The Sea Tow Foundation recently announced the winners of its 2025 National Boating Safety Awards, which recognize marine industry leaders setting new standards for safety education and innovation. Among the eight recipients is Pursuit Boats, which received the Top Marine Manufacturer Award for its Confidence on the Water program. This is the highest distinction of the Sea Tow awards program.
Pursuit Boats of Fort Pierce, Florida, partnered with the Chapman School of Seamanship in Stuart, Florida, to create Confidence on the Water, a two-day course designed to educate owners on boating safety and proper vessel handling. Every new Pursuit owner can take the course free of charge with the purchase of a new vessel, and that owner can invite three more people to participate.
The class has been offered to Pursuit owners for about three years and has been completed by novice boaters and seasoned skippers. The course is comprised of one day in the classroom and one day on the water aboard a Pursuit. The classroom portion addresses rules of the road, navigation, safety equipment and more. The on-water portion gets into skills such as docking, a common source of anxiety for many boaters. “It’s easy to drive a boat out in the middle of the ocean, but when you come home, you want to have that confidence to be able to dock successfully,” says Capt. Mike Kmiotek, a course instructor.
Karen Laliberte and her husband, John Niles, purchased their Pursuit DC 246 with a 300-hp outboard two years ago, with no prior boating experience. They were anxious about docking, but they took Kmiotek’s advice to heart. At their summer home in Boothbay, Maine, the couple put their newfound knowledge to work. “We constantly practiced everything we learned,” says Karen.
The couple valued the chance to take the course together because they know the importance of having more than one person aboard who can drive. “Our friends were on their boat when the driver had a medical emergency. No one else really knew how to take over the helm,” says Karen. “They were really upset after that experience.”
Confidence on the Water teaches everyone to take turns and try out different roles on board. “If one person is usually driving the boat and another is usually handling lines, we’ll suggest they switch that up once in a while,” says Kmiotek. “You’ll respect each other’s role more and learn to communicate better.”
Lifelong boaters Dustin Garland and his father, Charles, took the course after purchasing a 30-foot Pursuit 295 Dual Console with twin 300-hp Yamahas. Both men say crew awareness and safety were the main takeaways from the class. “You have to be aware of your boat, your environment and the people on board,” Dustin says.
For the Garlands, course highlights included learning to navigate choppy inlets and steering with the joystick and throttles. “Just because you can afford a big, beautiful boat, doesn’t mean you have the ability to drive it,” Charles says. “The great thing about the course is the instructors take you under their wing and remind you that no matter what you’re driving, you can do damage to yourself and others if you don’t have a know the basics.”
The elder Garland says the course is an excellent foundation for entry-level owners and experienced boaters alike. “You can never know too much, but you can definitely know too little,” Charles says. “If you’re confident in your capabilities on the water and you’re confident in your understanding of the rules, then you’re going to have more fun on your boat.”
Other recipients of the Sea Tow National Boating Safety Awards include Strong’s Marine for its Women on the Water series, and Garmin for its 2025 Safe Boating Campaign.
