Private Boat and Yacht
Training in Naples and
Southwest Florida

Q: Do I need previous boating experience?

No. We start with your experience and goals, whether you’re new to boating, returning after time away, or working on a particular skill.

Q: Do you offer classroom and on-water training?

Yes. Our Confident Boater classroom course covers practical boating knowledge and everyday decisions on the water. On-water lessons give you time at the helm to practice aboard your boat or ours. You can choose either option or combine them.

Q: How many sessions will I need?

That depends on your starting point, goals, and the skills you want to develop. You may want a focused lesson on one topic or a series covering several areas. We’ll discuss a starting point and adjust as you progress.

Q: Can my spouse or partner learn too?

Yes. Training is for anyone who wants to become more comfortable and capable aboard. Spouses, partners, and family members can build their own skills in boat handling, navigation, communication, and safety.

Q: Can I train before buying a boat?

Yes. Training aboard our boat gives you practical experience before you purchase. It’s an opportunity to learn what operating a boat involves and discuss how different boats fit the activities you have in mind.

Now enrolling

The Confident Boater

Classroom course ·
Wednesday, November 4, 2026 · 9:00 a.m. – 3:30 p.m.

The Confidence to Boat.
The Freedom to Live.

Boating should be about freedom, adventure, and time spent with the people who matter. The right knowledge and skills help you enjoy these moments with greater confidence and less uncertainty.

Boat & Yacht Training Built Around You

Whether you’re a first-time boat owner, an experienced boater looking to sharpen your skills, or someone preparing to purchase a boat, Sunshine Academy of Boating offers personalized boat and yacht training in Naples, Florida, and throughout Southwest Florida.

Choose from interactive classroom courses, convenient online boating education, or private on-the-water instruction aboard your boat or ours. From docking and boat handling to marine navigation, boating safety, and understanding your vessel’s systems, our training is designed around your experience, interests, and goals.

Learn what you need, at a pace that works for you, and develop the skills and confidence to make every day on the water a better experience.

Boating Education That Fits Your Life.

Sunshine Academy of Boating offers flexible boating education in Naples, Florida, and throughout Southwest Florida, designed to fit your schedule, experience, and personal goals. Whether you’re new to boating, purchasing your first vessel, returning to the water after years away, or looking to sharpen your skills, there’s a learning experience for you.

Choose from interactive classroom courses, convenient online boating education, or personalized on-the-water training aboard your boat or ours. Learn essential skills in boat handling, docking, marine navigation, weather, boating safety, and vessel operations through practical instruction and real-world situations.

Because boating education should fit your life and help you make the most of it.

On-the-Water Boat & Yacht Training

Your Boat, Ours, or a Rental. Your Goals. Your Confidence.

There’s no substitute for experience at the helm. Sunshine Academy of Boating offers personalized on-the-water boat and yacht training in Naples, Florida, and throughout Southwest Florida.

Whether you’re a new boat owner, preparing to purchase a boat, a boat club member, renting a boat, or an experienced boater looking to sharpen your skills, we’ll tailor the training to your needs.

Practice docking, close-quarters maneuvering, navigation, anchoring, line handling, and boat systems in real-world conditions. Train aboard your own boat to become more comfortable with its handling and equipment, use one of ours, or arrange training aboard a rental vessel.

Our goal is to help you develop the skills, judgment, and confidence to handle your boat safely and make the most of every day on the water.

The Confident Boater | Classroom Boating Course

Better Knowledge. Better Days on the Water.

The Confident Boater is an interactive one-day classroom boating course in Naples, Florida, designed to help new and experienced boaters build knowledge, improve judgment, and make safer, smarter decisions on the water.

Led by Captain Bill Moore, the course combines over 30 years of boating experience with hands-on activities, group discussions, and real-world scenarios. Learn navigation, weather, tides, rules of the road, boating safety, and modern boating technology, with special attention to Southwest Florida waterways.

Whether you’re a boat owner, boating partner, or just getting started, you’ll leave better prepared and more confident for your next adventure.

Confidence Doesn’t Come from Owning a Boat. It Comes from Knowing How to Use It.

Your Boat.
Your Experience.
Your Goals.

Whether you’re purchasing your first boat, moving up to a larger yacht, returning to boating after years away, or simply looking to become a more capable boater, Sunshine Academy of Boating helps you develop the skills and judgment to enjoy the water with confidence.

Experience Makes The Difference.

Our boat and yacht training in Naples, Florida, combines practical instruction, real-world experience, and a personal approach to learning.

We understand that every boater starts from a different place. Some need help overcoming the anxiety of docking, others want to become comfortable with navigation and electronics, and many simply want to feel better prepared when family and friends are aboard.

With classroom education, online learning, and hands-on training available, we’ll help you build the confidence to make better decisions and enjoy more of your time on the water.

Meet Piano Piano
Your Classroom on the Water.

Meet Our Training Boat

You don’t need to own a boat to learn how to operate one. At Sunshine Academy of Boating, our training vessel, Piano Piano, gives you the opportunity to develop real boating skills under the guidance of an experienced captain.

