Many people head out on the water with excellent boats, good electronics, and very little understanding of what is actually going on beneath the screen. For a while, that works. Then something changes. Power drops out, a screen freezes, or conditions are not quite what was expected.
This short course exists so people are not starting from nothing.
It teaches the fundamental navigation skills that help you understand where you are, whether you are in safe water, and how to work out where you will be next. No overwhelm, no unnecessary theory, just the foundations that keep people calm and safe.
Who this course is for
This course is designed primarily for beginners, especially people who have come to boating later in life.
A large part of my audience are retirees or semi-retirees who have worked hard, bought a boat, and finally have time to enjoy it. They do not want to feel like beginners again, but they also do not want to feel out of their depth.
This course gives them control without pressure.
It is also well suited to:
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Absolute beginners who want a clear starting point
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Boaters who rely heavily on electronics and want a backup
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People who want to understand what they are doing and why
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Anyone who wants a refresher without committing to a full qualification
What the course actually teaches
The focus is basic navigation skills that are immediately usable.
You learn how to:
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Find your position quickly and easily on a chart
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Measure distance and direction accurately
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Understand whether you are in safe water
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Begin simple passage planning (using the distance and direction)
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Work out a dead reckoning position if electronics fail
A printable chart is included so you can start straight away with a pencil compass. No special tools, no complex systems.
This is about understanding the basics well enough to stay out of trouble.
Why this course exists
My more advanced courses sit close to commercial standards. That is appropriate for people chasing qualifications, and will always be useful for every boater on the water: but it can overwhelm recreational boaters who just want to feel capable and safe.
I realised there was a missing step.
People were spending large amounts of money on boats and equipment, then hesitating when it came to learning the skills that tie it all together. Not because they were uninterested, but because they did not want to be buried in detail.
This course fills that gap. It gives people a stepping stone.
Once they see that navigation is not mysterious or impossible, confidence grows. Many go on to deeper study later. Some do not, and that is fine. On its own, this course still provides a solid foundation.
What is deliberately not included
This is not a comprehensive navigation course.
There are many different ways to fix a position, many layers of redundancy, and far more theory than most recreational boaters need at the start. I have intentionally kept this course narrow.
By focusing on one clear method, plus dead reckoning as a backup, people learn faster and retain more. They leave understanding the building blocks, not juggling options.
Those who want to go deeper can do so later, with confidence rather than confusion. Or purchase our books to peruse as you go – filled with step by step diagrams and practice questions, they are perfect for a deeper dive – hey complement our both our Full Navigation course and this beginner course very well.
Real experience, applied simply
Everything in this course is taught from real use.
The examples come from decades on the water, using these techniques in practice, not just explaining them on paper. I show how we used them, what worked for us, and where people commonly go wrong.
This is not about perfection. It is about being able to think clearly when it matters.
Confidence, not complexity
The biggest problem this course addresses is fear.
Fear of getting it wrong.
Fear of looking inexperienced.
Fear of something happening to the more knowledgeable person on board.
By understanding where you are and how to work it out yourself, a great deal of that fear disappears. Boating becomes more enjoyable when you feel some control over what is happening.
Why it is priced the way it is
This course is deliberately affordable.
Safety knowledge should not feel like a luxury item, and fundamentals should be accessible. The aim is to remove barriers, not create them, while still delivering real value.
For many people, this course is the first step. For others, it is exactly enough.
Either way, it ensures you are not heading out with nothing.
How this fits into your learning journey
This course stands on its own as a strong foundation. It also complements deeper courses and books for those who decide they want to learn more later.
There is no pressure to go further. The goal here is simple: give people the basics, clearly taught, so they feel safer, calmer, and more capable on the water.
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