Meet Captain Rick
Captain Rick Mendez is a USCG-licensed Master (100-ton, Near Coastal, STCW) and the owner of BoatLessons.com. He teaches private on-water lessons on the student’s boat: docking, close-quarters work, and yacht handling.
He is an instructor trainer for the National Safe Boating Council. His on-water courses follow the American National Standards power standard (NASBLA / USCG EDU-1). He has taught well over 2,000 students.
He also delivers and transports boats and works as private captain for select yachts. Lessons run in the markets he actually serves (New York / Long Island and South Florida), not a national directory.
Call 718-956-5000 · rick@boatlessons.com
What students say
Docking lessons- Capt Rick is professional, knowledgeable, experienced and emphasis-on being extremely safety conscious. Highly recommended!
Professional, thorough and extremely patient. Rick came out to help us with a new boat. Everyone walked away with a wealth of knowledge and the confidence of having had his one on one training. This is money well Spent
I had an amazing experience learning with Rick Mendez. From start to finish, they were professional, patient, and extremely knowledgeable. They explained everything clearly, whether it was safety procedures, navigation, or hands-on boat handling. What I appreciated most was how calm and encouraging they were, which made me feel confident on the water right away. The lessons were well-structured, fun, and tailored to my level of experience. By the end, I felt not only more skilled but also safer and more responsible as a boater. I would absolutely recommend Rick to anyone looking to learn boating, improve their skills, or just gain more confidence out on the water. Five stars all the way—thank you for an incredible learning experience!
Capt. Rick is the best instructor and Captain I’ve ever had the pleasure of working with. Extremely knowledgeable and reliable. He has given me some great tips that have simplified my ability to dock a boat in the most challenging winds, currents and even just navigating through dangerous channels and jetties.
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