Testimonials |
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"Thank you so much for the email and for working with us to make boating
safer and the Coast Guard better understood. We are also learning more about
the boating community, their perspective and more effective ways to
communicate with them as well. Thanks again for your service and support.
I also agree the Power Squadron and the CG Auxiliary are a tremendous group
of dedicated public servants who have a passion for safety. They and you
too have saved many lives through your collective efforts. Thank you!"-
Rear Admiral Craig E. Bone, Commander, Eleventh Coast Guard District |
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| "I just got my 100 Ton Masters Captains License and realized that learning to drive a boat was not part of the exam. They taught Rules of the Road, and much more, and yes I can tie a Bolin and a Half Hitch. After much trial and error in driving, I tried searching the web for some help and discovered Kevin. Kevin is a brilliant teacher. Thanks to him I now know what I didn't know about driving a boat. Thanks Kevin! "- Captain John Brown |
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| "I wanted to thank you for the very useful lesson we had the other day on the Delta. I wish you had taken us out the first time just after we got the boat; that little mishap with the rocks could have been avoided. I particularly liked the fact you really drilled us on the basics of three point turns. That simple exercise done in calm and current within the harbor was a good confidence builder. You have a good understanding of how much folks can absorb in one session but your many informative asides and references to your written works makes for a very full lesson. Audio documentation is a good idea. We'll be hiring you to take the big 6 hour lesson 'SF Bay Tour ' to learn the ropes out there soon."- Dave and Rob Gallagher |
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"As the Harbormaster of one of the most prestigious marinas in the Delta, it's important to me to that our berthers who are in need of on-board training have access to the best instructor available. I have recommended Kevo & Pacific Powerboating to many berthers. All have been more than satisfied with his services." - Tom Tate Harbormaster of Korth's Pirate's Lair Marina |
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"Pacific Powerboating
taught me how to handle our new 47' yacht with confidence
and proficiency in a very short time. Well worth the
money!" -Chase Dekker (I'm the little
guy in the middle)
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"Kevin is a great instructor.
Very professional and intuitive. We highly recommend
him to anyone interested in on-board powerboating instruction."-Mike
& Barb Reeves
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| "I would gladly recommend
you to anyone involved in boating of any kind. Thank you
so much!"-Bill Tucker |
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| "Kevin is a great boating
instructor (and a good guy too!!!) He treated us with
respect and was very patient and thorough. We highly recommend
Pacific Powerboating for on boat powerboat instruction."-Zane
and La La Schuller |
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| "Pacific Powerboating
has given me the opportunity to enjoy the Delta boating
experience with knowledge and confidence. I was also able
to obtain a discount on my boat insurance because of the
excellent training I received from Kevin."-Bob
Brown Discovery Bay. |
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| "Boating instruction
on your own boat is the only way to go. Kevin helped us
improve our confidence and expertise. We would recommend
Pacific Powerboating to anyone who wants to improve their
boat handling skills."-Marty and Joyce Siegan |
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| "We recently had
the opportunity to spend the day on the Delta with Kevo.
He opened our session with his guarantee of not charging
a fee unless we felt it was a productive experience. Within
the first 30 minutes he had earned his money. The rest
of the time spent with Kevo was a bonus! We would recommend
him to anyone looking to strengthen their boating skills."-Phil
and Debbie Vallejo |
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| "Working with Kevo
was the best investment of time and money with my new
boat. He gave me the confidence and the knowledge to go
out and enjoy the boating experience. He is a very good
instructor and just a pleasure to work with."-Patrick
Henley |
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| "My wife couldn't believe
how proficient I've gotten at handling our new 34' Searay
after just a few lessons from Kevo. Worth every penny!"-Gene
Orcutt |
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| "Kevin showed a tremendous
amount of patience in training us on our first boat (32'
Wellcraft, St. Tropez). He made the experience worthwhile
and treated us "newbies" with a lot of respect. We highly
recommend Kevin for first-timers as well as advanced boaters.
He's a fun guy and superb trainer."-Derrick and
Rhonda Daley |
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| "Kevin made learning to
use my 25 foot Sea
Ray cuddy cabin painless, easy, and enjoyable! I now have
excellent confidence, new skills, a thorough understanding
of the way boats work mechanically and how they operate
in the water. Overall, I am just unbelievably pleased...all
this with NO previous experience and in less than 3 hours
of instruction! I loved it so much that my wife and I
are going to have him back for a lesson for her and a
more advanced operational skills lesson for me!"-Robert
White |
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| "Kevin O'Leary and Pacific
Powerboating are a tremendous resource for those seeking
large boat instruction and navigation insight to the Delta.
