Courses

[barry56]

I'm new to boating but want to get a motor boat (up to 30ft) suitable for coastal and short sea trips (e.g. to Lundy or Isles of Scilly).

Before I buy I would like to do the requisite courses. Although I understand no courses are actually required I would like to do it properly.

What courses would you recommend I take?

Or could you point me to a thread on the same subject.

Thanks in advance.

 

[Tranona]

rya.org.uk/training?utm_source=google&utm_medium=paid_search&utm_campaign=&gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=20904731265&gbraid=0AAAAAB7VH1n10ntBVQ5WhbGg6Xn8J_BrS&gclid=Cj0KCQjw097CBhDIARIsAJ3-nxdaZx0r-ZFJjBEXWJGmpqU_FKcdO7N41UiqTTsGvzdnC4iDFhR2psIaAiS0EALw_wcB

 

[jakew009]

I'm new to boating but want to get a motor boat (up to 30ft) suitable for coastal and short sea trips (e.g. to Lundy or Isles of Scilly).

Before I buy I would like to do the requisite courses. Although I understand no courses are actually required I would like to do it properly.

What courses would you recommend I take?

Or could you point me to a thread on the same subject.

Thanks in advance.

Where are you based? The North Devon coast including Lundy can be a pretty unforgiving place.

 

[[70521]]

As you state strictly speaking you can buy a boat of that size and go round the world.

As @Tranona has posted the link to the RYA courses that would be well work looking at.

Personally, I'd be looking at Powerboat II then Day Skipper and possibly Yachtmaster.

I have family in north Devon and agree with @jakew009's comment about the coast being unforgiving and few ports of refuge. Crossing Bideford Bar can be quiet entertaining.

 

[wonkywinch]

Tranona's link has Google referral dabs all over it - the clean version :

RYA courses and qualifications

 

[ylop]

As you state strictly speaking you can buy a boat of that size and go round the world.

As @Tranona has posted the link to the RYA courses that would be well work looking at.

Personally, I'd be looking at Powerboat II then Day Skipper and possibly Yachtmaster.

I have family in north Devon and agree with @jakew009's comment about the coast being unforgiving and few ports of refuge. Crossing Bideford Bar can be quiet entertaining.

Sandy’s suggestion is a very common route in. But be aware that most PB2 courses are taught in a single engine outboard engined wheel steered boat about 1/2 the size of the boat you are thinking of. If you end up with twin engines, shaft drives, or tiller steering you may have a whole new learning curve. Picking up a mooring or dropping anchor is also somewhat simpler on a small rib where the bow is close to the helm, and the deck closer to the water.

If you go that route, you may find you have to relearn (or even do the RYA helmsman course) to have confidence at the size of boat used from Day Skipper.

Be aware day skipper has two parts - theory (same for sail and power) and practical (different for sail and power).

On top of those you should probably be considering the VHF course and diesel engine course (assuming the new boat is diesel).

 

[Alicatt]

We bought a small motor boat for canal use, then we did the powerboat 2 course, firstly so I could get an ICC for up to 10m to legally use the boat in Europe and more importantly to give my wife who has not boating experience except for a day out on the canals in Friesland, it is one thing me instructing her, but having an independent person saying the same things and showing her was great. The boat we had was a 7.5m Merry Fisher which was the same size as the boat we had but a lot more powerful, it gave my wife the confidence to helm our boat and our new to us 11.6m boat.

At the same time I also did the CEVNI and VHF short range certificates to get the ICC. Now I am doing the Shore Based Day Skipper course, and in Sept. I will be doing the practical.

Sandy’s suggestion is a very common route in. But be aware that most PB2 courses are taught in a single engine outboard engined wheel steered boat about 1/2 the size of the boat you are thinking of. If you end up with twin engines, shaft drives, or tiller steering you may have a whole new learning curve. Picking up a mooring or dropping anchor is also somewhat simpler on a small rib where the bow is close to the helm, and the deck closer to the water.

If you go that route, you may find you have to relearn (or even do the RYA helmsman course) to have confidence at the size of boat used from Day Skipper.

