OUR BOAT. YOUR FRESH START.Learn on our boat
Get comfortable on our 20-foot Hurricane deck boat, with a licensed captain right beside you.
CENTRAL FLORIDA. REAL WATER. REAL CONFIDENCE.
Find your confidence
on the water.
Hands-on powerboat lessons with a USCG-licensed captain. Your boat or ours. Your next chapter starts here.
Hands-on NSBC lessonsUSCG-licensed captainAges 14 and upDonation-supported
A LITTLE GUIDANCE. A WHOLE NEW HORIZON.
We help everyday people become
confident boaters through real practice,
patient guidance, and time at the helm.
We’re the Central Florida Boating Association, a local nonprofit bringing hands-on boating education to our community. From your first launch to your next adventure, we’re here to help.
14+Ages welcome
3 hoursAbout one lesson on the water
7:30 a.m.Typical weekday start
LESSONS THAT GO BEYOND THE CLASSROOM
Less wondering.
More knowing how.
Take the helm. Build real skills. Learn at your pace with hands-on National Safe Boating Council (NSBC) powerboat instruction.
OUR BOAT. YOUR FRESH START.
YOUR BOAT. FAMILIAR CONFIDENCE.Learn on your boat
Practice on the boat you’ll actually use. Get personal guidance with handling, docking, and everyday operation.
Primarily weekday mornings, starting at 7:30 a.m.
Find the right lesson for youREAL PRACTICE. LASTING SKILLS.
Make yourself
at home at the helm.
Build the skills that make an ordinary day on the water feel a little more comfortable, from leaving the ramp to returning to the dock.
Boat handling
Get a feel for steering, throttle control, and open-water maneuvers.
Docking with confidence
Practice slow-speed approaches, positioning, and bringing your boat alongside.
Safer decisions
Develop good lookout habits, awareness, and safer operation on the water.
Learning on the waters we call home.Orlando and Central Florida lakes and rivers. We’ll confirm the right location together.
YOUR LOCAL CAPTAIN RESOURCE
A little local
knowledge goes
a long way.
There’s more to boating than driving the boat. When you need a hand or a trusted starting point, start with us.
Ask a captainTrailering your boat
Build confidence moving your boat between home and the water.
Launching & retrieval
Get hands-on guidance to make your next visit to the boat ramp smoother.
Buying-a-boat advice
Talk through your questions with a local captain before taking the next step.
Mechanic & repair referrals
Let us help you find a starting point for local maintenance and repairs.
YOUR FIRST STEP IS A CONVERSATION
From curious to confident.
Tell us where you are
New to boating or getting back into it? Share your experience and what you’d like to learn.
Make a plan together
Choose your boat or ours. We’ll discuss the location, weekday availability, and what to bring.
Get out on the water
Spend about three hours practicing real skills with a USCG-licensed captain by your side.
POWERED BY COMMUNITY
More confidence.
Safer water.
For everyone.
Your generosity helps keep hands-on boating education accessible to our community.
Support our missionA gift is always optional.
If you’d like to contribute, a suggested gift of $150–$300 helps support our work. You can give more, less, or nothing.
This is a donation, not a lesson fee or tuition. A gift is not required to participate.
CFBA is a Florida nonprofit operating under fiscal sponsor Angels for Angels, a 501(c)(3). CFBA’s own 501(c)(3) application is pending.
A FEW GOOD QUESTIONS
Before you
come aboard.
Still have something on your mind?
We’re happy to talk it through.
Do I need any boating experience?
No prior experience is needed. Tell us where you’re starting and what you want to practice, and we’ll help you find the right next step.
Who can take a lesson?
Our hands-on powerboat lessons are for ages 14 and up. Contact us to discuss a young student’s participation and arrangements.
When are lessons, and how long do they take?
Lessons are primarily on weekday mornings, starting at 7:30 a.m., and last about three hours. We’ll confirm availability and the meeting location with you.
Can I learn on my own boat?
Yes. Learn on your own boat or on our 20-foot Hurricane deck boat. Tell us about your boat when you reach out so we can plan together.
Is a donation required for a lesson?
No. A gift is not required. A suggested donation of $150–$300 supports our work, but you can give more, less, or nothing. It is not a price, tuition, or lesson fee.
What is CFBA’s nonprofit status?
The Central Florida Boating Association is a Florida nonprofit operating under fiscal sponsor Angels for Angels, a 501(c)(3). CFBA’s own 501(c)(3) application is pending.
LET’S GET YOU ON THE WATER
Your next adventure
starts with confidence.
A first lesson, a question about your boat, or a little local advice.
Tell us how we can help.