ASA Fee Reasonable?

[LF4]

Just took a sample of schools near by. Are these reasonable, they seem to range quit a bit.


Liberty Sailing School - Philadelphia One Person Two People
ASA 101 $419.00 $838.00
ASA 103 $459.00 $918.00
ASA 104 $649.00 $1,298.00
ASA 105 $299.00 $598.00
$3,652.00
Havre De Grace
ASA 101 $645.00 $1,290.00
ASA 103 $775.00 $1,550.00
ASA 104 $895.00 $1,790.00
ASA 105 $395.00 $790.00
$5,420.00
Rhode Island - BWSS
ASA 101 https://www.bwss.com/schedule-a.html
ASA 103
ASA 104
ASA 105 $2,945.00 $5,890.00

Erie Island Sailing School
ASA 101 $445.00 $890.00
ASA 103 $445.00 $890.00
ASA 104 $745.00 $1,490.00
ASA 105 $425.00 $850.00
$4,120.00

[Island Time O25]

Wow!

20 years ago in Boston I paid a total of $1,400 for a full Masters 40/50 course which included all levels of in class instruction from ASA 101 to 105, plus on the water classes and tests, plus 2 day overnight final coastal navigation exam on Cal 39 and what not. Never taken the paper tests though, just passed the onboard ones. Kind of like getting a Master's Degree while bypassing the Bachelor's.

O, and that fee included 45 days of unlimited day sails on passed level boats while studying for the next level.

[Mike OReilly]

Looks like the free market at work. Charge what the market will bear. If some charge more than others, then they have a richer market, or they think they do.

[Island Time O25]

Got curious and went to the site of my old sailing club. Looks like they're still in business and still reasonably priced, considering 20 years of inflation. Cut the free days though.

MASTERS 30/40/40 PASSAGE $2299/2599/2999 plus Materials/ Post/ Damage Waver
Each additional person: 30-$1874; 40-$2099; 40 Passage-$2399
Includes 35 DAYS FREE SAILING Optional Damage Waiver - $135

[Ded reckoner]

I think you need to learn more from the respective providers what you are getting for your money. For example, what size and condition is the boat? If you are interested in lake sailing, smaller, older, less expensive vessels could lower the price. If you are interested in coastal cruising (even if eventually), then you would want larger boats (e.g. 32ft for 101, 40ft+ for 103/104). If the boats are equivalent, where is the class being held (e.g. a lake or a bay)?

[hellosailor]

I'm guessing class size, number of people on the boat, boat size and age, how long the sailing season is and how many people live in or want to vacation in the area, lots of things like that. Also whether they have permanent staff or (like some big brand names) just pick up "contractors" when and as needed to fill courses, and how they get their fleets filled.

Boston sure sounds like a bargain!

[LF4]

Originally Posted by hellosailor

I'm guessing class size, number of people on the boat, boat size and age, how long the sailing season is and how many people live in or want to vacation in the area, lots of things like that. Also whether they have permanent staff or (like some big brand names) just pick up "contractors" when and as needed to fill courses, and how they get their fleets filled.

Boston sure sounds like a bargain!

When you say Boston, do you mean BWSS or some other school? If some other school, which one?

[Flagman101]

Don’t just shop a price. Like everything else you get what you pay for.
I am a sailing instructor here in Canada. Most schools differ from one an other on how they teach what they have to teach.
I ear people telling me some school charges less and the course is 3 days instaed of days etc. But you still have to learn to sail.
Unless all you want is a peice of paper stating you have completed a sailing course.

[AA3JY]

Personally I dont believe in these courses if their schooling is not continually reinforced..as witnessed with recent grads of these courses that ended up getting further $$ private lessons..


IMHO the money spent could have bought/down payment on a beginner (small) vessel while taking either (much cheaper) Coast Guard Aux./US Power Squadron courses..just my unworthy 2 1/2 cents opinion..

[John_Trusty]

To the OP's first question, the prices appear reasonable depending (as noted by HellloSailor) on the specifics of the presentation, boats, time, etc. Like every other personal service, it varies by how much personal attention you get. The beginning ASA courses are very much vocabulary and theoretical, plus a day or so on a smaller boat learning how to sail. Personally, I would save money here and try to get as much small boat time as you can from friends, a local sailing club etc. It's like learning any physical skill (musical instrument, dribbling a basketball, riding a bicycle) and you get better with personal practice.

The more advanced classes are where you learn to manage a larger keel boat with the various systems - electrical, plumbing, navigation. They are mainly preparing you to charter a boat, and bring it and your family back in one piece. I found that investing more money and time here was useful to me as this was an area I was unfamiliar with having mastered dingy sailing. To Flagman101's point, what do you want to learn and how do you normally do that? If all you want is the paper, get the cheapest course you can but don't expect much individualized instruction - think six folks on a boat for six hours, which means only an hour of instruction and the rest of the time watching.

I've seen many people on here knock ASA because it's not as rigorous as the British RYA or some other instruction, but it depends on what you want and how much you're willing to invest in money and time. It's good basic sailing instruction for a reasonable price.

[Pete17C]

If you're new to sailing, look for a school/club close to home, that lets you use their boats after you take the class.

#1 If they let you take their boats out, they will make sure the instruction you get is good enough to not hurt yourself or break the boat.

#2 You'll want to get out and sail more than just the few hours the class time will get you to really 'set in stone' the skills you learn in the class.

[hellosailor]

LF4-
"Boston" being, unless I misread it, the sailing club that also offers grads 30 days of sailing for another $135--an incredible bargain even if that's just eight weekend days.

"Don’t just shop a price. Like everything else you get what you pay for."
ROFLMAO. No really, on what planet is that? Price isn't everything, but there are always some folks who simply charge top dollar because they have a fancy address or a pretty location. Price is absolutely something to consider--along with the other factors. Even if you do to a local deli. One store may be halfway through a 50-year lease, and the one across the street just signed a new 5-year lease. Guess which one has to charge more, to pay the 20x higher monthly lease payments they are making? Doesn't mean the food is better, worse, or different at all. Buying the most expensive anything, simply because it is more expensive, is great for the economy though.

[Mike OReilly]

When I did my basic CYA course (ASA 101 I think) many moons ago I went for the course that offered the most on-the-water experience. There were a few that spent time in a classroom, and offered only a few day sails. I found a live aboard course that included nearly a week on the water.

This probably cost more, but it was a much better learning experience.

[riverwave]

A quick update as I checked the cost for ASA 101, 103 and 104.
Average price is already above 3000$, https://www.bwss.com/schedule-a.html#a-stt