Be aware day skipper has two parts - theory (same for sail and power) and practical (different for sail and power).

On top of those you should probably be considering the VHF course and diesel engine course (assuming the new boat is diesel).

Not quite the same, almost though, the sail covers sailing in more detail than the power course, I have both handbooks one for sail and one for power, I wanted to do the power course but all that was available here was the sail so I am doing that, and having to learn about a bit of sailing, tacking and such which is not covered in the power course. Apart from that it is the same.

Moving from the smaller single engined boat to the larger twin engined boat was easier than I thought, and so much more manoeuvrable with the twin - though I still find mooring in Bocholt a challenge with the eddies under the finger pontoons but still easier than with the single engiend boat.

 

[ylop]

Not quite the same, almost though, the sail covers sailing in more detail than the power course, I have both handbooks one for sail and one for power, I wanted to do the power course but all that was available here was the sail so I am doing that, and having to learn about a bit of sailing, tacking and such which is not covered in the power course. Apart from that it is the same.

The power course is shorter (and presumably cheaper?). I assume it has some extra content as a commercial “day skipper sail” isn’t automatically a commercial “day skipper power” even though all the close quarters stuff would be under engine.

 

[petem]

I'd do Day Skipper Theory and Day Skipper Practical.

 

[ylop]

Tranona's link has Google referral dabs all over it - the clean version :

RYA courses and qualifications

Whilst that is probably helpful it might lead the OP into to confusing trap of the power and sail courses having the same name! What he probably wants is here:

https://www.rya.org.uk/training/cou.../training/Pathway leaflets/Motor Cruising.pdf

I'd do Day Skipper Theory and Day Skipper Practical.

Day Skipper practical isn’t designed for people with absolutely zero prior experience.

 

[ingenious]

As per most of the recommendations here, I did Powerboat 2 and then Day Skipper theory and practical.
It is important to find someone who as a boat similar to what you are going to be using.
I originally booked the PB2 thinking it was all I would need and it was done in a RIB. It was very interesting and instructive but nothing like I would actually be using and didn't cover me for the length of boat I'd be using.
I then did the day skipper in a 12m fly bridge and it was much closer, in fact more difficult, than the boat I bought and am now on.

 

[PlanB]

When we started out as complete novices in 2002, our plan involved buying the boat first and then doing the courses.
We intended to (and indeed did) learn to use it over a couple of years and then take it down to the Med via Biscay.
We bought a Princess 435.
Did Day Skipper practical as own boat tuition immediately and then spent two years practicing the tricky bits (berthing and the marina lock).
This was in Chatham, where it is tidal and quite windy.
Over the first winter, we did DS theory, so we could passage plan properly .
The own boat tuition made all the difference.
For us, this worked perfectly, but we were committed to our plan.
And we did get to the Med, with barely a scratch.

 

[Alicatt]

As per most of the recommendations here, I did Powerboat 2 and then Day Skipper theory and practical.
It is important to find someone who as a boat similar to what you are going to be using.
I originally booked the PB2 thinking it was all I would need and it was done in a RIB. It was very interesting and instructive but nothing like I would actually be using and didn't cover me for the length of boat I'd be using.
I then did the day skipper in a 12m fly bridge and it was much closer, in fact more difficult, than the boat I bought and am now on.

This was a concern for me, if it had been on a RIB it would have scared off my wife, that's why I looked for a school with motor cruiser of sorts, that Merry Fisher was perfect and my wife came away with a lot of confidence in being behind the helm. I don't think we exceeded 15knots at any time and the smile on her face at that speed as we crashed through the waves on the Clyde was a joy to me.

Again I am looking at a school that has (had ) a similar boat to ours, but, the school changed hands a few weeks ago and they have a new planning hull boat that is smaller and faster than what we have.

The power course is shorter (and presumably cheaper?). I assume it has some extra content as a commercial “day skipper sail” isn’t automatically a commercial “day skipper power” even though all the close quarters stuff would be under engine.

