You can learn more with NauticEd

Sign up with NauticEd for FREE (no obligation) and receive 2 free boating courses, a free eLogbook and boating resume, and more! If you want to get started in boating or are experienced and want to expand your knowledge and skills, consider taking our many online sailing and powerboating courses.

Why NauticEd Is The Best In Boating Education

Born in 2008, NauticEd started with a vision to make boating education accessible and inexpensive to boaters around the world. At NauticEd, we believe everyone who wants to learn, should be able to.

As the company grew, it became obvious that many boating education organizations weren’t fully leveraging technological advancements. Meanwhile, we wanted to make sure we used every technology resource available to us – not only to deliver a flexible, user-friendly experience, but also to provide real-time tracking of measurable, reportable competence. Today, NauticEd is one of the most well-positioned, premier boating certification programs in the world.

The NauticEd Difference

At NauticEd, our sole focus is building boating competence while exceeding recognized standards. Whether it’s the U.S. Coast Guard’s American National Standards or United Nations Resolution 40, NauticEd goes beyond the baseline. Simply put, it’s training you can trust.

Does ASA (American Sailing) or US Sailing meet these standards?

Answer: Nope. Many in the boating education realm promote the “dream,” but the reality is that few actually deliver. That’s the NauticEd difference – exceeding standards (and maybe “shaking up” the industry a little while we’re at it).

If you want to be the best boater you can be, the choice is simple: NauticEd. NauticEd students demonstrate boating competence not with a “sticker” or a simple “certification,” but through verified online theory knowledge, hands-on on-water training, and real-life documented experience – all tracked in each student’s eLogbook & Boating Resume (FREE for every student at signup).

When selecting your boating education platform, we recommend you first verify:

If you’re training for boating within the U.S.: Does your school/instructor adhere to USCG-prescribed American National Standards – and are they NASBLA-verified? If not, they’re below standard. (Hint: NauticEd is the only boating organization that meets these standards.)
If you’re training for international boating: Does your school/instructor meet United Nations Resolution 40 standards? NauticEd and RYA do – but does yours “hold water”? (Hint: an IPC does not.)

Take a look at the infographic provided below below to see exactly how we stack up to our “competitors.”

How Does NauticEd Compare?

Comparison of sailing programs: NauticEd, US Sailing, RYA-UK, and ASA with features checklist.

Switching to NauticEd

So, how does one switch from the old American Sailing Association or US Sailing system to the NauticEd advanced platform?

We’ve made it easy!

Signup for FREE with NauticEd
First, sign up for a free account with NauticEd. During the sign-up process, you’ll have the opportunity to provide details about your boating experience and any existing or earned certifications. Once your account is set up, upload these certifications and/or licenses in the Resume tab of your student dashboard (located at the bottom of the page).
Take The Skipper Test Out Exam
If your NauticEd boating goal is to skipper a large sail or power boat, a Skipper Test-Out option will automatically appear in the Curriculum tab of your student dashboard. This 100-question test is designed to ensure you meet NauticEd’s knowledge standards. You will have three attempts to pass each module, and the test must be completed within 30 days.

If you pass, the Skipper Large Boat course will be marked as “completed” in your student curriculum and acknowledged on your FREE NauticEd resume, giving you anytime access to review the material in the future. The initial cost of this test-out option is $20. However, after successful completion of the course (pass or fail), you will receive a $20 credit, automatically issued to your account, for future course purchases with NauticEd.
Log Your On-Water Experience

Start building your boating Resume by entering any past on-water experience in your FREE NauticEd Logbook. Our Logbook makes it easy to track your days on the water – syncing seamlessly with the free Sailties app for automatic tracking. Logging your experience not only helps you see and track your progress but it is the first step toward meeting the requirements for certifications like Bareboat Charter Master and NauticEd’s International Licensing (see: SLC & SLC-p).
Complete NauticEd’s Maneuvering Under Power Course

To earn your NauticEd Skipper Large Boat or Bareboat Charter Master certification, you must successfully complete our Maneuvering Under Power online course. At NauticEd, we consider maneuvering under power a critical component of any skipper’s training. It’s important to note that neither ASA’s nor US Sailing’s certification programs include a dedicated course in this essential skill – just one more reason our students are among the most capable and competent boaters on the water!

