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Upgrade your maritime skills with the Assistance Towing Endorsement at Antique Boat Museum. Perfect for licensed mariners looking to enhance their credentials, this program combines practical vessel handling with scenic training on the St. Lawrence River.
Upgrade your maritime skills with the Assistance Towing Endorsement at Antique Boat Museum. Perfect for licensed mariners looking to enhance their credentials, this program combines practical vessel handling with scenic training on the St. Lawrence River.
Book with Antique Boat Museum
Verified experiences and guided adventures in the surrounding area.
Operated by Antique Boat Museum · Clayton, New York
moderate.
1-2 days.
Participants should be physically capable of handling vessel equipment and performing onboard duties.
No prior towing experience is required; the course covers all foundational skills.
Participants must be at least 18 years old with a valid mariner license.
No, a valid mariner license is required to participate in the assistance towing endorsement.
Yes, participants must pass a practical skills assessment to earn the endorsement.
You can directly enroll in the Masters Upgrade or Towing Endorsement classes to enhance your credentials.
Yes, local hotels and inns provide convenient lodging options in Clayton.
The Antique Boat Museum, established in 1968, preserves the region’s maritime heritage with a focus on classic and vintage boats.
The museum actively promotes sustainable boating practices and environmental awareness in the St. Lawrence River area.
Antique Boat Museum, located in Clayton, New York in the scenic 1000 Islands, is North America's premier freshwater boating museum. The museum preserves and interprets the region's recreational and commercial boating heritage through collections, exhibits, and hands-on programs. Visitors can explore a collection of over 300 unique boats spanning runabouts, powerboats, houseboats, and rare classics, showcased in indoor galleries and an active boatyard. Educational programming includes guided tours of the historic 106' houseboat La Duchesse, bronze casting workshops led by master craftsman Michael Saari, and practical training courses for mariners. Certified courses and endorsements available at the museum include the Operator of Uninspected Passenger Vessels (OUPV - 6 Pack), Assistance Towing Endorsement, Auxiliary Sail Endorsement, and upgrade pathways toward Master/Mate credentials up to 100 GRT. These courses combine classroom instruction with on-water experience under volunteer captains. Seasonal river cruises feature intimate 45-minute rides aboard a 30' Hacker Craft with small passenger limits to ensure a personal experience. General admission grants all-day access to exhibits, special events, and boat shows, including one of the longest-running boat shows in the region. The museum also accepts donations and supports preservation through membership and volunteer programs. Antique Boat Museum serves historians, mariners, and families seeking an immersive waterfront experience. Its combination of curated collections, active restoration, practical training, and community events makes it a trusted destination for freshwater boating heritage in Clayton, New York. The museum's volunteer-driven programs and public events promote preservation, skills training, and community engagement across the Thousand Islands region year-round.
Book with Antique Boat Museum