What use is the Yachtmaster Offshore Shorebased Certificate?

[peterb26]

Can anyone tell me exactly what benefit it is to me to hold this certificate? I took it many moons ago at our local college over a 20 week course of 2 hours per week. By some fluke I havent lost the certificate either!!

Aside from the actual theory which we learnt (and things like leeway aren't too relevant to a motorboater), is it going to be of any use to me whatsoever if I decide to progress further along the yachtmaster certification path?

I suspect not, but would appreciate advice from the more experienced instructors on here.

Thank you in advance.

 

[rickp]

Its no particular use, other than the information learnt. I must admit that I did it before my YM practical so that I was confident that I had a thorough understanding of the theory side, but that was the only reason.

Rick

 

[Hurricane]

I agree with Rick

If you go on these practical courses (Day Skipper - Yachtmaster etc) you tend to rush through things - if you do the YM theory at home and at your own speed more will stick in the old grey matter.

My big problem is remembering things that I don't do often.

So if you do a shorebased course prior to the on water course (especially if you intend taking a YM exam) you will have a better understanding and for me it meant that everything was fresh in my mind for the practical course.

An example - before my YM practical course, I'd never done a running fix for real but by doing the shorebased course the theory was nice and fresh in my mind - all the instructor needed to do was to set up the exercise and everything fell into place. This gave us much more time to do the more difficult things on the practical course.

 

[powerskipper]

It speeds up your calculation time requirements,
makes you more accurate when plotting so that when you use it on a boat you have a good chance of it being correct even when you plot underway,
you know or can spot when there is an error somewhere,
you understand why you need to do/use some bits of info.
you know if you can "do a quick calculation or whether its a full one needed. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

 

[Richard10002]

I thought peter was asking if the actual piece of paper had any value... e.g. if he were to progress to other levels of training, is it required, or would it exempt him from stuff, or whatever.

I dont think he was questioning tha validity of the course itself

 

[peterb26]

Thanks chaps (and chappesses). I was basically interested in whether it would save me effort if I decide to progress further down the YM route.

I think the answer is probably "No". However I did enjoy the course, especially as I was the only MOBO person on it with 25 yotties...........

 

[hlb]

Well, I never found the shore based day skipper, a blind bit of help. Bordom and petrification every Monday night for 26 weeks. We only passed cos I said we were definatly not doing one bit again, and he could please him self whether he passed or failled us. I'd rather have gone to the dentist. Cant remember anything from the course, apart from needing to do sums about things I did not need before the course and never used since. Bit like buying a chocolate tea pot. Rant.

Maybe a bad teacher. /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif

 

[SnaxMuppet]

[ QUOTE ]
Well, I never found the shore based day skipper, a blind bit of help. Bordom and petrification every Monday night for 26 weeks.

[/ QUOTE ]

I am sorry you had such a bad experience with your DS course hlb.

My course was completely the opposite... interesting from start to end. Sure, we had an experienced, interesting and enthusiastic teacher but we also had an interesting group of students which must have helped too. I learned a lot too!

 

[peterb26]

FOMCL Hlb!

I enjoyed my course but the lecturer was a great entertainer and a good story teller.

 

[hlb]

Think alot was to do with. We'd been sailing back and forth to Ireland for years before the course. The trainer was an ex teacher who took early retirement. Followed the old saying. If you cant do it. Teach.

Not including anyone else here. /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif

 

[coastwise]

Surprisingly, the Day Skipper Shorebased can do more for you than the Yachtmaster Offshore Shorebased as a bit of paper.
In MCA certification required for operating commercial vessels, a YM shorebased is of no use.
A Day Skipper Shorebased & Day Skipper practical course attendance permit you to operate in Category 5 waters - 20 miles from nominated departure point in daylight & in favourable weather. Commercial endorsement also required.

 

[Hurricane]

This is the way to do it (IMHO)

http://www.cmonline.co.uk

 

[Gludy]

Thats not really the case
The DS theoryOR YM theory could be used with the DS practical to give the range you mention from a fixed nominated departure point.

The Coastal skipper practical makes it 20 miles from any safe haven.

You are expected to know to YM theory when taking the YM practical.

In many ways the practical is a test of the theory you should know.

 

[alan006]

You can of course get the Yachtmaster (shorebased) and combine that with the advanced powerboat course and with the commercial endorsement this covers you for 20miles from safe haven. ( When I did it about 2 years ago this covered you up to 24metres, but things have changed for new applicants and if you do the powerboat course in a RIB you are now restricted to 12 metre boats, I think).
This covers me for power boats not sail.

 

[peterb26]

But with the advanced powerboat course, you also have to take an exam to get the commercial endorsement these days.

 

[coastwise]

Advanced Powerboat - you need the assessment for the Advanced Powerboat Cert - no need to take any courses (practical or shorebased ) if up to standard - but also need the commercial endorsement which is purely a chq for £20, a medical (Eng1 or ML5) + Sea survival course.
APb Cert + 2 yrs relevant experience permits cat 3 waters, while with 1 yr experience permits only cat 6 waters

 

[peterb26]

CW - on the application form for Commercial it says of the APB cert "Only available on certs issued before 1st Jan 2005".

 

[Gludy]

They closed the avenue for getting a commercial endorsement using the power boat courses for boat over 12m - now the only route is viaDS, YM etc. Which is fair enough because the power boat courses are designed for small boats/ribs.

 

[coastwise]

No - APb can get a commercial endorsement, but must now be on the cert by assessment rather than course completion - have a look at RYA web site

 

[Gludy]

But is there not a limit to the size of boat the commercial use applies to?