The sail course is cheaper and covers 5 days practical with some night work where as the motor course is 4 days and about £300 dearer - must be all that petrol/diseasel the boat drinks. The theory course is the same in cost just a little different for the stick and rag handling... do I need to know about shrouds or a backstay on a motor boat?
I did speak to a few training schools offering the shore based day skipper power and they said they just use the same material for the sail as the power, and insert an extra comment in the videos saying which bits are not relevant for the power course.

 

[ingenious]

This was a concern for me, if it had been on a RIB it would have scared off my wife, that's why I looked for a school with motor cruiser of sorts, that Merry Fisher was perfect and my wife came away with a lot of confidence in being behind the helm. I don't think we exceeded 15knots at any time and the smile on her face at that speed as we crashed through the waves on the Clyde was a joy to me.

I was by myself and I had some RIB experience many years ago when I was attached to the MOD doing some hush-hush stuff in Cornwall. I've also done a FRC transfer in the north sea which was a scary experience.
My current travelling partner has had no boating experience or training and I think would be horrified at the idea of a RIB. She was very nervous the few times she took the helm while at sea or when we were docking but has been much more comfortable on the canal.

 

[petem]

Whilst that is probably helpful it might lead the OP into to confusing trap of the power and sail courses having the same name! What he probably wants is here:

https://www.rya.org.uk/training/courses/~/media/DAM/Website Documents/training/Pathway leaflets/Motor Cruising.pdf


Day Skipper practical isn’t designed for people with absolutely zero prior experience.

I didn't have any practical experience before doing my Day Skipper practical course. Perhaps they're fussier now.

 

[st599]

The power course is shorter (and presumably cheaper?). I assume it has some extra content as a commercial “day skipper sail” isn’t automatically a commercial “day skipper power” even though all the close quarters stuff would be under engine.

To convert a Day Skipper to the commercial variant, you need to pass both the theory and practical courses then add on VHF, Professional Practices and Responsibilities, Sea Survival and a medical - which is then re-endorsed every 5.years.

I think the OP doesn't need the commercial Day Skipper, just the recreational one (although VHF, Sea Survival and First Aid are always handy add ons)

 

[st599]

I didn't have any practical experience before doing my Day Skipper practical course. Perhaps they're fussier now.

Many schools are getting complaints that people are turning up with no experience and no theory which is a waste of other students time. There's been a bit of a crackdown.

 

[ylop]

To convert a Day Skipper to the commercial variant, you need to pass both the theory and practical courses then add on VHF, Professional Practices and Responsibilities, Sea Survival and a medical - which is then re-endorsed every 5.years.

I think the OP doesn't need the commercial Day Skipper, just the recreational one (although VHF, Sea Survival and First Aid are always handy add ons)

I know that - I wasn’t suggesting commercial endorsement. I was highlighting that DS Power and DS Sail are not interchangeable.

 

[ylop]

Many schools are getting complaints that people are turning up with no experience and no theory which is a waste of other students time. There's been a bit of a crackdown.

Yes, and I a suspect places like this are part of the problem! You won’t have to look far on here to find people saying that competent crew is a waste of time course (and presumably start yachting even more so), and no doubt the equivalent on the power side. Giving people the benefit of the doubt, I think it’s easy to forget just how much they do know, and how little of that you could pick up in 5 days.

From the OPs perspective doing a shorter course is probably sensible anyway - he may discover he hates the motion and decides boating is not for him or hates the cold and damp and decides chartering in the med is better use of their money, or hates the instructor and is glad of the chance to shop around for the next stage. Multiple courses (especially with different schools) can also mean exposure to a wider range of boats and so better informed decision making for buying.

 

[ctva]

@barry56 there will be RYA teaching establishments near you that will be able to offer PB2 tuition and courses on boats similar to what you are looking at as has been previously mentioned above, Once you have done the PB2, you will have a better understanding of what is is that you are looking for in a boat and what fits your requirements.

Once you have done the PB2, look at the Day Skipper Theory which will build on the practical experience of the PB2.

Then once you have your boat, look to getting a bit of own boat tuition from a RYA school. By this point you should have a good bit of knowledge to make the Day Skipper Practical worthwhile.

But first, just talk to the local club / RYA school. Good luck and let us know how you get on.