Boat Driving Instruction in Southwest Michigan
Private instruction with Bill Boston. On Round Lake or your lake. Pick the sessions that matter to you.
Private Instruction with Bill Boston
Most people who own a boat never get taught how to drive one. They figure it out on their own, pick up habits that work, and move on. That is completely fine until you want to get better.
Bill Boston has been on the water since 1999. He has spent 25 years behind the wheel of a Nautique coaching riders at every level on Southwest Michigan lakes. He knows what good driving looks and feels like and he knows how to teach it in a way that actually sticks.
Sessions are private, flexible, and built around whatever you want to work on. Pick one topic or pick several. There is no set order and no pressure to do more than you need. You tell Bill where you are and he takes it from there.
Pick the Sessions You Need
Sessions run 30 minutes to one hour. Most people book one to three. A lot of people buying a new Nautique come in for two or three specific topics before their first summer on the water. Some people work through all 10. It is entirely up to you.
-
Starting the boat, leaving the dock cleanly, understanding your controls, and building basic confidence on the water. A good starting point if everything still feels a little unfamiliar.
-
Ballast, surf system, speed control, and the LINC touchscreen. Bill walks you through what everything does and how to use it. Particularly useful for new Nautique owners who want to understand their boat before the season starts.
-
Speed, line, and consistency. Bill teaches you what the boat needs to do and what to watch for in your rider so you can adjust before they have to ask.
-
How to dial in the wave for your rider, make adjustments on the fly, and hold the boat steady so the surfer can actually ride. The driver makes more difference here than most people realize.
-
Slalom skiing requires exact speed and a straight line every pass. Bill teaches the precision this sport demands from behind the wheel.
-
How to read conditions before you put a rider in, time your sets around traffic, and handle unexpected situations calmly. Especially useful on busy Southwest Michigan lakes on summer weekends.
-
Spotter roles, hand signals, communicating with your rider, and running a safe organized set when you have a full boat of different ages and experience levels.
-
Tight slips, offshore wind, the ramp with people watching. Bill removes the stress and replaces it with technique that works every time.
-
The checks every owner should do before and after a day on the water and what your boat is telling you when something feels off.
-
A full session on the water with real riders and real conditions. Bill rides along, watches you drive, and gives you direct feedback on what is working and what to sharpen.
The Boarder Line Certified Driver
Work through all 10 sessions and pass the on-water assessment at the end and Bill will certify you as a Boarder Line Certified Driver.
It is not accredited by anyone. It carries no legal weight and no official affiliation. What it means is that you worked through the full curriculum, got on the water, and Bill signed off on it. Most people hang it in the garage or the lake house. That is more than enough for us.
Want it framed and mailed to you? We can do that for a small additional fee.
Where We Teach
At The Boarder Line on Round Lake
Bill runs instruction from the shop on Round Lake every day of the season. This is the right option if you do not own a boat yet, you are picking up a new boat and want to learn before you take it home, or you simply want to come to us.
On Your Lake with Your Boat
If you already own a boat, Bill can come to you depending on your location. You learn on the water you will actually use all summer, in the conditions you will actually face, behind the wheel of the boat you actually own. This is how most sessions work for new Nautique owners and it is the fastest way to build real confidence.
Frequently Asked Questions
-
Not at all. Most people pick two or three topics and go from there. The curriculum is a menu, not a requirement.
-
30 minutes to one hour depending on what you want to cover. Bill will help you figure out the right length.
-
Yes. Most sessions for current boat owners happen on their own lake. Contact us to confirm availability for your area.
-
No. We primarily work with Nautique and Barletta owners but we help anyone who wants to get better behind the wheel.
-
No. It means you completed all 10 sessions and passed the on-water assessment with Bill. Nothing more, nothing less.
-
Yes. If you have something in mind that is not on the list, reach out and we will figure out if we can help.
Tell Bill What You Want to Work On
Fill out the form and Bill will reach out personally within one business day.