It’s not just a ride to shore—it’s your second boat. Learn how to operate, equip, and manage your dinghy safely before it manages you.
Every cruising sailor focuses on the “big boat,” but the dinghy is often the most used—and most underestimated—vessel onboard. From dock runs to unexpected emergencies, your dinghy plays a critical role in daily cruising life. This online class brings real-world lessons to life so you can stay safe, prepared, and confident every time you leave the mothership.
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ONLINE CLASS OVERVIEW
Based on decades of cruising experience, this online class uses real stories—some humorous, some humbling—to highlight the importance of treating your dinghy like a true vessel. From a midnight drift in St. Martin after a stolen gas tank to losing an outboard overboard due to a simple gear failure, these lessons illustrate how quickly things can go wrong.
You’ll learn how to properly equip your dinghy, develop reliable checklists, and anticipate problems before they happen. We’ll cover essential safety practices, gear management, and operational techniques that turn your dinghy from an afterthought into a dependable and well-run part of your cruising system.
Who is this online class for?
This online class is ideal for new cruisers, coastal sailors, and couples preparing for extended time aboard. It’s especially valuable for anyone who relies on a dinghy as their primary transportation to shore. Whether you’re just starting out or refining your systems, you’ll gain practical habits that improve safety and confidence.
What Will I Learn?
You’ll learn how to safely operate and equip your dinghy for a wide range of conditions, from short shore trips to longer excursions. The online class emphasizes practical seamanship—building checklists, preventing common failures, and responding effectively when things don’t go as planned.
List of Topics:
- Why your dinghy should be treated as a fully independent vessel
- Essential dinghy safety gear and how to organize it
- Creating and using pre-departure checklists
- Preventing theft and securing critical components (fuel, outboard, gear)
- Safe operation of outboards and kill-switch use
- Anchoring, paddling, and backup propulsion strategies
- Lifting, securing, and maintaining your outboard motor
- Emergency preparedness and avoiding common cruising mishaps
Safety, Systems & Real-World Skills
TURNING YOUR DINGHY INTO A RELIABLE SECOND VESSEL
Your dinghy is more than just transportation to shore—it’s an essential part of your cruising system. This online class helps you move beyond treating it as an afterthought and instead approach it with the same care and awareness as your primary vessel. By building the right habits and understanding, you’ll gain the confidence to operate your dinghy safely and effectively in any situation.
REAL-WORLD LESSONS THAT PREVENT REAL-WORLD PROBLEMS
From stolen fuel tanks to unexpected drifts and equipment failures, this online class draws on real cruising experiences to highlight how quickly small oversights can turn into major issues. You’ll learn how to properly equip your dinghy, organize critical gear, and develop simple, reliable checklists that keep you prepared before every departure. The focus is not just on theory, but on practical systems that help you anticipate problems and avoid them altogether.
CONFIDENCE EVERY TIME YOU LEAVE THE MOTHERSHIP
When your decision is guided by knowledge rather than uncertainty, choosing your cruising boat becomes far more straightforward. You’ll leave this online class with a confident understanding of how to match a boat to your lifestyle, whether you’re planning coastal cruising, offshore passages, or extended time aboard. With clarity and direction, you’ll be ready to move forward and choose the right vessel for your journey.
YOUR HOSTs
Jeff & Jean
Jeff and Jean assist couples in realizing their sailing dreams with their company Two Can Sail. As Licensed Yacht Brokers they work with one couple at a time to provide cruising lifestyle training including; boat shopping/purchase and personal training aboard the couple’s boat. Jeff has been actively boating over 50 years, sailing as Captain since the age of 15. Jean has been sailing since she was 12 years old on vessels ranging from sunfish to 80’ schooners. Jean was an Accredited Marine Surveyor (AMS) and was a member of the Society of Accredited Marine Surveyors (SAMS) and ABYC Standards Certified. Jeff holds an Electrical/Computer Engineering degree and has worked with almost all forms of electronic navigation. Both Jeff and Jean are 100GT Masters, ASA Certified Sailing Instructors and together have sailed over 260 different models of sailboats including 61 models of cruising catamarans.
ONLINE CLASS REGISTRATION
@ 4:30 PM PT / 7:30 PM ET (90 min)
Regular Price
$39
ASA Member Price
$29
ON-DEMAND ACCESS
All registrations include unlimited on-demand access to the recordings of the live online class. So if you are unable to attend live you can still register and watch at your leisure.
ASA MEMBER DISCOUNT
American Sailing Members can claim their discount in the Member Portal. If you're not a current member then for only $59/year you can join or renew today!
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