Learn to Sail!

 Introductory Boating Course from The Cape Fear Sail & Power Squadron

Step 1: America's Boating Course

The Cape Fear Sail & Power Squadron, "America's Boating Club," will present its comprehensive introductory boating course beginning on Saturday, 21 February 2015 at the Cape Fear Community College.

The National Association of State Boating Law Administrators approved and USCG recognized course is presented on a single Saturday (8:00 AM –4:30 PM). This class satisfies the NC safe boating education requirement for anyone less than 26 years of age.

Step 1: Local Knowledge

The fundamentals are a must for safe boating. However, you can take your training a step further with the “Local Knowledge” course– covering the challenges and complexities of boating on the Cape Fear Waterways (River, Ocean and AICW).

This overview of what you need to know about our coastal environment is held on the second Saturday 28 February (9:00 AM – 1:00 PM).

Step 3: On-The-Water

Where better to learn about boating than on the water?

This 2½ hour training cruise to ties your classroom studies with actual boating experience. You will go out on the ICW and Cape Fear River and work with navigation, rules of the water, communications afloat and other classroom topics.

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The "America's Boating Course" segment is required. The total cost is $70 per person or 2 family members can share a textbook at the discounted price of $45 each. The “Local Knowledge” and “On-the-Water” segments are optional but highly recommended, at no additional cost.

Visit the Cape Fear Sail and Power Squadron website at www.capefearboatingcourse.org to learn more and enroll. Email the class registrar at weteachboating@gmail.com with any questions.

Spotlight on Business: Carolina Beach Pontoon Rental

• Boating is our family’s passion, and this is the same excitement we wanted to share with others. 

• Carolina Beach Pontoon Rental has been our dream for over a year. 

• We wanted to give local residents and visitors an unique boating experience to enjoy the Intracoastal Waterway with their families and friends. 

Pontoon boating is fast becoming a unique recreational past-time because you can take a lot of people with you. It’s like having your living room on the water and it’s a very relaxing way to see the waterway.

Being safe on the water is our number one focus. Our 24 foot pontoon boat is United States Coast Guard equipped with ample life jackets for adults, and specialty life jacket’s for kids including a VHF Radio, changing room, Stereo with I-POD/MP3, depth finder, comfortable cushion seats, 115HP Mercury outboard engine, and Bimini Top. All renters must adhere to the North Carolina waterway rules and regulations.

You are the captain and can drive the boat from Carolina Beach to the Figure Eight Island Bridge and anywhere in-between. Carolina Beach Pontoon Rental can also provide a Licensed USCG Captain for guests just wanting to go for a ride and not pilot the boat themselves. We have a pre-boarding twenty-minute safety orientation; everyone who wishes to rent must be 26 years of age or older, and have boating experience.

Pontoon Rentals are great for birthdays, reunions, family outings, anniversaries and graduations. For those wishing to learn more we invite you to check us out at, www.carolinabeachpontoonrental.com or call us with any questions: 910-508-9075. 
Please be sure to visit our Facebook page as well.

We all agree nothing is better than a day at the beach, but we also believe our residents and visitors should take some time and enjoy our beautiful waterway on a pontoon boat. Boating brings people together, because in one way or the other; we are all united by water.

Dredging and nourishment near the north end of Freeman Park Beach

Press Release from the Town of Carolina Beach:


Date Issued: February 22, 2013


Dredging and nourishment near the north end of Freeman Park Beach

The Army Corps of Engineers is managing an Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway (AICW) Inlet Crossing Maintenance Dredging Contract that will begin work on Friday February 22, 2013. Carolina Beach Inlet Crossing & parts of Snow's Cut are included in this work package. The beach compatible material is scheduled to be placed on the north end of Freeman Beach. The project is anticipated to last 4-5 weeks.

Freeman Park will remain open, however the Carolina Beach Police Department advises people to use caution and stay away from the piping and construction areas in the interest of public safety. Entering posted beach areas can be very dangerous due to the heavy equipment and spoils being pumped on the shoreline.

A floating and submerged pipeline will run along the AICW channel to the Carolina beach Disposal Area. Mariners are cautioned to stay clear of dredge, booster, floating (pontoon) and submerged pipelines, barges, derricks and operating wires associated with dredging and marine construction operations. Operators of vessels of all types should be aware that dredges and floating pipelines are held in place by cables, attached to anchors some distance away from the equipment. Dredging projects are usually conducted twenty-four (24) hours a day seven (7) days a week, A NO WAKE transit is requested of all vessels passing the dredge and if necessary to clarify a SAFE PASSAGE contact the dredge on the appropriate VHF-FM channels 13 or 16.


Contact: Ed H. Parvin
Assistant Town Manager
Town of Carolina Beach, NC
(910) 458-2526 Office