RYA Powerboat Level 2 - how hard for a yachtie?

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Babylon

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I need get Level 2 Powerboat qualified, so I can supervise my 9yr old son Oppy sailing on a local reservoir-based sailing club. As a coastal/offshore yachtie with about 5,500NM over ten years mostly in my 27ft cutter, how challenging is it really to drive a fairly small RIB/dory with a fairly small 4-stroke outboard in non-tidal waters? Do I need to do the full RYA 2-day course, or should I easily pass a half-day assessment?
 
I did the PBL2 over 2 days at our club. They run the course regularly so most members can take a turn on the safety boat. It's not difficult and it's fun.

Most of the things you are tested on are slow manoeuvring, figure of 8 backwards etc.

Does your club or another one nearby not run the course?
 
Everyone will be different, but with your level of experience I would expect you could pass with the half day assessment.
I now wait to be shot down in flames, but can only speak from my own experience of taking it.
 
ProDave said:
I did the PBL2 over 2 days at our club. They run the course regularly so most members can take a turn on the safety boat. It's not difficult and it's fun.

Most of the things you are tested on are slow manoeuvring, figure of 8 backwards etc.

Does your club or another one nearby not run the course?
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Club does run the course, but I'm particularly time-pressured at the moment and would also rather save the money by doing just a morning's assessment with them. Just don't want to get egg on my face by rocking up assuming I know how to do it!
 
i did a day long course because i wanted a cevni----if you look at some of the adverts for day courses they promise 100% pass rate----and as there is no testing ----i am sure they get 100%----a sham exam but a bit of fun flat out in a rib---------regards lenten
 
I took it when I was 13 or 14 :-)) i was issued the certificate at 16 i seem to recall :-)

Unless your stuck in your ways you will find it easy.
 
lenten said:
i did a day long course because i wanted a cevni----if you look at some of the adverts for day courses they promise 100% pass rate----and as there is no testing ----i am sure they get 100%----a sham exam but a bit of fun flat out in a rib---------regards lenten
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There wes a group in a RIB out on the Orwell on Sunday morning saving a bucket on a fender from 20 yds
 
I did a PB2 course last year with a local sailing club.

After over 50 years experience of powered craft, starting with Stuart Turner clinker built launches, outboard planing dinghies, a summer job driving harbourmaster launches, and then yachts and inflatable tenders, plus some more recent rescue rib driving at another club, you might have thought I had nothing to learn.

Whilst the booklearning bit was very basic , and the practical knot tying exercise wouldn't have challenged a boy scout, the actual boat driving did have some lessons for me and I am very glad I got round to doing it. If nothing else, it teaches the safe way of operating a rib and what your crew would expect of you.

A particular mantra I recall is "hand on throttle, hand on wheel". Basically you must keep a hand on each control at all times. It does take a little while to train yourself to do this all the time until it becomes unnatural to do otherwise, and the course I did delivered this.
 
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just a thought---- a pb2 taken inland will not be any good if you ever want to hire a boat on the sea----regards lenten
 
Yes, pb2 inland will not be valid in tidal waters (if they look closely).

Do the two days as you will learn rib man overs and their handling characteristics which are considerably different to big boats. A good instructor will see the standard of the participants and wirk at that level. Above level 2 if appropriate so worthwhile.
 
I was in exactly your situation: 000's of cruising miles and kids sailing oppies so needed to help. I did a course in a "proper rib" down on the S coast over 2 days. Worth every minute and penny. I said I wanted to focus on boat handling and rescue and we did lots and lots of tricky manoeuvers.
  • Ribs are very different to steer than yachts. When the engine is in neutral they don't steer as they have no rudders - whereas in a yacht slow manoeuvering we are in neutral 50% of the time.
  • Safety is paramount and there are some "must do's" that need to be well taught.
I've no doubt you'd be fine just taking the test, particularly if you've had a bit of a play first. but given the seriousness of the potential safety issue (small kids in the water, powerful engines, "on-off" throttle levers) I'd do a course if you can find the time and money.

One final point. Our local club does PB2 too, but in plastic dories with outboards rather than "proper ribs". At a big oppy event someone suddenly says "Hi, can you take over for a bit". At that point I'd really want to have the genuine knowledge to say "yes" with confidence.
 
I've not heard of half day assessments, but from my experience if the half day is one to one, then the actual driving time will be similar to most PB2s done as a group.
A lot of clubs will do PB2 in an evening and a day.
IMHO it is worth coughing up for a course in a reasonably powerful RIB (for its size) and on the sea where you can open the throttles properly.

If you could buddy up with another experienced boater or two and approach a few freelance instructors I expect you'd get a good deal for a one day course?
 
I did mine many years ago when pb2 included safety boat but lost my papers and had to resit a couple of years ago which meant I lost my safety boat but gained
The Ist time included anchoring and upright ing capsized boat and took 2 full days and included first aid I found the whole course useful and learnt a lot my sailing experience did not cover .
The second time I think the instructor and I were both going through the motions and I felt he was filling out his time as we both knew I was competent but differed when talking about tides we were standing across the road from the tidal slipway which showed about a foot of wet . He asked me when high tide would be and I said it had just turned but could only accept an answer from tide tables etc.
Go for the full course it's worth doing
 
Babylon said:
I need get Level 2 Powerboat qualified, so I can supervise my 9yr old son Oppy sailing on a local reservoir-based sailing club. As a coastal/offshore yachtie with about 5,500NM over ten years mostly in my 27ft cutter, how challenging is it really to drive a fairly small RIB/dory with a fairly small 4-stroke outboard in non-tidal waters? Do I need to do the full RYA 2-day course, or should I easily pass a half-day assessment?
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I would be inclined to go and to it in tidal waters- at least it will be more useful at some other stage. Tidal on a calm day is one thing, but if it blowing F? or so, you might find you are learning a bit more on a small rib than you imagined...
 
Babylon said:
I need get Level 2 Powerboat qualified, so I can supervise my 9yr old son Oppy sailing on a local reservoir-based sailing club. As a coastal/offshore yachtie with about 5,500NM over ten years mostly in my 27ft cutter, how challenging is it really to drive a fairly small RIB/dory with a fairly small 4-stroke outboard in non-tidal waters? Do I need to do the full RYA 2-day course, or should I easily pass a half-day assessment?
Click to expand...

Have a chat to Tim Griffin (www.griffmarineservices.co.uk/) and tell him your situation - he'll give an honest opinion. Personally I'd go for the proper course with him, if your knowledge is above PB2 he'll make sure you learn more interesting things.
 
I spent years driving RIBs as a dive coxswain as well as having a powerboat of my own. I also did a fair bit of yacht sailing and the difference between the two is significant. As mentioned, once the power is off on an outboard powered boat there's effectively no steering, thus you have to use the engine all the time when at close quarters. Next, there's the power to weight ratio: on my yacht, 30 bhp for eight tonnes. On the last RIB I used weighed less than a tonne and had a 80 bhp engine. This makes the craft much more responsive to the throttle and thus needs a much lighter hand on the throttle. You can go on highlighting differences for some time......

Whilst there is no doubt that a competent yacht skipper could probably make a decent fist of handling a RIB and pass a half day assessment, I would join with others in suggesting the OP does the whole course at a sea based school. Might even be fun.
 
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