RYA Powerboat Level 2 - how hard for a yachtie?

Interesting that there's no-one talking about displacement craft. When I did mine it was 90% using a 30' steel workboat with a single screw and engine. Turning it in it's own length , in between marina pontoons with boats on either side was a complete Bar Steward of a job. In contrast, the ribs were a doddle except for high speed stops. My club insisted on a level 3 for safety boat duties.
 
Thanks to all for the really useful feedback.

If I had the time (and money, both in short supply at present) I'd definitely do the full monty in a tidal location, but in the meantime I'm going to meet the guy in charge of training at the reservoir and find out what I'll need to know and to demonstrate.
 
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...

You can do it at Farmoor.
 
I'd agree entirely with all of the responses and having seen some PB2 drivers would also caution that with some just having the ticket does not make them competent to be driving a powerful RIB in close proximity to kids in the water post-capsize. Well worth doing Safety Boat too as this teaches the techniques you really need to start helping dinghy crew in difficulty.

A bit like the car driving test if you've ridden a motorbike for years, the fact you've got 1,000s of miles under your belt means that boat-sense, colregs and navigation will be second nature and you can just focus on the driving bit.
 
I'm a Powerboat instructor at our club, teaching L2 and Safetyboat and have taught a lot of people, many of whom are highly experienced sailors. On the basis of my teaching experience I'd recommend a 2 day course if you haven't used RIBs much. You will already have a lot of transferable skills and knowledge, but there are significant differences and it is important to really learn safe RIB handling if you are going to be doing safety duties. Even the mostexperienced sailors who do the 2 day course generally say that they have learned a lot.
 
"RYA Powerboat Level 2 - how hard for a yachtie?"

Well when you see how many MOBO drivers do it, a real sailor should not have any problem!
 
Well being a MOBO yachtmaster and also a intermediate Power boater (amongst other quals) they act and handle very differently and some procedures are different, I now have some bad habits which I take to each boat which is not good as you use one on another. I would do the course its worth it and will give you an insight into some of the issues a RIB Helmsman has.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Share this page

Top