Offshore racers know quite a bit about performance boats. Lucky for you, a few of them are available to teach you how to hone your skills.

Originally published in August 2008 issue.

By Ben Gallagher

Think back to the first time you stepped on a performance boat and prepared to drive. There were gauges and controls to worry about, let alone an array of emotions, from apprehension to excitement, to overcome.

Over the years, you've probably encountered a few dicey situations where that apprehension resurfaced. No matter your driving experience, nobody can see the unexpected coming. And let's face it, a lot of unexpected things can happen during a day on the water.

But the boating culture is changing—maturing, shall we say—thanks to a few people who are offering performance driving schools to promote a safe and responsible atmosphere within the industry.

One individual leading the way is former offshore-racing champion Tres Martin. Emphasizing safety and preparedness, Tres Martin's Performance Boat School is officially endorsed by marine insurance agency, Markel Marine, as well as a number of performance-boat manufacturers.

Many of these manufacturers are actually including enrollment in the course with the purchase of a new boat. The classes range from $1,500 if your boat is capable of speeds up to 75 mph to $2,500 if the boat is faster than 80 mph.

"(Markel) has been involved in our school from the beginning," said Martin when asked about the insurance company's endorsement. "Their people have taken part in our course, so they recognize its value. They looked at my knowledge and experience in this industry and what kind of person I am, and I think that is a big reason for their continued support.

"Unfortunately, I witnessed a lot of death and casualties in my racing career over the years," he continued. "I have a tremendous amount of respect for life, and I know that boats can be dangerous if you don't have the right knowledge. That's why I focus on safety more than anything else in my course."

David Barbie, an insurance agent for Elton Porter Marine Insurance (it offers Markel Marine policies), said the head underwriter at Markel attended Martin's class and supports the curriculum.

"You have to be trained in the boat you're buying," Barbie said. "If you're buying a catamaran, you have to be trained in that cat so you're certified to drive that boat with that power."

Although it's not a guarantee, drivers who take the class may get a discount on insurance, depending on the individual's situation.

"If you're a guy who has a lot of cat experience, and maybe you just want to move up in power, we might be able to get you a discount," Barbie said. "If you're moving from a V-bottom to a cat though, you're probably going to be required to take the course and it's tough to get a discount there."

Martin said teaching preparation is a big part of his class, which includes knowing the mechanics of your boat.

"It is extremely important that (students) know how the bottom of the boat works," said Martin, who has taught nearly 20 classes since starting the program in 2007, including schools specifically for women drivers. "You have to understand that to know why you are using the techniques we're teaching. You have to teach students what the steps are doing underneath the boat. If they don't understand that, you can't expect them to accept the techniques you're teaching them."

An experienced boater, Lake Havasu City, Ariz., resident Eddie Stokes recently completed Martin's course aboard his new Nordic 27 Thor, and says he learned a lot.

"Tres makes you aware of different situations you may run into," Stokes said. "You learn the characteristics of different types of boats so that when you're on the water and you look around at all the other boats out there, you have a better idea of the tendencies different boats and boat drivers may or may not have."

Some experienced boaters may feel they have nothing to learn from a course like that, and in a perfect world, those boaters might be right. The fact is, however, that with the constant advancement in technology, it's impossible to know everything there is to know. There's no shame in that either, just ask Brad Schoenwald, a career U.S. Coast Guard officer and instructor at Tres Martin's Performance Boat School.

"Early in my Coast Guard career if I went from a utility boat to a motor lifeboat, I had to receive type-specific training onboard that boat," Schoenwald said. "I then had to demonstrate proper operation to a minimum prescribed standard and finally be reviewed by my peers and the command before being allowed to operate (it) on my own. This is very similar to what we do, just modeled in a different way."

In terms most of us can relate to, if you've been driving V-bottoms all your life, and you buy your first catamaran, then there is likely some information out there that would pertain to your new driving experience that you didn't know beforehand. With Martin's school, you receive hands-on training in your boat.

"Each boat is different," Schoenwald said. "If a student goes through the course aboard a stepped mono-hull, they receive certification for a stepped mono-hull. If they go buy a 150-mph catamaran, they need to call us and complete a refresher and check ride to receive certification aboard the cat."

Getting optimum performance from your boat is also covered.

"We don't teach how to drive beyond a boat's limit," Martin said. "But we do teach how to get the best handling at every speed. We observe our students operating their boats at all speeds and we tell them what they did right and what they did wrong at every speed. We also teach them how to set up their boat to make it as safe as possible. That's different for every boat."

But Martin's program isn't the only one available. Another noted offshore racer, Doug Valentine, runs a similar program under the International-Performance moniker.

"I take my hat off to any customer who takes a class like this," Valentine said. "I'm going to Lake of the Ozarks soon to teach a guy who is an accomplished boater but he's moving up and he knows that there is still more he can learn, and he's probably right. There's even a guy from P1 (the international offshore-racing circuit) who trained with us in the off-season so that he could stay fresh and maybe even learn a few new things."

Valentine said he has some unique aspects to his class, which costs between $2,500 and $3,500 depending on experience levels and if you run your own boat or his.

"We do a personalized consultation beforehand," he said. "We find out everything from what boat you drive to who you boat with to where you do the majority of your boating. After all that, then we put a specific criteria and curriculum together that fits the individual's needs."

If you're looking to buy a new boat, you can lean on Valentine to point you in the right direction.

"We also do purchase consultations," he added. "We take that same criteria and help the customer figure out what boat would be best for them based on all the information they give us, including their budget."

Jeff Soele, a native of San Antonio, Texas, completed Valentine's course, and highly recommends it.

"I literally knew nothing," said Soele, who has purchased three boats since taking Valentine's course. "I had this boat and I had no idea what to do with it. Doug was so user-friendly and he started from the ground up. He taught me how to maintain the boat, how to drive it and anything I'd ever want to know about using it."

Yet another opportunity available to boaters looking to gain more knowledge can be found in Ontario, Canada, at Brian and Wilma Ross' Offshore Racing Performance Centre. The husband and wife, who have years of experience racing offshore and running in poker runs, teach a class called "Learning the Ropes" that is also recognized by Markel Marine.

Along with a two-day class, boaters can get additional training or have Brian and Wilma accompany them on a poker run.

"Your first poker run can be a little daunting," Brian said. "We just hope that by being there, it can help ease you into the experience."

The couple also offers a "first launch" program where they instruct first-time boaters how to launch their boat from backing the trailer in the water to maneuvering around the docks.

Maybe you don't need someone to run in a poker run with you or teach you how to dock your boat, but no matter what your skill level is, it can't hurt to take a refresher. Remember, the boating culture is evolving, so you might as well get ahead of the learning curve.

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