300 HP

Powered by a 300 HP engine, this center console provides a practical learning environment for boat handling, navigation, docking, anchoring, and understanding modern marine electronics.

From your first experience behind the wheel to refining more advanced techniques, you’ll learn how to operate the boat, understand its equipment, and make confident decisions in real-world Southwest Florida conditions.

First Experience Behind the Wheel

Real-World Southwest Florida Conditions

More Advanced Techniques

Real Equipment. Real Experience.

300 HP Power & Handling

Learn throttle control, steering, acceleration, stopping, and close-quarters maneuvering aboard a powerful center console.

Autopilot & Navigation

Understand electronic navigation, GPS route planning, and autopilot operation while maintaining proper situational awareness.

Jack Plate & Shallow Water

Explore engine height, trim, draft considerations, and how to safely evaluate shallow-water conditions around Southwest Florida.

Power-Pole & Anchoring

Practice traditional anchoring techniques and learn how shallow-water anchoring systems are used in different situations.

Electronics & Depth Sounder

Learn to interpret navigation displays, monitor water depth, understand chart information, and recognize the limitations of electronic instruments.

VHF Radio & Communication

Practice marine radio procedures, communicate clearly with other vessels, and understand when and how to make safety and emergency calls.

Your Confidence Starts at the Helm.

Experience personalized boat training in Naples, Florida, aboard Piano Piano. Learn practical skills and build confidence at a pace that works for you.

What we
cover

Navigation and Electronics

Learn to use charts, channel markers, chartplotters, and boating apps to plan and follow a route. Explore additional electronics as appropriate to the boat and your goals.

Anchoring, Lines and Knots

Practice useful knots, handling lines, and choosing an anchoring location. Understand scope, holding, retrieval, and securing a boat as tides change.

Docking and Close-Quarters Handling

Practice approaching and leaving the dock, working with wind and current, using dock lines, and knowing when to stop and reset your approach.

Boat Systems and Basic Troubleshooting

Get familiar with fuel, electrical, cooling, and bilge systems. Learn pre-departure checks, recognize warning signs, and understand when to seek help.

Weather and Local Waters

Understand forecasts, tides, currents, and how they affect your plans. Build familiarity with Southwest Florida’s passes, shallow areas, and local boating conditions.

Boat Handling Underway

Understand steering, speed, trim, wakes, and changing conditions. Learn how the rules of the road guide your decisions around other boats.

Safety and Emergency Preparation

Know your safety equipment and how to use it. Learn VHF communication and how to respond to a person overboard, fire, or loss of propulsion.

Let’s talk about your boating goals

Own, rent, belong to a boat club, or thinking about buying? We’ll help you choose training that fits your experience and goals, aboard your boat or ours, or in the classroom.

Who we teach

New Boaters and
Future Owners

Start building skills aboard our boat, or get familiar with one you’ve just purchased. Learn what operating a boat involves and what to consider when choosing one.

Experienced and
Returning Boaters

Refresh your skills, work on a specific challenge, or get comfortable with a different boat. Instruction builds on your experience and focuses on what you want to learn.

Renters and
Boat Club Members

You don’t have to own a boat to benefit from training. Practice aboard ours and build skills in handling, docking, navigation, and planning for your time on the water.

Spouses, Partners
and Family

Become more comfortable and involved aboard. Learn to help with lines, keep a lookout, use the radio, and take the helm, including preparing for situations when the usual operator needs help.

How it works

We start with a conversation about your experience, questions, and what you want to do on the water. From there, we help you choose the right starting point: hands-on instruction aboard your boat or ours, our Confident Boater classroom course, or a combination of both.

Focus on a Specific Skill

Work on docking, boat handling, navigation, or another area where you’d like more guidance. On-water instruction gives you time to practice with an instructor at your side.

Build Your Skills Over Time

Take a broader approach with a series of lessons tailored to your experience and goals. Develop your knowledge and put it into practice at a pace that suits you.

Let’s find your starting point.

Have a particular skill or trip
in mind?

Explore focused lessons in docking, night boating, navigation, boating as a couple, and more. Training is available aboard your boat, ours, or in the classroom, depending on the topic.

Common questions

Do I need my own boat?

No. We offer training aboard your boat or ours. Renters, boat club members, and people considering a purchase are welcome. If you own a boat, learning aboard it helps you become familiar with its handling and equipment.

Do I need previous boating experience?

Do you offer classroom and on-water training?

How many sessions will I need?

Can my spouse or partner learn too?

Can I train before buying a boat?

On your boat, ours, or in the classroom.

Tell us about your experience and what you’d like to learn. Whether you own, rent, belong to a boat club, or are considering a purchase, we’ll help you choose the right training for your goals.

Every relationship begins with a conversation. No pressure, no presentation, and no obligation.

Your first call for exceptional living

Private Boat and Yacht Training in Naples and Southwest Florida