US Powerboating

What US Powerboating does

US Powerboating is a non-profit training and certification program operated as an affiliate of US Sailing, the National Governing Body for the sport of sailing in the United States. Headquartered in Bristol, Rhode Island with a staff of 6, it delivers hands-on, on-the-water powerboat instruction across a nationwide network of nearly 150 Course Providers and Powerboat Training Centers that include yacht clubs, community sailing programs, maritime colleges, marinas, and emergency services organizations.

Its core product is a tiered curriculum of US Coast Guard and NASBLA-approved courses, ranging from entry-level Safe Powerboat Handling (16 hours) and Accelerated Safe Powerboat Handling (8-12 hours) through Basic Powerboat Cruising, Inshore Powerboat Cruising, Night Operations Endorsement, and specialty tracks for Safety & Rescue Boat Handling and Mark Boat Handling. A parallel instructor certification pathway progresses students from course completion through Instructor Trainer credentials. The organization also administers the International Proficiency Certificate, enabling US boaters to bareboat charter in European Union waters, and partners with Mariners Learning System to provide discounted US Coast Guard Captain's Licensing courses to US Sailing members.

US Powerboating's revenue model is built on per-candidate course fees (ranging from $225 for Safety & Rescue Boat Handling Instructor training to $375 for Mark Boat Handling Instructor training), certification and material fees, and affiliate referral income from partner programs. Distribution is decentralized through the Course Provider network rather than centralized direct sales; courses are listed on a public Find a Course calendar, and a Host a Course program enables organizations to bring instructor and student courses to new geographies. Commercial liability coverage for instructors is provided through a partnership with Gowrie Group.

Name

US Powerboating

Legal name

US Powerboating

Website

https://uspowerboating.com

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

US Powerboating is a non-profit affiliate of US Sailing that delivers US Coast Guard and NASBLA-approved hands-on powerboat training through nearly 150 course providers nationwide, serving recreational boaters, yacht clubs, maritime colleges, and marine patrol organizations.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Boating Safety Education and Powerboat Training

NAICS

Technical and Trade Schools (61151), Educational Services (61)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Pilot Training, Certification & Medical/Fitness Services (TLAHAGAI)

Keywords

• Powerboat training
• Boating safety education
• Hands-on instruction
• NASBLA certification
• Marine safety courses

Headquarters

HQ city

Bristol

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Student Course Fees: Fees charged for student-level powerboat courses including Safe Powerboat Handling, Accelerated Safe Powerboat Handling, Basic Powerboat Cruising, Inshore Powerboat Cruising, Safety & Rescue Boat Handling, and Mark Boat Handling courses
2. Instructor Certification Fees: Fees for instructor-level courses including Safe Powerboat Handling Instructor, Safety & Rescue Boat Handling Instructor, Mark Boat Handling Instructor, and Cruising Powerboat Instructor certification programs
3. Mariners Learning System Partnership: Partnership with Mariners Learning System providing US Coast Guard Approved Captain's Licensing Courses with US Sailing members receiving 10% discount
4. Certification and Material Fees: Fees for certifications including International Proficiency Certificate and course materials (digital and printed versions of textbooks and manuals)

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

US Powerboating delivers hands-on, on-the-water powerboat training courses ranging from entry-level Safe Powerboat Handling (under 26 ft) to cruising and advanced specialties, plus a full certification pathway from student-level courses through Instructor Trainer. All core courses are US Coast Guard and NASBLA approved, and the program also issues International Proficiency Certificates for EU bareboat chartering. Instruction is delivered through a network of nearly 150 Course Providers and Powerboat Training Centers across the United States.

Product overview

US Powerboating is an educational organization offering a comprehensive portfolio of hands-on, on-the-water powerboat training courses. The core offerings include Safe Powerboat Handling and Accelerated Safe Powerboat Handling for entry-level operators (under 26 feet), Basic Powerboat Cruising for cruising vessels, and advanced Inshore Powerboat Cruising courses including Night Operations. Specialty courses cover Safety & Rescue Boat Handling and Mark Boat Handling for race support functions. The organization also provides an International Proficiency Certificate for EU bareboat chartering. Instructor training programs progress from Safe Powerboat Handling Instructor through Mark Boat Handling Instructor and Safety & Rescue Boat Handling Instructor, up to Instructor Trainer level certifications. A partnership with Mariners Learning System provides access to USCG Captain's Licensing. Courses are offered at nearly 150 Course Providers and Powerboat Training Centers around the country.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Safe Powerboat Handling
• Accelerated Safe Powerboat Handling
• Basic Powerboat Cruising
• Inshore Powerboat Cruising
• Inshore Powerboat Cruising Night Operations Endorsement
• Safety & Rescue Boat Handling
• Mark Boat Handling
• International Proficiency Certificate (IPC)
• Combination Courses
• Safe Powerboat Handling Instructor Certification
• Mark Boat Handling Instructor Certification
• Safety & Rescue Boat Handling Instructor Certification
• Instructor Trainer Courses
• Mariners Learning System Captain's Licensing Partnership

