Meet Sarah.

Hi! Sarah here. 5 years ago I had a vision to create a boating academy with attention to detail in communication, boat quality, safety and most importantly customer experience. I grew up in the marine towing & salvage industry and as a live aboard cruiser leading to teaching sailing and boating around the east coast, Bahamas and Caribbean. I had worked in the industry and knew what I wanted. 4 years ago, I opened with one location in the Kent Narrows with a 21’ hydra-sports. I fell in love with trying to become the best teacher possible- to tap into everyone’s learning styles and to make the on-water lessons practical, digestible and relaxed. Then in 2024, we opened a 2nd location near Annapolis. I knew with 2 little kids at home (and still part of the TowBoatUS business) that I needed to grow the team.  A students positive experience directly correlates to how well the Instructor Captain teaches, communicates and provides feedback while keeping the learning safe and engaging. The team is the heart and soul of a business and I mean it when I say we’ve got the dream team! I wanted captains who would care as much as I did about each student and that’s exactly what we got. As we wrap up our 4th year and get ready for the 5th, I’m filled with so much gratitude for everyone who has trusted us to make them more confident behind the helm, the captains who share their passion and expertise and the community behind us. When clients and captains become friends, you know the recipe is working! 2026 brings 2 new Key West 239 training boats, NSBC & USPowerboating certified Instructors, new courses, extra weekend dates, more women’s only courses and a few more surprises we will share with you soon.  Thank you to everyone who has supported and cheered on our small business- we appreciate you!

At Chesapeake Boating Academy, our Captains are not only USCG-licensed, but also certified National Safe Boating Council and US Powerboating Instructors. We take pride in offering new, safe and comfortable training vessels designed for hands-on learning. Our goal is to guide every student with proven, accredited instruction in a relaxed atmosphere so that they can obtain real-life boating skills that build lasting confidence and knowledge. Clear communication, demonstrating techniques and allowing each person adequate time at the helm to practice ensures students leave with the fundamental and technical skills to utilize when they are on the water.

Chesapeake Boating Academy is a woman-owned and operated boating school dedicated to empowering boaters and promoting safe, confident boating. We provide high-quality on-the-water training in Maryland, offering a welcoming and inclusive learning environment where beginners and experienced boaters alike can build real-world skills behind the helm.

Our USCG-licensed, professionally certified captains deliver accredited boat handling courses designed to teach practical, hands-on skills that directly translate to safer, more enjoyable boating. Whether you’re learning the basics, improving docking techniques, or preparing for more advanced maneuvers, our training focuses on real-life boating scenarios that strengthen confidence and competence.

We believe that the best way to learn is through hands-on boating lessons that are engaging, positive, and fun. Students leave every session with valuable skills they can immediately apply during future boating adventures.

As advocates for clean waterways, we also emphasize environmentally responsible boating practices. Our academy promotes clean boating habits that help protect the Chesapeake Bay and surrounding waters for generations to come.

Join us to become a more confident, capable, and responsible boater.

Key West 239 Training Boats

We use the Key West 239 FS as the training boat for both of our locations. We find this size, just shy of 24’ to be the ideal platform for instruction and learning. The center console set up allows the Captain to be on the side of the throttle. It is stable and easy to rotate students at the helm and there is a large bench seat in the back, seats in the front, dry storage in the console and many handrails and places to hold on. The Kent Narrows KW has Garmin Electronics and the Annapolis KW has Simrad Electronics. Both boats have VHF radios and extra safety gear for everyone aboard. The T-Top provides good sun coverage during the hot summer months. The boats have coolers to store drinks and food.

Chesapeake Boating Academy is proud to partner with the BoatUS Foundation’s On-Water Training Program