Sailing Lesson Pricing Calculator

Sailing lesson prices vary widely by boat type and location. Dinghy lessons typically run $50-100 per person, keelboat lessons $100-200, and multi-day cruiser courses $300-600+ per person. Your price needs to cover the instructor, boat operating costs (fuel, maintenance, insurance, slip fees), and leave at least 40% margin for overhead and profit.

Yes. Higher certification courses like ASA 104 Bareboat Cruising command significantly higher prices because they require more experienced instructors, larger boats, and often multi-day commitments. An intro lesson might be $75 per person, while a bareboat certification course could be $400+ per person for the same number of hours.

Include fuel or docking fees per session, insurance allocated per lesson hour, routine maintenance averaged per operating hour, and depreciation. A keelboat typically costs $25-45 per hour to operate, while a cruiser can cost $50-80+ per hour. Don't forget seasonal costs like haul-out, bottom paint, and winterization spread across your teaching season.

It depends on the boat and certification level. Dinghies typically fit 1-2 students. Keelboats work well with 2-4 students. Cruisers can handle 4-6 students for hands-on learning. Going beyond these numbers reduces the quality of instruction and student satisfaction, which hurts repeat bookings and referrals.