“I built Confident Captain to give you a straightforward path to your license—with practical courses, clear instruction, and real help from an experienced captain, online or in person.”
— Capt. Kent Dresser, Founder
Start with where you want to take the helm. Both courses are USCG-approved and 100% online.
I want to…
56.5-hour online course + USCG-approved exam
I want to…
80-hour online course + USCG-approved exams
I want to…
Sailing, towing, OUPV-to-Master and coaching
“I didn’t build Confident Captain to teach people how to memorize enough answers to pass an exam.”
— Capt. Kent Dresser, Founder
The goal is practical, sensible training that builds real understanding. Understand the material and you’ll pass the exam, and you’ll keep knowledge you can actually use on the water.
Sign up online by credit card and get instant access.
Self-paced online lessons. Add an Accountability Coach if you want structure.
Take our USCG-approved exam online. No testing center, no memorized Q&A.
Receive your digital certificate and apply for your USCG license.
★★★★★
“I would never have felt appropriately prepared to take my yacht master practical examination if not for Kent and his team. Peter’s tutelage opened my eyes to areas that I hadn’t previously considered nor explored. I would not have been nearly as successful without his guidance and Kent’s encouragement to pursue this through Confident Captain.”
Anderson Reggio
Professional Sailor / Navigator
“…[Kent] helped me as I blindly navigated ticketing off one requirement at a time…”
Sara Hastreiter
Volvo Ocean Race sailor
“The instructors were amazing and made sure you knew the content before you left the classroom each day.”
Course participant
STCW course
How the OUPV (6-pack) and Master licenses differ, plus sea time, course, testing and certification requirements.
Still have questions? Kent’s happy to help.
(406) 501-5002
Yes. Our OUPV (six-pack) and Master 100 Ton courses are USCG-approved and 100% online, including the exams. Pass our exams and your course certificate is accepted in place of the Coast Guard exams, so there’s no trip to a testing center.
Our OUPV / six-pack course is $499 and our Master 25–100 Ton course is $699. Pay in full, or join the Professional Captains Association (PCA) and pay monthly.
No. If you have the required sea time, you can go straight to the Master course. Here’s how it works.
OUPV (the “six-pack”) covers uninspected vessels carrying up to six passengers, ideal for fishing and sailing charters. A Master license lets you run vessels up to 100 gross tons, inspected or not, and carry more passengers.
Experienced captain-instructors by phone, email and chat, plus a direct line to founder Capt. Kent Dresser.
One fair price, USCG-approved training, and real captains in your corner. Prefer monthly? Join PCA.
Sign up for more details.
