I'll chime in here about trawler training. In 2009, I decided to get back into boating after a 35 year layoff (driving my parent's boats). I knew I wanted to get something bigger (30+ ft) than I handled in the past, so I rented a trawler for a 4-day weekend and took lessons from Blue Goose Charters in Baltimore, Maryland.
Mother Goose (Bill) provided 2 days of instruction, giving me good practice in handling a 35' MT single engine/NO thrusters, especially in close quarters around the*marina and the finger canals in Baltimore's Inner Harbor. In addition, we worked on navigating, maintenance, and and safety. Shortly thereafter, I completed the Maryland Boating Safety Course, taught by the excellent CG Auxilliary folks, and I*bought our 30' Carver Santego. We have been boating happily ever since.
*I don't think you will really need months of paid lessons*and rentals to get comfortable and confident as a boater. If you are not ready to purchase, then chartering a vessel for a weekend or a week will get you what you want. Unless you really plan to live on the boat, however, I don't think a long term rental is too cost effective compared to just buying.
Good luck and happy boating!
- Paul Artola, Ellicott City, Maryland
*
Ragshoe wrote:
Thanks for the detailed response. I think my best bet will be to do trawler schools in florida and shorter 5-7 day charters with and without captains. I may only be able to do this 4 or 5 times instead of 6 months. I think I will get invaluable experience spending time crusing, docking, navagating, anchor, repairing with the captains on board the size boat I eventually want to buy.
Thx again