As a first time boat buyer of a 45 foot motor yacht, my
biggest concern was the access to instruction that would
make me a capable captain. After just 20 hours of instruction
I feel nearly as confident in my boat as I do in my car."-Steve
Zamolo |
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| "Kevin's patience and expert instruction gave us the confidence we needed at the helm of our Nordic Tug. Our time with him was very enjoyable and productive. Even a seasoned boater could learn a few things from Kevin's instruction. We look forward to future lessons. Thanks Kevin."-Doar & Adele Greenman Nordic Tug, Lucky G |
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"Kevo is always our answer every time a buyer asks what they can do to get familiar with all aspects of using their new boat. We are very careful about who we refer our customers to. It is important that the business' professionalism and quality of service is on par with our own. Every client we have sent to Kevo has been more than satisfied, and was pleasantly surprised at how thorough their training experience was with him."
Chris Simpson
Broker/Owner
Antioch Yacht Sales
www.antiochyachtsales.com
925-757-6655 |
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| "Having access to on-board instruction was key to my decision to buying the yacht of my dreams. Kevo & Pacific Powerboating gave me the confidence and knowledge I wanted to safely operate my new vessel. I highly recommend Pacific Powerboating for on-board powerboat instruction."-Alan Wong |
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| "I recently moved up from a 32 ft. to a 37 ft. Bayliner (a much bigger boat) and was hesitant to take it out. I knew I needed some instructions, but didn't know exactly where to find it. I saw Kevin's article in the Yachtsman magazine and the rest is history. He gave me the confidence and skill I needed to maneuver in close quarters. I would recommend him to anyone ."- John Buschman |
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| "We met Kevin O'Leary while taking delivery of our new Meridian 341 NSB. We have been boating for many years, but this was our first big boat. He was very knowledgeable when it came to the questions that we had, and there were many questions. Kevin makes the lesson seem like "you're just going out for a day of boating," but what you actually get out of a session with him will impress you. He's the trainer that will teach you what to do if something goes wrong before it actually does. Wind in close quarters was a major problem for us, but after a few short hours he's got you spinning in circles in the tightest of areas with not as much concern for the wind because he taught us that the wind can be worked to our advantage. We recommend Pacific Powerboating to everyone. Definitely!"- Robert and Anna England |
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| "If you have any doubt about what to do on the water, call Kevo. Do you want to handle a 50 footer like a 18, call Kevo. My ability to handle my boat after one lesson was a big difference, after two lessons was remarkable. My family acutely enjoys coming on the boat now. I look forward to going out and getting better because of the confidence I was able to get with Kevo. Thanks and Happy Boating!"-Bill Delaney |
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| "My 40th b-day present was a 21ft. ski centurion. I wanted the boat but now that I had the boat I needed to learn how to drive it. The idea of my husband or one of his friends teaching me to drive did not thrill me. I have been married long enough to know my limits. Most people would probably not think of taking lessons to learn to drive a ski boat but it was the best thing I could have done. I definitely had to push my self out of my comfort zone to schedule an all day lesson with a stranger. My comfort zone soon expanded with Kevin's friendly personality and encouraging teaching style. I learned so much before the boat was even in the water. I launched, drove, learned the rules of the water, and so much more. My husband was impressed with how much I had learned and the confidence I had gained. Thanks Kevin!"-Alicia McCormick |
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| "Thank you very much. I feel much more confident on the water now
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"Kevo is truly the “sensei” of boat instruction. He is patient, thorough, and personable. As a new boater, I was not only concerned about learning the basics of boating, but also apprehensive about navigating the Delta. Besides teaching all fundamental boating skills, including rules of the road, close quarter maneuvering, docking and anchoring, Kevo took us from Byron to Walnut Grove and everywhere in between.
Kevo's assessment of our boat's condition, his post-instructional notes, and his suggestions for additional necessary equipment for safe and comfortable boating were invaluable. After our course, my wife and I consider Kevo both mentor and new friend."- Arthur & Nancy Solomon
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"After being away from boating for 35 years, I purchased a 30 foot twin engine express cruiser. I damaged it on the maiden voyage while attempting to dock in an extremely windy marina (my home berth).
