A boat trip with friends can change quickly when the engine quits or the weather turns. Knowing what to do next matters to everyone aboard. The U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary Flotilla 91 of Fort Myers Beach will offer its Boat America class Saturday, Oct. 17, to help boaters prepare for those moments.

The class costs $45 per person and takes place at Pine Ridge Community Center in Fort Myers. Experienced Coast Guard Auxiliary instructors teach navigation rules, how to use safety equipment and what to do in an emergency.

Participants will learn what channel markers mean and how navigation rules help boats pass safely. Instructors also cover how to prepare for changing weather and mechanical problems, whether the plan is a short cruise or a full day on the water.

New boaters are welcome, along with passengers and experienced operators who want a refresher. The course also covers personal watercraft, keeping children and other passengers safe, and caring for local waterways. You don’t need to own a boat to benefit from the class.

Advance registration is required. Sign up at https://www.aux91fmb.org/safeboating or call 239-690-6780. If you usually go boating with a friend, invite them along. It helps to have someone else aboard who knows what to do. In Florida, anyone born on or after January 1, 1988, must take an approved boating safety course to operate a motorboat of 10 horsepower or greater.

Class details
• Boat America | Saturday, Oct. 17, 2026 | $45 per person
• Pine Ridge Community Center, 15660 Pine Ridge Road, Fort Myers, FL 33908
• Registration and class hours: 239-690-6780 | www.aux91fmb.org/safeboating | 9 a.m. - 5 p.m.
• The date doesn't work for you? Classes are the third Saturday of the Month.

Media Contact:

Daniel Eaton
Flotilla Staff Officer Public Affairs
PublicAffairs@Aux91FMB.org | 239-690-6780 Option 4

Flotilla 91 Online Newsroom