I'm An Expert!!

[hlb]

I\'m An Expert!!

After 50 years of sailing, from Wales to Scotland and Ireland. Most of the South coast, Britany and The CI.

Ok the first ten years were on the boating lake at Butlins /forums/images/graemlins/smirk.gif and the next 20 on the Broads.

I have finally and not without great difficulty and mental anguish. Tearing of hair, nearly freezing to death, sucumming to seven hours of utter bordom interspaced by the odd witty comments and after spending half the previous night swatting.

Listened to hundreds of ways of how maritime equipement can be bodged, and fun ways of using the same for in car entertainment on M way journeys.

I have finally and after inextraudinate effort.

Gained my very first nautical certificate.

I am now the proud owner, passport picture included.

Of a bloody Radio Licence!! /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

 

[oldgit]

Re: I\'m An Expert!!

Thort that was now included in the TV license guv.

 

[Dave_Snelson]

Re: I\'m An Expert!!

Nice one Haydn! Knowing your phonetic alphabet qualifies you speak in the Celtic tongue doesn't it??

Just don't bother with the south anymore (y'ain't missin' much anyway /forums/images/graemlins/smirk.gif )

 

[LeytonC]

Re: I\'m An Expert!!

well done - so are you going to get a DSC radio now then???

 

[hlb]

Re: I\'m An Expert!!

Am I eck. Cant see any real advantage and neither did my emminant coast guard instructor. The phonetic spelling concisted of me reading the word Bravo off a piece of paper in front of me!! What a waste of a day and fifty quid!

 

[BarryH]

Re: I\'m An Expert!!

Its a bleedin' scam. Just listen to the squork box to hear no bugger knows what they're doing. I don't even know where my operaters cert is!

 

[LeytonC]

Re: I\'m An Expert!!

I said that, until i got 1 - and I've found it usefull for quick connects to friends boats, but i never use it to connect to costguard - but then i might at some point.

 

[hlb]

Re: I\'m An Expert!!

Dont know any friends with D????. Just felt sorry for the newby folk on the course. Most never got a chance to practice with the equipement. He said we could do a written test or he would just ask questions. Did not give us a choice, but just asked questions. Some one would answer err chanel 16 whatever. I kept quiet just to give the others a chance!! The whole bloody thing could have been done in an hour at most. Two hours would actualy have most folk knowing what there doing. Not sure if after a day, anybody knew owt!!

 

[LittleShip]

Re: I\'m An Expert!!

Spot on well done !! /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif

 

[whisper]

Re: I\'m An Expert!!

"£50"? Was that all you paid the nice man, c'mon now you can tell us /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif

 

[hlb]

Re: I\'m An Expert!!

Yep. 50 squid, expencive at that. Though he did tell me to keep quiet as the irish lot had been told it was £75 but they could afford it!! Plus £ 3-50 for roast beaf lunch and two pints of beer at £2-05 per pint. £20 for licence apparently. £3-00 for photo's. Would not care if course was so lengthy and crap. Hope he's not here!! Though I expect he would agree!!

 

[Solitaire]

Re: I\'m An Expert!!

[ QUOTE ]
He said we could do a written test or he would just ask questions. Did not give us a choice, but just asked questions.

[/ QUOTE ]

So you did not sit the written exam? If that is the case it should be reported to the RYA! Although the SRC course is one of assesment on certain issues, voice calling and the simulator, the course should have ended with a written exam - maximium time alowed 30 mins. The maximum marks awarded is 22 with a pass of 14. The front section of the paper covering the distress issues is the most important and while the full house is 11 marks the pass is 8 and the Mayday section carries 6 marks on it's own! Furthermore, the examiner is obliged to keep the exam papers for a period of 6 months after which time they can be destroyed. A spot check can be undertaken in that time.

The sylabus states that the course should last 8 hours and over a certain number of students, 15 minutes should be added for each additional student.

If your course was run without the exam it was wrong and no wonder you felt ripped off. I'm running an SRC course tomorrow for 5 people. I will start at 9.30 and I doubt I'll be finnished before 5.30 - a lot depends on the voice and simulator use.

It does really annoy me when I hear of courses being run like the one you describe. Were you asked to fill in a "feedback form" at the end?

 

[hlb]

Re: I\'m An Expert!!

Look. I got my piece of paper and the course was expertly run. I cannot fault the way the course was run and find no fault with it's opperators. It was indeed excelently run. No. I did not get a fault form, but then again after gaining my pass thingy I thort it time to bugger off. I'm just saying that the whole thing is a farce and that it should last all day. ABOUT TEN SECONDS WOULD DO!!!

 

[Riggy]

Re: I\'m An Expert!!

Well done Haydn, you deserve a medal for just staying in the classroom!!
IMHO there should be two types of qualificatin classes run. The absolute beginner with no radio experience at all should be sent a copy of the phonetic alphabet prior to the course/exam and made to learn it, with a follow-up test in the exam as well as the rest of the learning that goes with it and the exam should certainly last all day.
For the 'intermediates' (those with prior knowlege/use of radio procedure) I would have thought 2 to 3 hours would suffice to show their competence?

 

[Solitaire]

Re: I\'m An Expert!!

There are two coursese available!! There is what is known as the DSC upgrade or the "short course". All you need to do is provide your existing certificate number.You still have to sit the exam though. It is up to individuall schools/ instructors if they wish to run them. Time of the course is around 3-4 hours depending upon numbers. I've run several this year.

 

[Renegade_Master]

Re: I\'m An Expert!!

Yup Davids right of course it should include a written exam.

 

[gonfishing]

Re: I\'m An Expert!!

Depite the pro's and cons at least you are now legal!!
Should be interesting now that you are getting paper bits to see what your comments are on the Power 1&2 !!!!!!

I've seen you handle your boat I for one would not like to be the Instructor!!!

 

[omega2]

Re: I\'m An Expert!!

That will save a hefty fine should you get a visit!!!

 

[hlb]

Re: I\'m An Expert!!

Not sure just how you meant that /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif

Dont know much about level 1/2. But I suspect done on ribs etc. The method is totaly different. Small single outdrive planing boats are dificult to control in the best of hands. But a twin especially on shafts does just what it says on the can. But even then, it will still be effected by wind or tide on the beam.

The other important factor is that both helmsman and crew know insinctively what each other is doing, or required of them. There should be no need for any words spoken.

 

[BrendanS]

Re: I\'m An Expert!!

Given your views on the subject, I am indeed impressed you went along, never mind sitting it out! <g>