Founded by the late Charles F. Chapman and the late Glen D. Castle, the Chapman School has trained over 17,000 students since opening its doors in 1971.  Since its inception, the School has grown from a single vessel to a modern campus of classrooms, labs, dormitories, and large training fleet - both Power and Sail.  The Chapman School campus encompasses 8 waterfront acres in South Florida, located just minutes by water from both the Intercoastal Waterway (ICW) and the Atlantic Ocean.  The Schools location of less than 90 nautical miles from the Bahamas also allows convenient access to some of the best cruising waters in the Caribbean for our Offshore Training Programs. The School continues to focus on its mission of providing the highest quality boating education in a "Learn at the Helm" approach for both the novice and experienced, professional and recreational boater.



The Charles F. Chapman School of Seamanship, Inc. was founded in 1971 by the late Glen D. Castle and the late Charles Frederic Chapman and incorporated in Florida in 1972.  Castle, an experienced mariner, and Chapman, the veteran boating editor of Motor Boating & Sailing and author of the best selling Piloting, Seamanship & Small Boat Handling, made an interesting combination.



Because of their love for the sea and concern for the lack of maritime vocational training other than from four year institutions, they joined together to found the not-for-profit institution to which Chapman gave his name.      

 

From Mr. Chapman, opening doors to the marine industry, nautical support and friendship, to Capt. Castle, adding his own salty sea flavor, to his wife Jennifer who steadied the helm by providing business sense and talented crew, the School has moved into its third decade known world wide for the ability and quality of its graduates in both our career and pleasure boating programs. to meet the changing and expanding educational and training needs of professional mariners and other marine industry specialists as well as serious recreational boating men and women.