Education

Lithium Batteries are the present, not just the future. They are appearing on vessels from 15’ Bass Boats to Ocean Cruising Sailboats. We will discuss selection, installation, and the changes you will need to make to your existing charging systems to accommodate your new battery bank. Special attention will be paid to the rapidly changing ABYC Standards and what you need to know when you make the jump to LiFePO4 batteries on your boat.

Presented by Captain Scott Berg of CBW LLC Marine Surveyors, Consultants, and Captains

Join Capt. Sarah of Chesapeake Boating Academy in this hands-on boating seminar, you’ll learn the essential boating knots every boat operator and crew should know, including the cleat hitch, clove hitch, coiling, throwing and storing line and more. This interactive session focuses on line handling, knot tying techniques, and when to use each knot, making it perfect for beginners and experienced boaters preparing for the season.

Presented by Captain Sarah Lawrence of the Chesapeake  Boating Academy

Join boaters in New England and the Mid-Atlantic for a program dedicated to preparing boaters and sailors in the Greater Atlantic (Maine through Virginia) to safely navigate through waters shared with protected marine species, especially large whales, for the safety and wellbeing of both boaters and marine species.

If you are a recreational boater in Atlantic waters, and you want to take proactive steps to ensure your safety at sea while around whales, this is the course for you!

Presented by Briana Gibbs  NOAA Affiliate

Captain Boomies is a 200-ton Master with over 15 years of experience as a professional delivery captain and instructor, specializing in helping new owners transition smoothly into life aboard. From safety gear and docking to navigation and passage-making, she shares dozens of hard-won lessons with infectious enthusiasm and deep professionalism, ensuring you learn something new and have fun doing it. Not a first-timer? She also specializes in helping seasoned boaters step up to bigger vessels and gives tips on the process!

Presented by Captain Boomies

Are you interested in getting up to speed for safe and fun boating? Would you like to feel more comfortable behind the wheel or handling the dock lines? Do you know what to do in an emergency? Nothing takes the place of actual practice on the water, but attend this session to learn what you need to know to build your skills and confidence. Attendees will leave this introductory session knowing where they need to focus their follow-up education and training.

Join Captains Vicki Saporta and Erin Manor for an interactive presentation.

 Presented by CAPCA

From Mile Marker 0 in Norfolk, VA to Miami, FL the Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway (ICW) covers 1,090 Statue Miles. It passes through military bases, a canal surveyed by George Washington, The AICW as it is officially known is a wonder of natural rivers and sounds coupled with planning and execution by the Army Corp of Engineers who are largely responsible for its locks and management. Beginners will learn the keys to a safe and enjoyable voyage on “The Ditch” while old salts can get some pointers to current issues to be aware of, best spots to moor, anchor, and dine, and more.

Presented by Captain Scott Berg of CBW LLC Marine Surveyors, Consultants, and Captains

Join Capt Sarah and learn how to safely navigate using Aids to Navigation (ATONs) in this practical, beginner-friendly boating seminar at the Annapolis Boat Shows. Aids to Navigation are essential maritime markers—including buoys, beacons, lighthouses, and electronic signals—placed on shore or in the water to help mariners determine their position, follow a safe course, and identify potential hazards.

In this session, you’ll learn how to identify channel markers and buoys, understand lateral systems, and use ATONs to navigate safely in real-world conditions. We’ll also cover the basics of electronic navigation, including how ATONs appear on modern GPS and chartplotters, helping you connect what you see on the water with what you see on your screen.

This seminar is ideal for new and experienced boaters looking to build confidence in coastal navigation, buoy systems, and safe boating practices on the Chesapeake Bay and beyond.

Presented by Sarah Lawrence of the Chesapeake Boating Academy

Fishing for striped bass in the Chesapeake has evolved in recent years, as anglers learn to cope with slot limits, fewer fish, and changing environmental conditions. Go fishing the same way in the same places as you did a decade ago, and you’re likely to catch a skunk. A much better move would be to join FishTalk angler in chief Lenny Rudow at the Bay Bridge Boat Show at Safe Harbor Narrows Point, as he runs down the tactics and tips anglers use to catch rockfish in the modern era. Jigging, fishing live bait, and trolling will all be on the agenda.

Presented by Lenny Rudow of FishTalk Magazine

Learn and test your nautical knowledge in this fun and interactive game with Capt Sarah. Contestants will be entered to win a free boating course- drawing announced at the end!

Presented by Sarah Lawrence of the Chesapeake Boating Academy