Open Classes

Do you dream about cruising the Great Lakes? Are you thinking about cruising farther afield in the Great Lakes? If so, this webinar is your place to start.

Mark Gagyi, GLCC Port Captain and long time Great Lakes cruiser shares recipes and cooking tips to save your cruise from tin cans and packaged food. Of course the cooking is always fun, it has to be when it happens in a boat's galley!

Are you the Captain? How about the First Mate? Regardless of the role you play we all know how important a smooth running engine is to our cruising adventures. But do you really understand that chunk of iron that powers your boat?

Not All Weather Apps Are Created Equal. Learn Which Ones You Can Trust.

In “Howling Winds”, author and historian Ric Mixter shares the most famous mascot stories on fresh and salt water. You will hear about incredible survivals in the 1913 and “Black Friday” 1916 Storms, as well as the dog that helped search for 29 men lost on the Edmund Fitzgerald. Join for fun and entertaining stories of Gold medal rescues, treasure ships and mascot stories from all five Great Lakes in this new GLCC School addition presented by one of Michigan's favorite story tellers.

Messages in bottles were last ditch efforts calling for rescue or desperate goodbyes to loved ones. History has recorded thousands of bottles, but are they all real? GLCC's favorite history story teller Ric Mixter investigates and adds new information to famous and unknown messages on the ocean and the Great Lakes.

Having plenty of electric power on board while cruising can make the difference between a fantastic experience and a marginal one. Solar energy is an excellent source of electrical power for the cruising sailboat or power boat. However, figuring out the size of solar panels you need and matching them up with the various accessories required for a complete high-performance system can be a daunting task.

From major cities to quaint fishing ports, from island anchorages to first class marinas --- the 2nd largest concentration of boaters in North America already know about Lake Erie's charms. Do you?

Stretching from Lake Ontario's Murray Canal in the west to the City of Brockville Ontario on the St. Lawrence River in the east, the Bay of Quinte and 1000 Islands areas offer some of the finest cruising on the Great Lakes.

It’s time to replace your batteries again. Lithium Iron Phosphate (LiFePO or LFP) batteries can be pricey but are they the best long-term investment for your power needs? Many experts say yes! What is this battery technology all about and how do I determine if it is the best alternative for my boat? This seminar will address LiFePO4 battery technology and how to design a battery bank to meet your power needs.

Grand Traverse Bay is one of the most beautiful regions of Michigan known for its lakeshores, cherry orchards, vineyards, and boating. Not only will the scenery amaze you, but there is also much to see and do as you cruise this area of Northwest Michigan. This webinar highlights anchorages, harbor towns and marinas available to cruisers.

This webinar will take you from the Sault Locks at the lake's eastern end, west along the lake's Michigan and Wisconsin southern shores, up Minnesota's northwest lakeshore, and finally along Ontario's breathtaking north and east wilderness shores before closing the circle in Whitefish Bay and the Sault. Lake Superior may be vast, but when understood, it provides unique and breathtaking cruising, historic destinations, interesting ports of call, pristine waters and secluded sailing and anchorages. Updated for 2025 and presented by Dave Carr.

Looking for a serene inland cruising experience? ... Or a shortcut from the upper lakes to Lake Ontario? The Trent Severn may be for you!

Georgian Bay is well known as a cruiser’s paradise for good reason. From the cliffs of the Bruce Peninsula to the busy harbours of off Severn Sound to the winding Small Craft Route up the eastern shore, Georgian Bay offers variety, scenery and adventure for the cruising boater. This webinar explores Georgian Bay’s beautiful anchorages as well as the towns and small settlements that serve the boating community along its shores.

Lake Superior's South Shore is often a first time Lake Superior cruiser's introduction to the lake's expansive and varied cruising areas. Join GLCC Past Commodore Niels Jensen in this webinar updated for 2025, as he explores one of his favorite cruising areas.

Wilderness cruising at its best! Scattering of Islands, boreal forest, towering shorelines, abundance of wildlife, protected anchorages, parks with hiking trails, great fishing, secluded anchorages, and many areas of interest. This section of Lake Superior is worth the experience. Updated for 2025 and presented by Dave Carr.

This seminar will cover the area of Northern Georgian Bay from Byng to Killarney. The area is largely wilderness, has a variety of wonderful anchorages and is unique in the Great Lakes as many of the waters are unsounded. You need a sense of adventure to cruise here.

Sooner or later you'll encounter locks, but they don't need to be intimidating. Learn to successfully navigate locks in this information-packed webinar.

If you are planning your first or twenty-first cruise to the North Channel, you are sure to appreciate this thorough look at Anchorages of the North Channel. This updated webinar will provide a detailed look at both the well-known and the little-visited anchorages of the North Channel has to offer. Join Dave Spencer as he shares his many years of experience in this wonderful part of our Great Lakes.

The Soo Locks have been transferring ship traffic since 1855. This system remains one of the busiest waterways in the world. The Soo Locks raise and lower 1000 foot ships in a half-hour, and their history is just as fascinating as how they work.

Radar is an extremely useful tool, but do you know how to use it effectively? This webinar will help you discover your radar's full potential.

Isle Royale represents the ultimate in wilderness cruising. Join Niels Jensen as he explores its wondrous anchorages, hiking, fishing, and wildlife.

The yachting center of Lake Superior combines over 600 square miles of pristine, protected, National Park island cruising with extensive services in several nearby towns, marinas, and the largest charter fleet in the Great Lakes.

Boating on the Great Lakes demands a wide range of skills—but none is more critical than understanding marine weather. Whether you're cruising, racing, or enjoying a day on the water, weather awareness is essential for safety and enjoyment.

Marine Weather Basics is the first course in GLCCSchool’s four-part Marine Weather Essentials series, designed specifically for Great Lakes boaters. It’s available as a standalone class or as part of a specially priced bundle.

Join us on a journey from Thessalon to Collins Inlet to experience the amazing North Channel geology.

This second class in GLCCSchool’s Marine Weather Essentials series reveals the forces that shape wind patterns across the Great Lakes. You’ll learn how terrain, temperature, and pressure systems influence wind behavior - and how to use Doppler radar to monitor developing weather in real time. Available individually or as part of a discounted four-class bundle.

In the third installment of the series, you’ll explore the powerful role of high and low pressure systems in shaping Great Lakes weather. Learn to identify and interpret cold fronts, warm fronts, and occluded systems using surface charts and forecast tools. Take this class on its own or enjoy savings with the full four-part package.

The final class in the Marine Weather Essentials series prepares you to recognize and respond to thunderstorm threats. You’ll learn how to spot storm types, understand their development, and use online tools to create your own daily marine forecast. Register individually or save with the complete four-part series.

Nautical terms and phrases have found their way into our everyday speech. Many nautical terms or phrases are part of our everyday language without knowing their origin. How nautical are you? Join us for this educational and FREE webinar!