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I spent 5 years teaching sailing full time ( 8 hours a day 6 & 7 days a week) at an established ASA sailing school. This school has been in business for over 29 years and has an fleet of 20 plus boats. We taught everything from ASA basic keel boat to coastal cruising to live-aboard and bare boat chartering. All of us held at least an USCG Mater's and an ASA instructors cert.
I am going to start with a few things that come to mind. First, this is an commercial venture. You will be taking passengers for hire. Therefore you are subject to commercial boating regulations. If this venture is in USCG controlled waters and the boat has auxiliary power you will need at a minimum a 6-pack Captain licensee. In State waters it depends on the State. You need to check.
One thing you need to think about is how you are going to certify the students. Students like getting certificate at the end of the course. At least one that issued by an National body. The ASA requires that you be in business at least 1 year before they will certify the school. They, also want to you have an on shore class room and will go over your qualifications. They require you have an ASA Instructions cert and any thing else the the State or Federal officials may want.
The forgoing is the easy part just wait until you start shopping for insurance.
I have had every thing happen on board from an student having an panic attack to an older man who just collapsed and had an stroke. Weather and equipment failures are the easy part. You must remember that YOU (and no one else) are responsible for every thing that happens on board.
I love teaching sailing and still do part time as the Dr. says I have to limit my time in the sun. That is what happens after 35+ years sailing. This is one the few things you can do where you can really put an smile on another's face and leave them an skill and an love for sailing that hopefully they will carry on for an lifetime.
Regards
by the way it doesn't"t pay all that much
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