Offshoreonly.com - Where are the Women Boaters?!

Just checking in to ask, "Where are the women boaters?!" Aren't there more women out there who want to learn to operate a performance boat?--and not have your husband or boyfriend screaming in your face while he's trying to impart his wisdom to you?

Really--there is a great opportunity at the Miami International Boat Show, Monday, February 18 as Brad Schoenwald will conduct a Tres Martin Performance Boat School just for women. More information below--Outerlimits is sponsoring the class, but you don't have to have an Outerlimits--or even your own boat--to do the class. Let us see you behind the wheel, women of offshore!

OUTERLIMITS POWERBOATS LEADS THE WAY FOR THE LADIES - SPONSORS WOMEN’S PERFORMANCE BOAT SCHOOL AT THE MIAMI INTERNATIONAL BOAT SHOW

Outerlimits Powerboats, the first performance boat manufacturer to provide with each new boat purchase, a complimentary Tres Martin Performance Boat School course, again leads the way, opening the cockpit to women. “It has always been our top priority that our customers know how to properly operate their boats,” say Mike Fiore, owner and president of Outerlimits. “Our service department, dealers and even we as owners, have boated with our customers to give them the right orientation to a high performance boat. Tres, as a knowledgeable and reputable racer and powerboat specialist, has taken that a step further with his school, so we make sure our customers take the course to become even better skilled.”

“We now want to give all women boaters a better feeling about being in a high-speed boat--to be boating partners—not just passengers,” says Marilyn DeMartini, marketer for the company, who will be attending the course, “Women aboard Outerlimits Powerboats tend to be more active boaters—some drive, some are great crew, but we want to help them, and all women who are interested, to become educated active participants--or at least ‘back up’ if the ‘captain’ needs a hand,” she adds.

Brad Schoenwald, career U.S. Coast Guard officer and licensed master, an instructor in the program agrees, “What if the driver gets sick, falls unconscious—or worse, overboard—or if he just wants to check something in the engine? It is important for someone else on the boat to be able to confidently and competently take over—even if it’s just for a time until the driver is ready to resume responsibility.”

The Tres Martin Performance Boat School is the only skill-based boating school of its kind and is customized to the type of boat owned. Students must demonstrate competence and ability prior to receiving certification. “This type of instruction and training is new to recreational boating,” says Schoenwald, “We think it is especially important to operators of high-performance boats and are very pleased with the overwhelmingly positive client response. Now it’s time to get the women onboard!”

The women’s course is designed to provide learning in a comfortable, stress-free environment without a husband or boyfriend giving “orders.” “Women are generally better students,” states Schoenwald, “We want to give them a comfort-level in the curriculum that suits their learning styles—educational, but still providing the particular skills they need aboard a high-performance boat. The first day is class room-based while the second day is “hands-on” aboard the owner’s or the school’s boat.

“I loved it!” said Shannon Austin, a recent Performance Boat School graduate and Outerlimits boater, “I realize I can now confidently operate the boat--it also taught me a better awareness, the terminology and a ‘proper fear’—what to worry about and what not to worry about. I’m really glad I did it!”

To facilitate having two boaters with course certifications aboard, the Tres Martin Performance Boat School is making a special Miami Boat Show offer to participants who sign up by Feb. 1. The first class will be offered at the standard rate of $2,500 and the partner will enjoy a 10% savings on tuition. If the first boater is receiving a free course from the manufacturer of his or her boat, the second course will still be offered at the $2,250 rate. “We want to make this course possible for everyone who might drive a high performance boat,” says Martin, “I see the differences in how people operate their boats before and after the course—and they will too!”

“We are pleased to have this Performance Boat School be a part of the activities offered around the Miami International Boat Show,” says Cathy Rick-Joule, vice president of Southern Shows with the National Marine Manufacturers Association (NMMA). “Promoting safety and education and broadening the enjoyment of the boating audience are certainly in-line with the goals of our “Grow Boating” initiative and we’re pleased to see our manufacturers leading the way with these types of programs,” she added.

The Women’s Performance Boating School is open to all women, regardless of what brand boat they or their boating partners own or enjoy. The classroom portion will be held on Monday, February 18 at the Hibiscus Island Room in the Miami Marriott Biscayne Bay. The in-boat sessions will be held Tuesday and Wednesday, February 19 and 20. Location to be announced, pending dockage of the boats.

Please visit www.performanceboatschool.com for more information on the school, or call 352-620-8737 to enroll.