What Kind of Cruiser Will You Be? Selecting the Right Course at Cruisers University
Date: June 17, 2025If you’re intent on sticking to the beaten path, then cruising probably isn’t for you. Sixty miles offshore, there are no taillights to follow and no one to ask for directions. That said, don’t think for a minute that venturing into the great unknown means going it alone. Cruisers University (October 6-10, 2025) allows you to select from over 60 classes and plot your course towards becoming the cruiser you want to be. Below are three tracks you might want to consider on the way to your next adventure.
The Generalist (Jack of All Trades)
With everything that goes into piloting a vessel over long distances, cruisers have to wear a lot of hats. You have to be a deckhand, captain, navigator, meteorologist, radio technician, mechanic, cook, and (especially if you haven’t mastered the art of docking) a marriage counselor. Going in green, it can be difficult to figure out where to start. Luckily, the Cruisers University class list is a veritable hat rack of introductory courses.
- Weather 101
- Starlink for the Cruiser
- Practical Skill for Docking & Line Handling
- Cowgirl/Cowboy Skills on a Boat
- Navigation and Weather Planning for Passage-making
The Crisis Manager (Cool Under Pressure)
Quickly! The skipper just went transom-over-teakettle off the foredeck and the first mate has sustained a serious injury while cutting limes for a Gin Rickey, what do you do? If that scenario seems farfetched, just wait until you’re disinfecting a laceration with Bombay Sapphire. If you’re the type to take charge in an emergency situation, then Cruisers University is the place to learn how to handle whatever gets thrown your way.
- Offshore Emergency Medicine
- What’s in Your Med Kit?
- Emergency – What To Do if You Are Suddenly Alone on the Boat
The Problem Solver (Handy and Resourceful)
You don’t often find diesel mechanics living on remote tropical islands and, if you do, chances are they didn’t get there by offering reasonable prices for emergency repairs. If you want to keep your boat up and running without paying for someone’s second pool house, you’re going to have to learn how to do it yourself. Luckily, Cruises University has the courses to turn any mechanical misfit into a maritime MacGyver.
You can be confident in knowing that with such a wide range of expert-led courses, Cruisers University will help you get wherever you’re heading. Classes run October 6th – 10th between the Annapolis Powerboat Show and Sailboat Show. Fall registration is open and spots are filling up fast. Learn more at CruisersUniversity.com.