What Certificate

As nobody's yet taken the bait, I'll stick my neck in the noose...

FWIW I've only had a boat (14' Fletcher +30hp outboard) just over 18 months, so fairly typical 'uneducated newbie' I'd guess? I currently have no qualifications other than VHF SRC. We use boat mostly for inshore/river exploration - not watersports. I've done a lot of reading - colregs, local bylaws/harbour guides, various powerboat books and more, but no 'hands on' training.

I'm not sure that the size of vessel would be the sole factor to determine what qualifications I sought, but instead would judge this by the type of use/typical voyage or that determined by insurance.

We will upgrade this year to a 21' cuddy sportsboat and being 200hp+ more, I'm guessing significantly more difficult to handle. Thus I will be looking to do PB2 as soon as practical, but I will look to do in my own vessel as I feel that will be of most benefit. (I'm restoring the boat currently) The reasons are more for my own peace of mind than anything else, but mostly because of the extra power, size and potential for/consequences of any error.

We'll gradually look to travel a bit further and if/when we look to do anything more than day trips - say over 40nm radius, I'd probably want a lot more knowledge/training and would then look to do a day skipper. I'm very unlikely to ever go any further than the Channel Islands or Solent however, so for me that would probably be the limit of training. Yachtmaster I'd assume to be geared of international/all weather/commercial skippers? I'm also not likely to go bigger than I can tow/launch so sub 30'..

I'm not sure any qualification is a substitute for experience in any walk of life and as such would not personally consider taking 'charge' of anything bigger than 30' without a lot more NM's under the hull first - in a variety of vessels probably.

(Grabs flame retardant hat & coat and runs...) :D
 
Yeah, I would go the day skipper theory to get some nautical basics- i did this on line with Chichesterier Maritime and the (PB2) in your own boat i think is the best idea. I did mine on a rib and to TBH its a lot differenent.
Radio DSC VHF licence is a must do by law if you have one.
Just my 2 euros worth!
 
The general perception with RYA courses seems to be more or less as said - motor cruiser if it has a lid on it, powerboat if open. Again as said, use your own vessel if you have one so the chosen course is modified accordingly.

The annomoly is with the MCA for commercial use under the small boat code.
The required theory knowledge is considerably less (to Day Skipper level) for Advanced Powerboat compared to Yachtmaster Coastal (old Coastal Skipper), both of which give the same qualification for up to cat 3 waters. The requirement for the APbt is that the examination is taken in a vessel capable of over 12 knots.
So you can get a skipper who qualified APbt in a small RIB, able to commercially skipper a vessel up to 24m with up to 12 passangers and crew on board up to 20 miles from a safe haven day or night with no weather restrictions.
 
coastwise said:
So you can get a skipper who qualified APbt in a small RIB, able to commercially skipper a vessel up to 24m with up to 12 passangers and crew on board up to 20 miles from a safe haven day or night with no weather restrictions.
Click to expand...

Just as you can get a YM Coastal or Offshore in a single screw small displacement powerboat, who can commercially endorse and then skipper the same vessel you have described above or in the case of the offshore a twin screw 200 tonne vessel up to 150 NM offshore.

What you have of courses omitted to mention is that the skipper is required to have relevant experience of the type of vessel he wishes to skipper.
 
timgriffin said:
Hi All
Just a bit of research
What boat type do you associate with each of the RYA Power Certificates
PB2 Intermediate and Advanced
Helsman Dayskipper Coastal/Yachtmaster
Happy New Year
Tim
Click to expand...

PB2 Intermediate and Advanced = RIB, mebbe as a safety boat for yacht racing

Helsman Dayskipper Coastal/Yachtmaster = Nelson, Aquastar etc.
 
Tim, would be interesting to get your take on your question from the point of view of someone what learns 'em.
 
Yes Doug, lots of anomolies.
The biggest one is now with MCA notice MGN411, where anyone with 18mths experience in the fishing industry who has done the 5 day Seafish theory course (now on line also) and the other one day basic courses, can skipper a commercial work boat up to 24m & 12 passengers + crew, up to 20 miles from a safe haven, day or night without any practical assessment whatsoever. Lots of loopholes here.
 
benjenbav said:
Tim, would be interesting to get your take on your question from the point of view of someone what learns 'em.
Click to expand...

Pretty much as others have said .
The Powerboat schemes run over 2 day's the Motor Cruising 2 to 4 depending on what course.



Just interested to see what route people take or have taken and what type size of boat they have used.
Tim
 
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