Do affiliate links cost me more?

No. You pay the same price whether you use our link or go to the provider directly. If you enroll after clicking our link, the provider may pay us a commission — it comes out of their marketing budget, not your pocket.

Do commissions change your ratings or rankings?

No. Our editorial assessments are made independently of any commission. A provider paying a higher commission does not earn a better review, a higher rating, or a better position in our listings.

How can I tell which links are affiliate links?

Outbound links to providers route through our /go redirect and are marked as sponsored for search engines. We also place a disclosure near affiliate calls-to-action so the relationship is clear at the point you click.

Legal

Affiliate Disclosure

Plainly: we earn commissions when you enroll through some of our links, at no extra cost to you — and that money never changes our editorial ratings.

Last updated: May 30, 2026

In the interest of full transparency and in line with the U.S. Federal Trade Commission’s (FTC) endorsement guidelines, this page explains how BoatingClasses.com makes money. It is effective as of May 30, 2026.

How do we make money?

BoatingClasses.com is free to use. We fund the Site through three streams:

Affiliate commissions — when you click certain links and enroll in a course, the provider may pay us a commission.
Advertising — we may display ads on the Site.
Paid listings — schools can pay for a featured placement, which is always identifiable as such.

Does it cost you anything?

No. Using an affiliate link never increases your price — you pay exactly what you would pay going to the provider directly. When a purchase qualifies, the provider pays us a commission out of its own marketing budget, at no additional cost to you.

Which companies do we have affiliate relationships with?

We participate in affiliate and partner programs across the boating-education space. As of May 30, 2026, these relationships may include providers and networks such as:

Boating-safety course providers (for example, Boat-Ed/Kalkomey, BoaterExam, AceBoater, BoatSmart, and iLearnToBoat)
Captain’s-license and professional schools (for example, Mariners Learning System, Sea School, and US Captain’s Training)
Boat insurance referral and lead-generation programs
Boat rental, charter, and gear retailers
Affiliate networks such as Amazon Associates, Impact, ShareASale, CJ, FlexOffers, and AvantLink

This list can change as programs are added or end, and not every provider we list is one we earn from. We list providers on their merits regardless of whether an affiliate relationship exists.

Does getting paid change our ratings?

No — and this is the most important point. Our editorial ratings, pros and cons, and rankings are determined independently of any commission or payment. A higher commission never buys a better review or a higher position. Paid “featured” listings are clearly labeled as featured and are kept visually distinct from our independent editorial assessments, so you always know what you’re looking at.

How do we label affiliate links?

Outbound links to providers are routed through our /go redirect and marked with a sponsored/nofollow signal for search engines, and we display a short disclosure near affiliate calls-to-action (“We may earn a commission, at no cost to you”). Our goal is that you’re never surprised about how a link works.

Questions?

If anything here is unclear, please ask through our contact form. You can also read our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy.

Affiliate disclosure FAQ

Do affiliate links cost me more?: No. You pay the same price whether you use our link or go to the provider directly. If you enroll after clicking our link, the provider may pay us a commission — it comes out of their marketing budget, not your pocket.
Do commissions change your ratings or rankings?: No. Our editorial assessments are made independently of any commission. A provider paying a higher commission does not earn a better review, a higher rating, or a better position in our listings.
How can I tell which links are affiliate links?: Outbound links to providers route through our /go redirect and are marked as sponsored for search engines. We also place a disclosure near affiliate calls-to-action so the relationship is clear at the point you click.