At West Marine, we know boating is better when you feel confident and prepared. That’s why West Advantage Gold members receive complimentary access to boating education resources from the BoatU.S. Foundation, including a wide range of free online courses designed to help you stay safer on the water. One of the most popular courses is the Boating Safety Course, which helps both new and experienced boaters build essential skills, reduce risk, and navigate with confidence every time they leave the dock. Here’s what you’ll learn:
- Navigation and rules of the water: Understand right-of-way, channel markers, and how to safely operate around other vessels
- Safety preparedness: Learn what equipment you need onboard, how to use it properly, and how to respond in unexpected situations
- Smart boating habits: Build awareness around weather, visibility, and responsible boating practices to help prevent accidents
Course Details
- Self-paced, online format: Start and stop the course on your schedule, from any device
- Completely free: No cost to enroll or complete the training
- Trusted provider: Developed by the BoatU.S. Foundation, a recognized leader in boating safety education
Start Course
The BoatU.S. Foundation offers the only online boating safety courses developed specifically for most states. To enroll, click here.
Explore More Free Courses
The course described above is but one of many free courses available through the BoatU.S. Foundation. For complete course listings, click here.
West Advantage Gold Benefits
As a West Advantage Gold member, you’ll receive a complimentary basic BoatU.S. Membership which includes a free subscription to BoatU.S. Magazine, access to trusted boating education resources—like this basic Boating Safety Course—to help you navigate confidently and stay safer on the water. To enroll in West Advantage Gold, click here.