Learn on your own boat.
Practical, one-on-one instruction on the vessel you actually own — not a school boat in a protected cove. Sail or power, beginner to experienced. Gulf Coast waters.
Real instruction, real conditions.
Anyone can learn theory in a classroom. We teach on your boat, in the water where you actually sail — Lake Pontchartrain, the Gulf, whatever you call home. The goal is confidence and competence on your specific vessel, not a generic certificate.
Docking & Maneuvering
The skill most sailors and powerboaters most want. Getting in and out of slips with confidence, in wind and current, short-handed.
Navigation & Passage Planning
Chart reading, electronics, piloting, tides and currents, situational awareness. Getting from here to there without drama.
Anchoring
Scope, set, swing room, holding ground, and what to do when the hook drags at 2am. The skill every cruiser needs cold.
Heavy Weather & Safety
Reading the sky, shortening sail, storm prep, man overboard procedures, and staying calm when things go sideways.
Sail Trim & Performance
Getting the most out of your rig. Upwind, downwind, sail shape, telltales, and the feel of a well-tuned boat.
Engine & Systems Basics
What to check before you leave the dock, how to bleed a diesel, what that warning light means, and why the bilge pump matters.
From first-timer to capable offshore.
Every lesson is built around where you are and where you want to go.
New Boat Owners
Just bought your first boat and not sure where to start. We'll walk through the systems, get you confident on the helm, and set you up for safe independent operation.
Rusty Sailors
Been a while. You know the basics but want to shake off the cobwebs before the season starts or before a longer passage.
Couples & Crews
Getting a partner or crew member up to speed so you're not the only person who can sail the boat. Critical for offshore work.
Experienced Sailors Expanding Skills
You can sail, but you want to get better at a specific thing — night sailing, offshore navigation, or handling a new rig.
Every student is a little different.
Your experience, your vessel, your goals. Tell us where you are and where you want to get to — we'll put together an instruction plan built specifically around you.
Let's Build Your Planor call (504) 383-5265 · ishkeeshyachts@gmail.com
“In May 2018, we purchased a Dyna Craft 52 for which Nate Eckler was the broker. He was very knowledgeable and provided clear and helpful direction during the process, as it was the first time we had purchased a boat of this kind. During the purchasing process, we discovered Nate was also a Captain and once the boat was ours, we booked him for numerous lessons to teach us a variety of boating topics such as operation, boating safety and navigation. Nate is skilled, patient, calm and he brought a sense of humor to each lesson. We would absolutely recommend Nate as a broker and Captain.”