Company brings increased marine safety and jobs to the Tampa Bay area
Tampa Bay, Florida, March 21, 2018 With improving boater safety as its top priority, Anchor, a new company in Tampa Bay, provides a unique opportunity to mariners by offering free Captain’s Training. Anchor Academy provides the first online program that makes obtaining your Captain’s Training easy, fun, and free.
Getting a Captain’s License has historically been the barrier that prevents an experienced boater from being able to turn a profit with their own charter business. The paperwork alone is intimidating, but Anchor plans to disrupt the industry by bringing Captain’s Training to experienced boaters with an easy-to-use online tool called Anchor Academy… similar to what TurboTax did for tax preparation.
“The experience requirements are not easy, so first-year boaters need not apply”, says Zach Hatraf, Founder and CEO of Anchor, “but once the requirements are met, Anchor provides all the online tools needed to go from boater to Captain to Charter Operator”. Anchor Academy provides USCG-approved training, so graduation from Anchor Academy will allow newly-credentialed Captains to use Anchor’s website and mobile apps to start booking charters right away.
Anchor provides posting of Captain profiles, scheduling/booking capabilities, payment processing, and free Charter insurance which can otherwise cost Charter Captains up to $8000 per year (not to mention the cost of a boat). Anchor can also connect boatless Captains to a boat that is not being used…like a boat-sharing program for private boat owners. Traditionally, a part-time charter business was too expensive to startup and a full-time commitment could w
“This is the same License you would get if you went direct to the Coast Guard, but at a fraction of the upfront cost”, Hatraf goes on to say. “Our tuition reimbursement bonus at the end of the process is the icing on the cake. Think of it as a graduation present… a gift that will keep on giving.” He says this program has helped sustain retirement for some individuals and even caused others to change their career entirely.
Hatraf says he is excited to create potentially hundreds of new jobs in the greater Tampa area by empowering safe & experienced boaters to start their own turn-key charter businesses. Anchor plans to launch mobile apps to skippers, captains, and customers within the greater Tampa area in April, and is meanwhile building a supply of local Captains and Boats to satisfy customer demand.
To participate or learn more about Anchor and Anchor Academy visit www.AnchorRides.com