Two-years ago, Pursuit Boats partnered with the Chapman School of Seamanship in Stuart, Florida, to offer a safety course for new Pursuit owners. Owners who took the class, including experienced boaters, say the course is an exceptional reminder about proper boat handling and safety practices that are often overlooked.

The two-day course is comprised of one classroom day and one on-the-water day aboard a Pursuit. The classroom portion addresses the basic rules of the road, navigation, speed checks, safety equipment and more. Instructor Capt. Mike Kmiotek says docking is the most common source of anxiety for new and seasoned boaters alike. “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,” Kmiotek says.

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. At the Chapman School, the couple quickly became versed in the safety measures and basics of their boat. Karen was anxious about docking, but she took Kmiotek’s advice to heart. At their summer home in Boothbay, Maine, Karen and John practiced whenever they could. “We would just drive out and then dock and then go to the neighbor’s dock to try again,” she says. “We were constantly practicing everything we learned.” She began by learning to dock with spring lines, without power, and is now excited to show off her docking skills this summer.

The course also emphasizes the importance of having more than one person aboard who is able to drive. “We had friends who were on a boat when the driver had a medical emergency, and they really did not know how to take over the helm,” says Karen. “They took a Coast Guard class, because they were really upset after that experience.”

Kmiotek encourages everyone to take turns and try out different roles on board. “If somebody’s usually driving the boat and somebody’s usually handling lines, switch that up once in a while,” he says. “You’ll respect each other’s role more and learn to communicate better.”

On the second day of the Chapman course, students get on the water in a Pursuit powered by either single or twin outboards, depending on the engine configuration of their own Pursuit. Learning to drive differs significantly between the two options, so, if necessary, Kmiotek will split the class up. 

Lifelong boaters Dustin Garland and his father Charles from Long Island, New York, took the Chapman 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. “Honestly, you can take that into the real world, off the water. When you’re driving a car, you want to be aware of your environment, the people you have in your vehicle and the way you’re driving, and if you don’t feel comfortable driving, then just don’t drive it.”

Even when someone is operating a boat perfectly, an attentive crew can help identify currents, channels, other boats and other constantly changing factors, including wakes, chop and the occasional jet skier.

Some highlights for the Garlands were learning to navigate choppy inlets and steering solely with the joystick and throttles.

“Just because you can afford a really big, beautiful boat, does it mean you have the ability to drive that really big, beautiful boat?” Charles says. “The great thing about the Chapman course is it takes you under its wing and it reminds you that no matter what you’re driving, you can do some serious damage to yourself and others around you if you don’t have a basic foundation of knowledge and skill.”

The elder Garland says the course is an excellent foundation for entry-level boaters 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 with your understanding of the rules of the road, then you’re going to have more fun on your boat.”

This article was originally published in the July 2024 issue.