Bar Crossing Pro Class
Bar Crossings, the most demanding skill in coastal boating, are taught step-by-step with unlimited personal support so you can’t get stuck. Work at your own pace, and access the course anytime from any device. I’ve distilled decades of experience into a dozen nine-minute videos. You’ll finish quickly, and begin your new life of joyful adventure on the ocean.
This class teaches you how to judge when ocean conditions are good for crossing the bar. You’ll learn the nuances of swell, wind and tide and a proven and intuitive planning method. Become the Captain Everyone Trusts.
Are you a good fit for this course?
You are right for the course if you want to take your 18+ foot powerboat across the bar onto the ocean. You want to understand the forecasts and know when to go and when to stay home.
You don't want the bar or inlet to be a barrier anymore. You don't want to miss any more ocean days because you don't trust your judgement.
You want to be The Captain Everyone Trusts.
Here’s the plan…
Enroll now and get instant access to the course
Work through the online videos. You will have lifetime access to the course, on-demand, so you can work at your own pace, anytime and anywhere.
Cross the bar with skill and confidence
Testimonials
Paul Jensen says…
“I want to thank you for giving me the knowledge and confidence to cross the bar. Your classes are very informative and easy to understand. You answered any questions I had immediately. Very well done!”
Thom Eagan says…
“I highly recommend you get in touch with Charles, the Ocean Coach. I just finished his course. I took it afte doing some bar crossings and realized how much I didn’t know, especially about not perfect days and the all important go/no-go decisions. It was time and money well-spent!”
What’s inside the Course
Module 1: Course Road Map
We'll start by charting your path through the course, step-by-step, so you'll know what you will be learning and and why. The first modules will cover the fundamental building blocks, namely Swell, Tide and The Anatomy of the Bar. Subsequent modules start bringing this knowledge together.
Module 2: Anatomy of a Bar
What is a bar, how was it formed, and how can you determine which areas are safe and which are hazards? You’ll learn how to analyze any bar in the world.
Module 3: Tide
Learn how tides affect you in your particular part of the world. I'll guide you through your local tide chart step-by-step so you understand your local tidal patterns, including little-known seasonal patterns and rules of thumb. You'll learn to use the predictablity of the tides to select the best days and time of day for your boating days and bar crossings.
Module 4: Swell
Swell is the most complex of the knowledge Building Blocks. You'll learn to look beyond the snapshot-type swell forecast and understand swell as a multi-day process with a beginning, middle and end. Most importantly we'll cut through the noise and learn to manage this biggest variable in your bar crossing planning.
Module 5: Turning Information into Decisions
r b To actually make bar crossing decisions, you’ll need marine forecasts. You’ll learn how to use the best sites as you put everything together to make actual decisions. There are plenty of examples to give you confidence. Once you see how all the information fits together, you’ll be able to make decisions very quickly, with confidence.
Module 6: Handling a Rough Bar
You’ll learn the simple, but effective, boat handling skills that you’ll need in case you ever have to face a rough bar.
Unlimited Personal Support
I’ve got your back and I won’t let you get stuck. I respond to your questions - phone, text or email, within 24 hours.
I answer everything personally - no AI responses ever.
You get a full year of support, but I’m not counting. So consider me your private consultant.
How does the course actually work?
A few minutes after you enroll, you’ll get an email from Teachable.com inviting you to set up an account. Teachable is a leading host site for online courses worldwide. Then you’ll log on to Teachable, where all the course videos are stored, ready for you to view.
You can log back on anytime you want to watch the course videos. Each video is about 9 minutes long . Teachable will remember where you left off last time, and will keep track of what you have completed.
When you finish all the modules, you will automatically get a Certificate of Completion emailed to you.
You can work through the videos anytime you want, anywhere there is an internet connection. And since you get lifetime access to the course, you can work at your own pace. And you can go back to any of the videos at any time. You can download the course to your computer if you like, but it’s probably easier just to log on to Teachable.
No lectures, no rigid class schedule, no hassle.
In additition to the videos, there are some PDF handouts and quizzes in some of the modules. Teachable makes them easy to find.
Best of all, you get unlimited access to me for questions for 12 months. I’ll be there to answer your questions by phone, email or text, so you won’t get stuck!
FAQs
How do I know the course will work for me?
I’ve taught this material to hundreds of students, from absolute beginners to old salts, with transformational results. Plus I enlisted a team of 25 potential students to help me shape the course.
How much does the course cost?
The price of the course is $197
Will Charles answer questions if I get stuck?
Yes, you can ask me questions by text, phone or email for 12 months. You'll never get stuck because you'll get answers within 24 hours. If it’s a complex question, we’ll set up a Zoom call to make sure you understand. I’ve got your back, whatever it takes, at no extra charge.
Can I watch the videos more than once?
Yes, and most students do. You get lifetime access to the course online, as well as to all future updates and revisions. That means you can work at your own pace, anytime, and as often as you like.
How much time does it take to complete the course?
Less than 3 hours total to watch all the videos, but you should spread that over several weeks to best absorb the material.
Can I give the course as a gift?
Yes. Check the box on the checkout page that says “Send as a gift”. The recipient will immediately get a welcome message and an invitation to set up an account to log into the course. But it’s even better if you just email me instead. I’ll set everything up so the recipient gets a personalized welcome on their birthday, or whatever day you want.
When I buy the course, will I get immediate access to the lessons?
Yes, but don’t go faster than 2 or 3 modules a week, otherwise the material won’t sink in.
How is this different from the Coast Guard Auxiliary classes?
Those classes teach you about general boating - rules of the road, knots, regulations, buoys, etc. By contrast, I teach you about the ocean - tide, swell and structure of the bar. It’s rifle-focused on actionable knowledge so you can confidently decide when to cross the bar.
I don’t have much ocean experience, and I’m a bit overwhelmed by how much there is to learn. Are you sure I can do this?
So many beginners have been transformed by this material, and you will be too. Everything is broken down step-by-step, in plain language. Many students begin with anxiety, and finish with a sense of calm and understanding.
What is in a typical module?
Each module has between one and to four short (9 minute) video lessons. The videos have lots of pics, demonstrations and clips to make the material easy to absorb.
Some modules also have handouts, cheat sheets and quizzes (quizzes are not graded).
I still have questions about what’s in the course and how it works.
I'd love to answer all your questions. Contact me by text, phone, or email.
(503) 816-5727
You’ll be Backed by a Risk-Free 30-day Money Back Guarantee
If, after 30 days, you don’t feel totally confident that the course meets your needs, just reach out and I’ll refund your investment.