When we say it takes commitment to go cruising, our non-boating friends and family think, “Yeah, they should be committed alright.” Whatever you point of view, TrawlerFest-Bay Bridge is here to help the certifiable. We offer nine seminars that provide certificates of participation for attendees.

So what, you say?

The certificate of completion awarded to attendees may help save some money on their boat insurance. Insurers like the fact that customers are educated and earnest citizens.

Besides our much touted “Everything You Need To Know About Diesel Engines,” we provide certificates for “Medical Preparedness & First Aid for Cruisers,” “Boat Handling Illustrated,” “Boat Handling on the Water,” “Survival at Sea,” “Safety and Navigation with Radar & Chartplotters,” “Weather for Cruisers,” “What Boaters Need to Know About AIS” and “Troubleshooting Electronics (as Opposed to Electrical Systems).”

PURCHASE TICKETS

The TrawlerFest boat show and seminar series happens at Bay Bridge Marina Yacht Club on Kent Island at the foot of Maryland’s magnificent Tuesday through Sunday, Sept. 26-30. The boat show runs Thursday through Saturday, Sept. 28-30, and includes booths displaying marine products and services.

There are 28 seminars altogether. The diesel seminar is the longest course offering at roughly 16 hours. Another is the equivalent of one eight-hour day. Seven are 3 1/2 -4 hours And 19 are short courses, at two-hours. All the technical seminars provide attendees with certificates of completion.

The best value is to purchase a VIP pass which allows entry into any and all of the seminars (except the diesel and “Hands-On Boat Handling” seminars) for a set price, which also includes admission to the show and evening social events.

MESSAGE TO SAILORS

Nearby Annapolis is known as the “Sailing Capital of the United States.” Here’s a message to Bay Sailors: Even though the event is called TrawlerFest, and its brought to you by PassageMaker magazine, most of the seminars are “propulsion agnostic.” That is, their lessons apply equally to sailors as well as power cruisers.