Two well-established training organizations to choose from. And I teach for both!
I’m proud to announce that for the 2026 boating season, I’ll be an instructor for two different Bellingham WA based training and charter organizations:
San Juan Yachting
If you’re looking for American Boating (AB) certification, San Juan Yachting (SJY) is a good choice. All of their instructors — including me! — are AB certified to teach on single engine and twin engine boats. Their 4 night / 5 day Learn ‘n’ Cruise courses are a great way to really enjoy the San Juan Islands while learning new boating skills. The completion of a course, which closely follows the AB curriculum, gets you a certificate you’ll find handy for chartering boats at SJY and most other charter operators, as well as satisfying insurance training requirements if you decide to purchase your own boat. SJY has a large power fleet of mostly trawlers, ranging from my little 32 foot Ranger Tug all the way up to a 52 foot Seahorse. Learn more about their courses.
American Tug Island Eagle is brand new to SJY’s fleet in 2025. With two staterooms, it’s a great boat for cruising the islands.
San Juan Yachting
2615 S. Harbor Loop, Suite 1
Bellingham, WA 98225
360-671-8339
NW Explorations
NW Explorations (NWE) also offers powerboat training in the San Juan Islands. Their 3-day class teaches powerboat skills on single engine or twin engine boats and includes onboard overnight accommodations out in the San Juan Islands. Because their focus is not on certification, their instructors are more flexible and can concentrate on the skills students want to improve. They have a large fleet of powerboats, ranging from 42 foot Grand Banks all the way up to an 86 foot Nordhavn. (They even have a Ranger Tug R-43, which I can’t wait to train on!) NWE has also taken flotillas to a new level with their annual Mother Goose Flotilla to Alaska. Finishing training with them would be the first step to chartering a boat and joining a future flotilla. Learn more about their powerboat training.
The Ranger Tug R-43 Qualia features two full staterooms and heads and pod engines with docking assistance and “hover” mode.
NW Explorations
2623 S. Harbor Loop
Bellingham, WA 98225
360-676-1248
Private Training and More!
As you might imagine, both organizations offer private training in their boats. If you’re not interested in being part of a group, you can arrange for private instruction either as part of a charter or before one. This is particularly handy for couples or groups of friends who want to learn together and enjoy the beauty of the San Juan Islands by boat.
If you’re looking for a boating class, I hope you’re consider one of these two organizations. But can you do me a favor? If you contact either one, tell them Maria Langer sent you. Maybe I’ll get to meet you onboard!