How Captain Harley Hunt Built His Boating Instruction Business from Zero - @Howtoboating
Turning Passion into Purpose: The Origin of HowToBoating
Captain Harley Hunt didn’t plan on becoming the face of personalized boating instruction. But after years of professional experience on dive boats, yachts, and research vessels, he realized there was a massive hole in the market: new boat owners lacked practical training.
"I started this company in February. Within a month of starting my Instagram, I had my first 20,000 followers," explains Captain Harley Hunt from the Tom Rowland Podcast episode #921.
The Hidden Danger: Overconfident New Boat Owners
The surge of boat sales post-COVID brought thousands of inexperienced boaters onto the water. Many were buying 30-to-50-foot boats as their first real vessel—without knowing how to properly operate them.
"A lot of people jump into a 34-foot center console having never owned a boat. They get sold on joystick controls or technology but have no foundational skills when those systems fail," says Hunt.
Social Media as the Ultimate Growth Engine
Hunt leaned into Instagram, TikTok, and Facebook with simple, value-packed boating tips. He made complex topics visual and approachable, rapidly attracting a loyal following.
"There’s not enough consistent information out there on social media for boaters. I fill that void. Everything I post is actionable and easy to understand," explains Hunt.
A Leap of Faith: Leaving His Job to Go All In
Initially juggling his full-time yacht captain job with HowToBoating, Harley quickly realized he needed to bet fully on his business.
"I figured if I can achieve this with just an hour a day, imagine what I can do with 10 or 15 hours a day focused entirely on building HowToBoating. That’s when I made the jump," he shares.
Humble Clients Make the Best Students
What surprised Hunt most was the kind of clients reaching out for instruction.
"These people have the means to buy beautiful boats, but they’re humble enough to admit they need help. They’re successful, social, and want to protect their family and investment by learning how to boat properly," says Hunt.
From One-Man Operation to Scalable Empire
Hunt’s long-term vision is bold:
Build the world’s largest boating training organization.
Develop online courses to complement his in-person instruction.
Expand globally with certified instructors under the HowToBoating brand.
"There’s a giant blue ocean in boating instruction. I invite more people to enter this field because the need is huge," says Hunt.
Watch the Full Interview: Tom Rowland Podcast Episode #921 with Harley Hunt
Follow Harley Hunt: HowToBoating.com | Instagram
Follow Tom Rowland: Instagram
Subscribe to The Tom Rowland Podcast: YouTube | iTunes | Spotify
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