Personal Watercraft Seamanship & Coastal Navigation

Not a joyride. Jet propulsion physics, docking, swell handling and tow recovery.

Booking now
Each session1 hr 30 min a session
How oftenOnce a week
Cohort4–6 per cohort
SeasonYear-round · a new cohort starts each month

What you leave with

A fifteen-mile coastal navigation run, and a certificate of seamanship

Thorough practical training on modern PWCs. Off-throttle steering loss, close-quarters docking, open coastal wave navigation and offshore emergency tow protocols.

Off-throttle steering loss is the thing that hurts people on these craft, and it is the first thing covered rather than a footnote.

What makes this one worth it

  • Jet Propulsion Dynamics & Safe Low-Speed Handling
  • High-Speed Trim, Cornering & Throttle Control
  • Open Ocean Swells & Rough Water Handling
  • Coastal Navigation Run & Towing Scenario

What is included

  • All 4 sessions of the 4-week cohort — 6 hours of instruction
  • A place held for you for the whole run, in a cohort of 4–6
  • Every piece of equipment listed below, provided on the day
  • Your instructor, and their attention in a group this size

What to bring

  • Water, and something to eat if you want it
  • Nothing else — the kit is provided

How it runs

Once a week · 1 hr 30 min a session

Frequency
1x / week — 90 minutes on the water
Session length
1 hr 30 min
Each month
4 sessions, about 6 hours
Cohort size
4 – 6 participants
Where
Mission Bay & coastal Pacific offshore waters
Level
All Levels (California Boater Card prep)
Commitment
Monthly — stay as long as it is worth it

What you cover, in rotation

The group works through these in order and then begins again on fresh ground. Join at whatever stage it is on — nothing here assumes you were there for the last one, and nothing runs out — or drop in for a single session if that is all you can manage.

  1. Stage 1Jet Propulsion Dynamics & Safe Low-Speed Handling
    • Jet impellers, off-throttle steering loss, and engine cutoff lanyards.
    • Pre-ride inspection, bilge checks and fuel safety.
    • Low-speed manoeuvring, no-wake etiquette and marina docking.
  2. Stage 2High-Speed Trim, Cornering & Throttle Control
    • Trim system adjustment for chop reduction against acceleration.
    • Leaning into high-speed carve turns and managing centrifugal weight.
    • Maintaining 200-foot buffer distances and collision avoidance rules.
  3. Stage 3Open Ocean Swells & Rough Water Handling
    • Exiting harbour jetties into open ocean swell.
    • Wave cresting, shock absorption posture, and crossing boat wakes.
    • Deep-water re-boarding after an intentional capsize.
  4. Stage 4Coastal Navigation Run & Towing Scenario
    • A guided fifteen-mile coastal navigation run.
    • Emergency tow-bridle rigging and disabled craft recovery drills.
    • Freshwater engine flushing, washdown, and a certificate of seamanship.

4 sessions in the cycle, then it begins again on new ground.

Who leads it, and what is provided

Led by USCG licensed master captain / PWC instructor.

Lead-vessel pacing, VHF radio oversight, and safety enforcement.

On the table when you arrive

  • Late-model personal watercraft
  • Neoprene impact vests
  • Marine VHF radios
  • Wetsuits

Before you book

Know before you go

  • A California Boater Card is required to operate — this experience prepares you for it

Cancellations and refunds follow our cancellation policy, which is the same for every activity on this site.

When it runs

August 2026

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Runs Not running

Friday 7 August

  • 10amup to 6 guests

Usually runs Fridays.

This is the operator’s schedule, not live seat availability. We check the date with them and come back to you — nothing is booked or paid for here.

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