# Marina basics for people who choose a berth

Learn how to read a marina map record, what the berth terms mean and which measures of your boat decide fit, so you can ask a marina the right questions.

- Level: Foundations
- Length: 40 minutes
- Exam questions: 9, pass mark 80%, up to 3 attempts
- Certificate: valid for 12 months

## What you will learn

- Say where the records in this directory come from and what a blank field means.
- Tell a wet slip, a mooring and dry storage apart, and a transient stay from a long-term stay.
- Separate a marina, a boatyard and a yacht club.
- Name the four measures of your boat that decide fit: length overall, beam, draft and air draft.

## Lessons

1. [What a marina listing tells you](https://yachtmarinaguide.fyi/academy/marina-basics-for-boaters/what-a-marina-listing-tells-you.md) (12 minutes)
2. [Berths, yacht clubs and boatyards](https://yachtmarinaguide.fyi/academy/marina-basics-for-boaters/berths-clubs-and-boatyards.md) (12 minutes)
3. [Will your boat fit?](https://yachtmarinaguide.fyi/academy/marina-basics-for-boaters/will-your-boat-fit.md) (12 minutes)

## Questions

### Is this course about one marina?

No. It teaches you how to read any marina record. It uses the records in this directory as examples.

### Does the course tell me which marina to choose?

No. This directory does not rate or recommend marinas. The course teaches what a record shows and which questions to ask the marina.

### Does the certificate show that I can handle a boat?

No. It is a certificate of completion from this site. It records that you passed the exam. It does not show boating skill and does not replace a boating safety course.

Also on the [web page](https://yachtmarinaguide.fyi/academy/marina-basics-for-boaters).