for those who have been taught

powerskipper

powerskipper

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By an instructor, whether it be boating or in other things.

What did you find the most useful things you learnt.

Was it talking about something, going over the theory and then really doing it.


learning the theory and then going away and putting it into practice.


Or doing in under instruction..
 
powerskipper said:
By an instructor, whether it be boating or in other things.

What did you find the most useful things you learnt.

Was it talking about something, going over the theory and then really doing it.


learning the theory and then going away and putting it into practice.


Or doing in under instruction..
Click to expand...

..or finding out that you knew far more than the instructor, so the issue is lack of confidence.. :rolleyes:
 
Hands on, practical learning with instructor to hand just in case. But perhaps equally helpfull is an instructor who instills confidence in your potential rather than making you feel like a tw*t when you get it wrong which of course, you will.
 
being trained in everthing from fast recue craft to super-sized supply vessels it has to be hands on.....but you cant put thoery down, if someone does'nt tell you whats required first then you cant try and put it into practice :)
 
yup

lisilou said:
Hands on, practical learning with instructor to hand just in case. But perhaps equally helpfull is an instructor who instills confidence in your potential rather than making you feel like a tw*t when you get it wrong which of course, you will.
Click to expand...

Its never wrong just an alternative way of doing it and not always with the desired results.
ps bit like my cooking LOL
 
Different people have different ways of learning. kayak handling (most wanted to learn the eskimo roll rather than how not to fall in in the first place:rolleyes: ) some learnt best by bieng told, others by broken down demonstration, others by having them hold the paddle for a demo. others by upending them, placing the paddle and letting them hip flick. The hard part was getting the idea of cocking the paddle (quiet in the cheap seats).

Like all teaching the skill is in determining which method wroks best for the individual.

As an aside I'm sure that most experienced kayakers will agree that the hip flick is all that matters, where and how you stick the paddles (or indeed bare hands) is a minor issue.

btw hand rolling is a nice thing to be able to do (i used to have 100% success both sides ) but useless on a river if you've lost the paddle. Just delays the bail out.

Sea is a different matter. We trained by chucking away the paddle, capsizing, then find the split paddle, roll up using it then, ideally, get the lost paddle else join the splits and carry on. btw Splits need to be caried on the fore deck to be of any use.
 
powerskipper said:
By an instructor, whether it be boating or in other things.

What did you find the most useful things you learnt.
Click to expand...

In sailing, as in other fields -
1) What I was good at already (how do you know when you don't have much to compare it to?). Great confidence booster.
2) What areas weren't so good and needed more practice (or, if down to 'personality' and never likely to be rectified, be mindful of).
3) That there's more than one way to do almost everything, and that not being perfect is OK.

Specifically sailing -not the most useful, but certainly the most surprising at the time: How to turn a Contessa 32 in its own length under power (from a standing start). I wouldn't have thought it possible, but was soon doing it reliably and without fuss. (Sadly, the technique doesn't work on our current long-keeler!)
 
Having got the qualifications and done a little on my own. I paid to be taken out in some really bad weather to learn the limits and build confidence in my own boat.

I had no desire to go out in those conditions normally but conditions change weather forcasts are not always reliable in local areas and I have found what I learnt those very wet, windy and bumpy days really comforting.

Regards mikej
 
I've found that accompanying someone who is really proficient in conditions in which you are less than confident is a real boost.
Doesn't matter if it's boats, planes cars or whatever. Once you see it is possible you gain from the experience.
 
I learnt far more when I was teaching than when I was learning if you see what I mean. Still am for that matter. Not just flying or sailing but anything, even little chats at work or those lovely little helpful tips we can't stop ourselves giving our kids.

I hate that glib saying "them as can do and them as can't teach" - I don't think you can know any subject properly until you've had to teach it to someone else. Not only do you tend to learn a lot about yourself but it doesn't half expose any shortcomings in your knowledge and ability.
 
powerskipper said:
By an instructor, whether it be boating or in other things.

What did you find the most useful things you learnt.

Was it talking about something, going over the theory and then really doing it.


learning the theory and then going away and putting it into practice.


Or doing in under instruction..
Click to expand...

Difficult to explain, but I think it is the feeling of having worked something out for yourself - even if you later realise that it's what your instructor was teaching you. An example for me was my first time conning a boat into the Solent through the Needles channel at night. I thought I was being pretty smart concentrating on keeping a watch astern to keep in the white sector of the Needles light. Only later did I realise that Mr Mendez had subtly implanted the idea in my mind that there are helpful items all around, not just ahead.

Another useful thing I learned - and this one only yesterday - is that Jon Mendez and Steve Tyler, armed with buckets, can throw a surprising amount of water over you when you're trying to get into a liferaft. :D
 
I think, in terms of motor skills:
Being shown how to do it,
Being talked through it,
Repetition to the point of boredom, over time,
Doing it wrong either by design or accident,
and then repetiton, again.
I was taught to weld by an old timer, deceptive, he knew how to teach. If I pick up a welding torch I can still hear his obscene mnemonics.
 
Hi Powerskipper

In my experience as a new motor boat owner the best sequence for me was:
1) learning the theory e.g DSK Theory
2) Doing the practical e,g PB2
3) Then having tuition on your own boat -ESSENTIAL!
4) Relearning the theory as it makes a lot more sense and relevance when you own your boat and have started going out on your own.

Hope that helps

Mike
 
One of the important aspects of boating that our instructor taught my wife and I was the importance of team work especially when you're new to boating.
 
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