At that point I was afraid of my own boat. I called Kevin & he reassured me that I would master the vessel after a few lessons. I decided that I wanted more than a quickie afternoon of instruction. I engaged Kevin for four 3-day weekends & concentrated on close quarter maneuvering.
It was money well spent. I am now confident that I can handle my vessel & am on the way to becoming a competent boater.
It was a pleasure dealing with Kevin. He was competent, caring, punctual. Not only does he know boats but he knows how to teach that skill to others in a language that is understandable. He analyzes mistakes & makes you understand why things went wrong. That is more valuable than doing it right by luck. He is very organized & gives you a report card/summary of the day's lesson which you can refer to, I was sad when the lessons ended but I expect that Kevin will remain a friend for life "- Arnold Goldschlager, M.D.
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"Thanks for all your help and expertise yesterday, we both had a great time and learned a lot. I know that my confidence level has increased tremendously - particularly in close quarter maneuvering and docking. We will most certainly visit the harbormaster's office and tell them how valuable we felt that your services were.
Thanks again!"- Clive & Judy Snedke |
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| "When we purchased our long term dream of finally owning a power boat our family could enjoy, we did not realize that we were intimidated and almost afraid of operating it. But when someone gave us a copy of the Yachtsman magazine to read, we noticed your article. We asked our harbor master about your training services and they said you had a great reputation as a top level power boat training instructor. We thought about calling you for a few days and we knew the weekend was coming up and we wanted to take the family to the boat, but didn't know how to operate it! After we called you and set-up our first lesson, I felt that my boat would not sit in its berth for the rest of its life. That there is a possibility that our whole family would be able to operate it. You said that your first lesson would be to learn close quarter maneuvering. Oh my goodness! You can teach me how to get into and out of my very tight berth? Kevin said, yes that and other important maneuvering techniques and safety measures you should know when you own a boat and to learn to have fun with your boat. We set-up two lessons. After our lessons, we all felt that Kevin taught us how to truly enjoy our boat! The best thing we could do for our family was to have Kevin help us develop our all around confidence in operating our boat. I'm very happy that our 20 year old son has learned how to operate, be responsible and safe all at the same time. As for me and my husband, we go out in the boat, I drive sometimes and he drives others and the boat has actually brought us together. We now have a life long sport we can all have fun with and at the same time be a responsible, safe boat owners. Thanks Kevin, we now LOVE OUR BOAT!"- Dr. Magdy Girgis, Cyndi Hilton-Girgis, and Zack |
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| "I bought my dream boat, a Sharpe house boat which is 71ft x 16 ft. and my boating experience has been limited to 22 ft. Cobalt. It's a little like learning to fly in a 747. I really was uptight taking out the boat and desperately needed some instruction, docking and anchoring was a real challenge, I saw Kevin's ad in The Yachtsman and hired him. This was the best money I ever spent! Fortunately I have both stern and bow thrusters which make docking a lot easier; never the less, both docking and anchoring made me nervous as 71 ft. of boat is a lot of boat to handle. Kevin showed me the proper angle to approach my dock and various techniques on boat docking. I was really nervous about anchoring as I never anchored a boat of this size, so we took the boat to Mildred Island and practiced anchoring both bow and stern anchors. I have no fear about anchoring now thanks to Kevin. If you feel overwhelmed with too much boat, Kevin is your answer. Thanks again Kevin"-Richard Pontes |
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| "Kevin was recommended to us by Tower Park Boat Sales when we bought our first boat, a 32' Bayliner Avanti. Having had no prior experience, we truly appreciated Kevin's patient and down-to-earth approach to covering the basics of boat ownership and operation. He remained cheerful and unflappable throughout our training, even during work on close quarter maneuvering. His practical tips on everything from ensuring we put gas in the gas tank and not the water tank to tying knots to yacht clubs were exceptionally useful. As a result of taking his course, we were able to purchase the most comprehensive marine insurance. We are so glad that Kevin was available to be our mentor, and we would highly recommend him to anyone just starting out or wanting to polish their skills."-Bob and Ann Sparks |
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"When we bought our first boat (Doral 32'), we didn't know the difference between a helm and a head. Kevin took us through every part of our boat, and truly made us believe that no question was a dumb question. Kevin gave us an education on more than just driving a boat, but also took the time to talk maintenance, yacht clubs, marinas, the Delta, where to get the cheapest gas and just about anything else we might need to navigate Northern California water in a safe and fun way.
