boat handling course

[timv]

I have done both my power day skipper theory and practical ,however when I turned up for the practical the instructor had failed to tell me we were doing it on a sailing boat !! To be fair the weather turned out to be very rough that week so I think I would have stayed in the marina all week if on a motor boat. The result is that I have very little twin engine boat handling experience and none using a chart plotter. As you may know from a previous post I am intending buying my first boat but as yet I am still boatless .Could anyone recommend a course that would involve this sort of thing ? I am intending keeping my boat in Plymouth so wondered if it would be better to do the course in that area to get used to the local ports, but not essential. I would rather go for the cheaper option of doing a course with other people than a one to one , however is it possible for my wife to do competent crew at the same time ? I would be very grateful of any advise or suggestion

thanks
Tim

 

[JerseyDiver]

Do you have any idea on type of boat you are looking at buying?? Seek out a school with a similar craft and do a days pontoon bashing and small passage etc. the wife can do the competent crew during this. No point doing an entire course if you already have day skipper theory and practical. The chart plotter is very unit specific as to operation but the basics could be covered during a days tuition and with your knowledge from above courses should make sense.

Even better option would be a day of two own boat tuition on whichever craft you buy ???

 

[landlockedpirate]

I'm with JerseyDiver, if you have already completed on a sticky boat, you would'nt learn much more on a power boat, apart from handling. Own boat tuition is the way to go, the quality and duration of training is hugely improved. 1 days tuition on your own pride and joy would equal a whole weeks boat handling on a shared course IMHO.

Couple of really good instructers on the forum.

 

[Solitaire]

I have done both my power day skipper theory and practical ,however when I turned up for the practical the instructor had failed to tell me we were doing it on a sailing boat !! To be fair the weather turned out to be very rough that week so I think I would have stayed in the marina all week if on a motor boat. The result is that I have very little twin engine boat handling experience and none using a chart plotter. As you may know from a previous post I am intending buying my first boat but as yet I am still boatless .Could anyone recommend a course that would involve this sort of thing ? I am intending keeping my boat in Plymouth so wondered if it would be better to do the course in that area to get used to the local ports, but not essential. I would rather go for the cheaper option of doing a course with other people than a one to one , however is it possible for my wife to do competent crew at the same time ? I would be very grateful of any advise or suggestion

thanks
Tim

I have to say I am somewhat confused by your post. You say you have done the power day skipper theory and power, but you did the practical on a sailing boat! You can't have got Day Skipper power then! Theory is theory irrespective of power or sail. The Day Skipper Power will normally be run on a twin screw motor cruiser, but you should have done some work on a chart plotter on your Day Skipper sail any way.