale, and Palm Beach. If you are deciding how to begin, see the private boat courses, family and friends docking lessons, or FAQ, then contact us with your boat type, size, and home marina.