Quantifiable outcome

• Courses approved by US Coast Guard and NASBLA, meeting requirements for state boating safety education certificates
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers9 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Three partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• US SailingcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerUS Powerboating is an affiliate of US Sailing, the National Governing Body for the Sport of Sailing in the United States. US Sailing provides organizational oversight, insurance coverage for Certified Instructors, course approval processes, and integration with US Sailing's membership and certification systems. US Powerboating's headquarters are co-located with US Sailing in Bristol, Rhode Island.
• Mariners Learning SystemminorGTM or Marketing PartnerPartnership announced to provide US Sailing members with access to U.S. Coast Guard Approved Captain's Licensing Courses and Exams Online, Virtual FCC Tests, and maritime training programs. US Sailing members receive a 10% discount on Mariners Learning System's educational resources and training opportunities.
• Gowrie GroupminorOthersGowrie Group provides commercial insurance coverage for US Powerboating Certified Instructors (CI) in specific situations. Insurance information and FAQs are available through US Sailing's insurance resources.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• America's Boating Club (formerly US Power Squadrons): America's Boating Club is the largest recreational boating education organization in the US, offering USPS-derived courses parallel to US Powerboating's curriculum. Both organizations deliver hands-on powerboat instruction, NASBLA-aligned certification, and operate local chapter-based networks serving similar recreational boater and yacht club customers.
• Chapman School of Seamanship: Chapman School of Seamanship is a private maritime training school offering USCG-approved and recreational powerboat courses. It is comparable to US Powerboating's higher-end offerings (Basic Powerboat Cruising, Inshore Powerboat Cruising) and competes for the same serious recreational and professional operator customer segment.
• US Coast Guard Auxiliary: The US Coast Guard Auxiliary delivers free public boating safety education including About Boating Safely and other state-approved courses. It is the most direct competitor to US Powerboating's Safe Powerboat Handling course, targeting the same recreational entry-level market with the same NASBLA-approved curriculum.
• BoatEd: BoatEd (by Kalkomey Enterprises) is a leading provider of state-approved and NASBLA-approved online boating safety courses across all 50 states. It competes for the same entry-level recreational boater seeking state boating safety education certificates, but via a digital-first delivery model.
• NauticEd: NauticEd is an online sailing and powerboating education platform offering ICC certification and courses aligned with international standards. It competes for the same intermediate and advanced recreational powerboat operator that US Powerboating's Inshore Powerboat Cruising and IPC products target, with a digital delivery format.
• BoatUS Foundation: BoatUS Foundation offers free online boating safety courses that are NASBLA-approved and accepted by all states. Its online delivery model directly competes with US Powerboating's hands-on in-person Safe Powerboat Handling and Basic Powerboat Cruising courses for the same state-certification-seeking recreational customer.

Broad incumbents

• Mariners Learning System: Mariners Learning System is a US Sailing partner that delivers USCG-approved Captain's Licensing courses online. While it overlaps with US Powerboating's higher-end powerboat training via the Captain's Licensing track, it is a broader incumbent in maritime credentialing rather than a specialty powerboat provider.

Regional players

• Maritime Professional Training (MPT): MPT is a Florida-based maritime training school offering USCG-approved STCW and recreational courses. It is a regionally-focused competitor for the professional and advanced recreational powerboat segment that US Powerboating's Basic/Inshore Powerboat Cruising courses also target.
• Royal Yachting Association (RYA): RYA is the UK national governing body for sailing and powerboating, offering structured powerboat certifications (Powerboat Level 1/2, ICC) with international recognition. It is the most direct international counterpart to US Powerboating and the dominant certifying body for bareboat chartering in EU waters alongside US Powerboating's IPC.

Emerging players

• International Maritime Academy: International Maritime Academy is an emerging vocational training provider offering marine and powerboat courses to entry-level and professional operators. It represents newer, niche competitors encroaching on US Powerboating's beginner-to-intermediate recreational and professional certification segments.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/us_powerboating
• YouTubeyoutube.com/playlist?list=PL1haIIzm5I7ZVE51ose9JHTwoz5_aPyEk
• Facebookfacebook.com/USPowerboating
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/us-powerboating

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about US Powerboating