If you are switching to NauticEd from one of these other boating education providers, and should you qualify for our Skipper Test Out option mentioned above, the $20 test-out credit you will receive can be applied toward the cost of our Maneuvering Under Power course – therefore significantly reducing the amount you actually pay, compared to the listed retail price.
DONE!

Next, if planning to charter or boat in international waters, you can move on to NauticEd’s Bareboat Charter Master certification and, subsequentially, obtaining your official International Boating License with NauticEd.

If you’ve already completed your ASA 101 but still feel a bit under-confident applying that training to real on-water situations, NauticEd’s Navigation Rules & Basic Sail Trim Courses are a great way to “revisit” what you’ve learned (or what you may have missed). PLUS, these courses are FREE when you sign up with NauticEd! You may even find that these courses offer a more approachable and easy-to-understand format in comparison to your prior training.

Additional Suggested Courses

Our Skipper a Small Sailboat and Skipper a Small Powerboat Courses are very affordable, and often recommended prior to earning your Skipper Small Boat certification with NauticEd. Additionally, the Skipper a Small Sailboat course also includes all required content for learning how to maneuver a small keelboat under power.

Skipper Small Sailboat | Online Course 🡒
This US Coast Guard–recognized online course gives you the knowledge to confidently handle a small sailboat including lessons in sail trim, docking, outboard engines, rules of the road, safety, and more.
Skipper Small Powerboat | Online Course 🡒
Built to American National Standards, this course is the gold standard for operating powerboats 26 ft and under – whether you run an inboard, stern-drive, or outboard. In just 10 focused hours, you’ll gain professional-level skills.

Upgrading to the Bareboat Charter Master Certification

If your goal is to eventually charter or operate a boat in International Waters, our Bareboat Charter Master certification is your next step (after successful completion of the Skipper Small Boat course).

Sailing Bareboat Charter Master | Online Course Bundle 🡒
Master all the knowledge and skills needed for bareboat charter vacations and multiday near-coastal boating with our Bareboat Charter Master’s comprehensive bundle of 6 online courses. The Bareboat Charter Master Online Course Bundle include the following online courses :
- Skipper Large Keelboat
- Maneuvering Under Power
- Coastal Navigation
- Electronic Navigation
- Anchoring a Sailboat
- Bareboat Charter
- SLC Examination
Powerboat Bareboat Charter Master | Online Course Bundle 🡒
Master all the knowledge and skills needed for bareboat charter vacations and multiday near-coastal boating with our Bareboat Charter Master’s comprehensive bundle of 6 online courses. The Bareboat Charter Master Online Course Bundle include the following online courses :
- Skipper Large Powerboat
- Coastal Navigation
- Electronic Navigation
- Bareboat Charter
- SLC-p Examination

Upon successful completion of all online courses, Bareboat Certification and SLC International License (recognized by port authorities worldwide) are available – after meeting additional experience and assessment requirements.

Complete Your On-Water Training & Log 50+ Days in Your FREE NauticEd Logbook.

NauticEd’s On The Water Training Standards

Certified sailing competence: Theory and on-water skills with experience from 4 to 200 logged days.

To learn more about NauticEd’s Nautical Competence standards click here

Get Started Now!

Create a new account with NauticEd, and we will automatically gift your first course(s) FREE to get you started.. PLUS access to our free logbook and resume-building tool.

Author

Grant Headifen

My vision for NauticEd is to ensure that families and friends get out on the water not only safely but with true COMPETENCE, confidently savoring every moment of their valuable time.

Achieving this means being the pinnacle of sailing and boating education—offering comprehensive multi-media theoretical instruction coupled with hands-on, on-the-water training through our global network of American National Standards Instructors. We steadfastly avoid becoming a mere certification mill; our focus is on delivering genuine competence, ensuring our students are well-prepared for enjoyable, real-world boating experiences.

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