Learn to leave the dock, control the boat in tight water, and come back calmly — on your boat, at your marina.
Many women want real wheel time and docking practice, not a lecture. Boat Lessons with Capt. Rick Mendez is hands-on, docking-first training: the same on-water curriculum we teach every student, focused on the skills that build confidence in close quarters and open water.
Call or text (718) 956-5000 · Rick@boatlessons.com
Who this is for
- Women who want to feel steady at the helm — especially around docks and marinas
- New owners and co-owners ready for practical docking and boat-handling reps
- Partners, spouses, and family or friends learning together (up to 4 people on your boat)
- Anyone who’s comfortable as a passenger but wants the skills to run the boat safely when it counts
Instruction is professional and respectful. Same standards. Same drills. Your pace on the water.
What you’ll learn
One-day on-water class with two sessions, about 3 hours each. Docking-first is the usual path. Private (you / your household) or family and friends up to 4 same curriculum; only who is on the boat differs.
Session 1 — Docking & Close Quarters
- Pre-departure and leave the dock
- Boat-control basics
- Close-quarters drills: airplane landing, stops, backing, turn-in-place, holding station
- Dock and marina arrival — Private docking
Session 2 — Open Water & Anchoring
- Planing and trim
- Stops from plane
- Straight runs and sweeping turns
- Crossing wakes
- Anchoring
- Man-overboard drill as time allows
You’ll practice the moments that usually feel the most stressful—approaches in wind and current, slow-speed control, and holding position—until they feel repeatable.
How it works
- Training on your boat (or we can help arrange a suitable boat if you don’t have one — ask when you call)
- Private instruction, or family and friends up to 4
- Home bases: South Florida and New York / Long Island
- Travel available by arrangement
- Capt. Rick Mendez — USCG Master (100-ton) and NSBC instructor trainer
Call or text (718) 956-5000 to schedule or get a quote.
Why women book Boat Lessons
Dealer seminars and all-women group clinics are one way to start. Boat Lessons is different: on your boat, at your slip and marina, with docking and close-quarters work as the core — so the skills transfer the next time you leave and return. Whether you’re building independence at the helm, sharing skippering with a partner, or getting the whole household on the same page with lines, lookout, and dock procedures, the goal is the same: calm, capable boat handling.
Related lessons
- Boat courses & boat lessons — private, hands-on instruction on the water.
- Boat lessons for family and friends — learn together on one boat.
- Docking lessons — practice close-quarters control, approaches, and returns to the dock.
- Florida boat lessons — see the South Florida service area and local options.
- Training boat lessons — explore the broader training menu.
- Contact us — ask about boat type, location, timing, and a quote.
Ready to book?
Tell us your boat type and size, where you keep it. Whether you want private time or family/friends on board (up to 4).
Phone: (718) 956-5000
Email: rick@boatlessons.com
Home bases: South Florida and New York / Long Island.