We are extremely happy with the lessons we learned from Kevin, and we would highly recommend him to anyone who has the desire to become a power boater in Northern California. "-Matt & Sara Gregory |
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"Sandy and I are very pleased with your instructions; extremely beneficial and covers the aspects of our boating training that we were looking for from an instructor. Also, we always felt very comfortable working with you and were very pleased that you recognized we were novice in the "big" boat arena and we never felt you overwhelmed us or made us feel inferior. Excellent program which I would recommend for not only novices, but a good refresher for more experienced boaters as well. We are looking forward to working with you on other aspects of the boating world as time goes on. Thanks for a wonderful experience!"-John & Sandy Smith |
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| "I thought purchasing my first pre-owned boat was going to be the hard part…Boy was I wrong. Once I finally decided on the year, make and model (‘04 Meridian 408), negotiated the price and had it delivered, the fun was just about to begin. WRONG! I was so overwhelmed by the size, systems and noises; I didn't know where to begin. Luckily for me (I didn't thinks so at the time) my insurance company put a restriction on me get some instruction prior to soloing. Being frugal (not good for a boat owner) I was pissed to say the least. I saw the Pacific Powerboating ad in the Yachtsman and was drawn to Kevin's money back guarantee. Let me tell you, he will never have to give a free lesson! Kevin's practical method of teaching is invaluable to the novice or experienced boater. He dissected “MY” boat from stem to stern and taught me things that would have taken me years to figure out. His curriculum is so incredibly organized and thorough; we were able to cover the most amount of material in the shortest possible time. Kevin takes boating very seriously, but has a technique of teaching operation, safety and responsibility in a very enjoyable fashion. In short, the few extra dollars I was forced to spend, has been the best investment so far. I highly recommend Kevin O'Leary as your next personal boating instructor. A true professional and a resource of “all things boating”. Kevin thanks for all of your help and giving me a new friend in boating!"-Greg Kaufman, DC |
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"As a wife, most "Admiral's" like myself would be intimidated by having their own husband teach them to drive their boat. However, my husband Kevo showed the patience and cool demeanor that he does to his clients when he taught me to handle our 38' Bayliner, which is a beast of a boat to handle. Never would I have imagined that I would learn how to take our boat in and out of its slip, but also spin it around in circles in very tight quarters without hitting a thing (and enjoying every moment of it!). However, the most amazing thing is that all of the time, Kevo was cool and collected and never yelled at me once!! :-) Kevo hopes that one day soon that me and my girlfriends can take the boat out without him and cruise the Delta. Now that is confidence in his teaching! Thanks Sweetie! Your loving wife (and new Captain, perhaps??! HA!!)
"-Susan O'Leary |
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| "Kevin is an outstanding instructor and very patient. He is also fun to be with, very knowledgeable and taught me and my wife how to handle my 41 footer quickly. I would recommend him to anyone for lessons. He is well worth the money spent."-Lloyd & Kecia Leroy |
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| "With much gratitude and pride we are students of Pacific Powerboating. Kevo has made a dramatic difference in our boating lives. We have gone from high anxiety to smooth confidence because of our hours spent with Kevo. He has a unique teaching ability and we had our need to be taught, a perfect match. It is always a grand adventure with Kevo on board. Thank you, and we know we will see you again soon."-Bill and Karen Mc Gillivray |
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| "Kevo is a great instructor, very easy to understand, extremely patient and has a wealth of knowledge. My father and I truly enjoyed our lessons with Kevo and now feel confident enough to navigate our 28ft Bayliner anywhere in the bay. I highly recommend anyone who is new at boating or is upgrading to a larger boat to take lessons from Kevo, he will teach you things you didn't think you needed to know. ."-Joe and Guenevive Defigueiredo |
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| "I really enjoyed Kevin as a teacher. He took his time to explain and make corrections every time I made a mistake. He was very knowledgeable about boats and made sure that we were safe at all times. The most important thing is to operate your boat in a safe manner as to not be a hazard to others and Kevin makes sure that you are as well trained as can be. He never told me about more lessons, but when I asked, he was more than honest. The extra lesson made me a much better boater and safer on the water. It's the old saying, only you can prevent accidents. Thanks!"-Roger Beem member United States Power Squadron ( Marin ) |
