Gaining experience

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I am currently in my early 20's, working in a boatyard and am slightly fed up with this situation. I would like to gain more experience afloat, especially in boat handling. Ultimately I would like to accumulate enough sea time to be eligable for RYA qualifications. Does anyone have any suggestions as to what other jobs exist that would allow me to gain experience and knowledge of handling small motor boats? I know there are no easy answers but I would welcome any suggestions.
 
Acouple of quick questions:

How much experience do you have already? becuase this will determine where you can start with qualifications.

What qualifications are ultimately your goal? and what would you want to be able to do with them?

Where are you based?

These might help a few people give you some more accurate and relevent advice.
 
You can learn a lot in a boatyard, how to handle boats ashore, chocking, rigging, stepping masts, slinging. launching, repairs.......Why not ask the boss if you can give the customers a card:

Hello,
My name is future sailor, you may have seen me around the yard. I have worked here since last year but never seem to get much time on the water. If you need assistance with your boat; delivery, picking up your mooring or just day sailing I would be very interested in helping out.
I am not so interested in payment (certainly not on pleasure sailing trips) but rather in gaining experience and sea time.
If you feel I can assist you in any way do give me a shout.
future sailor
Might work?
 
I am currently in my early 20's, working in a boatyard and am slightly fed up with this situation. I would like to gain more experience afloat, especially in boat handling. Ultimately I would like to accumulate enough sea time to be eligable for RYA qualifications. Does anyone have any suggestions as to what other jobs exist that would allow me to gain experience and knowledge of handling small motor boats? I know there are no easy answers but I would welcome any suggestions.

Why not ask your employer if he will pay for you to do the Powerboat Level 2 course. You will then be covered as far as insurance is concerned to do more on water work. Then you can get more experience on the water and learn more that way. You don't have to wait to do an RYA course that will get you started.


Where are you based?
 
Thanks for all the suggestions so far. I'm based in the north west. I've done PB Level 2. Eventually I'd like to get a Yachtmasters and get it commercially endorsed.
 
As you have the pb 2 dougs suggestion is a good one, you have something to prove you've had some training and time on the water giving anyone that can offer you something some peace of mind.

If there is a local sea school that can help you out with this (maybe where you did your couse) they will know how your skills are progressing and will have more jobs through them, security work maybe and deliveries all giving you time on the water, also they might be able to do a qualification for work deal, with you so you do some work for them and they'll help train you. Relationships with schools and proffesionals have helped me no end in gaining experience and qualifications.

Hope this helps a little.
 
Since my last post I have managed to gain a VHF SRC though work. I have recently been looking at Yachtmaster fast track courses along with their associated faults and merits but I find their cost prohibative. I would also be unable to take such a long period of time off work. It would seem that Day Skipper would be the next logical step forward. I was wondering if anyone had any involvement with the National Marine Correspondence School, and are theory certificates issued by them taken as seriously as those issued by other RYA centers? Thanks to Doug748 and Mr Completely for the above suggestions. I am pursuing these with limited success thus far.
 
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Does anyone know of anywhere in north Wales where it's possible to do Yachtmaster theory as an evening class?

Although this reply has 'T Menai' as the poster.
It' s kawasaki here!
I have just helped T Menai register on the Forum!

I will contact you later today with info on your query if poss.
It may be tommorow.
There are one or two peeps/places that will siut your needs I reckon
Cheers
K
 
Thread

Hi Thread

Trying to get into sending e-mails on this station and was replying to Future Sailor.

Just letting him know that Kawasaki does evening courses in the Victoria Hotel.
 
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