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Private Instruction & Charters

Everything You're Required to Know or Some Help So You Can Enjoy Your Cruise More

The sad truth is, although our Southern California waters are usually very safe, each year local mariners are buying boats & heading out to sea with little or no preparation.  Capt. Adam Colson is an ASA certified sailing instructor and 100 ton U.S. Coast Guard licensed master (captain).  With over 10 years of teaching experience on sail and power boats and thousands of miles of international cruising experience, Capt. Colson can teach your everything  from learning to sail to cruising the Channel Islands and will make sure your time on the water is both safe and enjoyable for all.

Basic Instruction on all types of boats/yachts includes:

1. Required & recommended safety equipment
2. Clothing & personal equipment
3. Boat safety checks:
   1. Engine oil, cooling system, fuel, transmission
   2. Blower
   3. Bilge
   4. Radio check
   5. Throwable & boat hook
   6. No lines overboard
4. Motoring techniques:
   1. Undocking & docking
   2. Prop walk
   3. Prop wash
   4. Swells & wind
   5. Anchoring & mooring
5. Safety techniques:
   1. Man overboard/Harnesses
   2. Radio calls
   3. Runaway diesel
6. Navigation/Cruises:
   1. Navigation Rules
   2. Ship’s compass/Deviation
   3. Dead reckoning
   4. Hand held compass and estimated position
   5. Chart reading, tools, & techniques
   6. GPS
   7. Radar
   8. Float Plan
   9. The head
   10. Fuel Planning
7. Sea Sicknesses
8. Weather & Fog

Fee: $40/hr with a 2 hour minimum or $250 per 24 hour day or a combination of these

What people are saying about Captain Adam:

"I've greatly enjoyed our lessons and thank you for your patient and expert instruction - I feel like I have a good grounding in the basics, and look forward to building on it with more study up in San Francisco."

"This program let me get over my fear of sailing, really steering myself.  Capt. Adam made me feel secure.  I had a fabulous time!"

"Captain A. Colson handled a very blustery day at sea in a calm and professional manner."

"Captain Colson, aside from being the best sailing instructor, creates a safe, fun and peaceful sailing experience for all!"

"Captain Colson has the ability to teach and coordinate, even beginning sailors, like a finely tuned symphonic orchestra!"

All photos & text copyright © 2008 Even Keel Sailing, LLC