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| "Any time you have an opportunity to get more boating education from a highly trained individual, you should grab it. Such is the rare opportunity here. Pacific Powerboating's training courses are designed to teach what every boat owner should know—newbie or veteran."-Kelly Lam, Executive Director of Western Boaters Safety Group |
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| "Every boater should take a proficiency course similar to what is offered by Pacific Powerboating. They teach safety, emergency maneuvers and skills necessary for safe boating on the water. Kevo is doing a great service for the boating community and we reward his students with lower insurance rates."-Joseph Cecchini, Chairman of Westmar Marine Insurance Services |
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| "Dave and I were quite impressed with the training that you provided. We felt very comfortable working with you. Your knowledge and expertise were impressive. Thank you again and we will let you know how we do!"-Dave and Mary Kemnitz |
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| "After taking Kevo's course I feel very confident in taking out our 41' Aft Cabin. Kevo went over all aspects of safe boating and having the proper gear on board. Also the lesson taught my wife and I how to dock our new boat. Docking was an important skill to learn due to the tough current in the marina we are berthed in. Operating a boat of this size is a whole new world compared to our two other smaller boats. Thanks again Kevo for giving us the skills to be safe and prepared for handling our boat. See you on the water."-Jason & Heidi Hallenberg
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"Here's the deal. I purchased my boat, Great Escape, about 3 years ago. She is a twin diesel Nova, 36' and not that tough to handle. Having said that, I had very limited prior experience on the water and was somewhat intimidated, especially in the somewhat adverse conditions that are often encountered in the Bay Area. I had a few hours of on-board instruction to learn the basics, as well as attending and passing all of the coast guard classroom courses. Unfortunately, that did not really do the trick, and I ended up treating the boat as a floating condo, with few excursions out of my berth. Finally, my insurance company, with which I had been very forthright regarding my lack of experience, threatened to withdraw my coverage unless I was deemed to be competent, by either a licensed captain or an otherwise acceptable instructor. I initiated web searches to find someone who could provide the foregoing requirements. I wasn't having much luck until I ran across Kevin O'Leary's ads (aka “Kevo”) in the Bay and Delta Yachtsman publication, advertising his company's (Pacific Powerboating) instruction services and his prior success rate with incompetents such as myself. I immediately contacted him, and the rest is history.
Kevo's instruction technique is based upon verbal hints while the student performs specific maneuvers, particularly in tight quarters. It's not high pressure – he is there to assist and takes control only if the situation is headed towards a mini-disaster. All of this is accompanied by a dialog stream related to his somewhat nefarious past and present, which I believe is a deliberate method of testing the student's attention span in demanding situations (although he does have the gift of Irish gab which he enjoys delivering; I don't believe he has to practice this particular technique). After several excursions – which included, on the last day of instruction, a six-hour voyage beneath the Golden Gate, then to Pier 39, South Beach Harbor, Jack London Square, Treasure Island, Angel Island, and back to our Sausalito starting point. We thereafter proceeded to celebrate my “graduation” and diploma presentation by sharing an Amstel Lite.
In addition to the on-board instruction, Kevo performed a complete inspection of Great Escape particular vessel and pointed a couple of problems that required correction; bottom line, he will not provide a sign-off until any significant deficiencies are corrected.
I cannot speak too highly of the value I received from the overall experience with Kevo. My confidence level has risen 100-fold, and my insurance coverage is maintained. And besides, he is a great guy! I heartily recommend his services, with no reservation whatsoever."-Dan Crosser, Owner – Great Escape |
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Ex Tridens Scientia: From knowledge (comes) sea power
"With the recent purchase of a 32 ft bayliner, I was looking for a short cut to understanding the boat systems and handling. Kevo turned out to be a great choice to gaining the knowledge I was looking to get.
With very personalized instruction, we went into the boat itself and got a better understanding than the limited bayliner owner's manual provided. Changes and modifications were clearly pointed out and polished with his experience of these boats. This alone saved many hours looking for maintance and operation information (if you could have found it.)
The time on the water established good boat handling training that a book cannot provide. Maneuvering a boat in close quarters requires good training because damage and embarrassment around a marina can ruin a really good day on the water. This is more than a short cut; it sets a skill set for future safe boating. I found Kevo to be an excellent instructor with a doctorate of boatmanship."-Don Seyk |
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