You have been warned, and a question about RYA quals?

[RobBradley]

Right, had a conflict, advance warning on the Thames about me and my other half, then a question relating to really Motor Boats, so which forum? Here goes!

Advance warning Saturday 29th and Sunday 30th between the hours of 9am and 6pm, myself and my significant other will be completing our Power-boating Level 2 course run by our local sea scouts.

It came as a last minute thing, and we both jumped at it, I have not been in a rib or anything bigger since 1992, and my other half…. nope! So, if we collide, sink you, or otherwise inconvenience you in the Greenhithe area of the Thames, I do sincerely apologise.

In all seriousness, we do hope it is worth doing, yet to even buy a boat, but, in preparation, would you recommend anything on top of this?

I want to work all the way up to Coastal Skipper/Yachtmaster side. And I want to gain the experience required. Anyone got any good advice in preparation, stuff I can do at home in my spare time? We both hope to start Medway/Thames/Coastal and expand from there as experience grows and confidence.

This was an accident, a late minute offering, and we both jumped at it. But what should i look at doing next, keeping in mind I am yet to buy a boat! (little details…. hopefully soon).

Thanks

Rob

 

[lenten]

there are 2 different power boat 2 certificates ----one for open sea ---one endorsed for inland waters only

 

[Lower Limit 1909]

If you are doing PB2 in " ... in the Greenhithe area of the Thames" you should automatically get the coastal endorsement. Even Chas Newens up at Putney Bridge include coastal on their PB2s. The syllabus is identical but the coasta vs inland and the 'size of boat' endorsement (applicable to the ICC) is entirely down to the size of boat you do the course in and whether the location is tidal.

 

[Murv]

You could do a lot worse than to join a club, like the excellent one in my sig line! We offer organised cruises which are a great way to expand your horizons when you do get a boat.
Also, a very nice clubhouse where you can chat to people who've been there, done that, sunk this, walloped that and tap into the wealth of experience on offer when it comes to finding a suitable craft.

 

[RobBradley]

You could do a lot worse than to join a club, like the excellent one in my sig line! We offer organised cruises which are a great way to expand your horizons when you do get a boat.
Also, a very nice clubhouse where you can chat to people who've been there, done that, sunk this, walloped that and tap into the wealth of experience on offer when it comes to finding a suitable craft.

Thanks Murv, RCC is the club I have been looking at, ideally situated(already got the form, was holding off till boat is a definite, would you recommend joining anyway?). Certainly from your reports, it got our attention, Rochester is only 20 mins away, so idea.

Between now and then, going to do as many courses as I can, any you could recommend on top of this? VHF is probably going to be next.

If you are doing PB2 in " ... in the Greenhithe area of the Thames" you should automatically get the coastal endorsement. Even Chas Newens up at Putney Bridge include coastal on their PB2s. The syllabus is identical but the coasta vs inland and the 'size of boat' endorsement (applicable to the ICC) is entirely down to the size of boat you do the course in and whether the location is tidal.

Wasn't aware, will ask on Saturday to confirm

there are 2 different power boat 2 certificates ----one for open sea ---one endorsed for inland waters only

New to all this, will double check Saturday.

 

[Murv]

Thanks Murv, RCC is the club I have been looking at, ideally situated(already got the form, was holding off till boat is a definite, would you recommend joining anyway?). Certainly from your reports, it got our attention, Rochester is only 20 mins away, so idea.

Between now and then, going to do as many courses as I can, any you could recommend on top of this? VHF is probably going to be next.

With my committee hat on, yes, of course it's worth joining anyway! And if you're definitely going to get a boat then I would say it's well worth it.
If you're not 100%, then probably worth holding off a bit in all honesty.

I can't really comment on courses, I'm new to boating and already had the current boat for over a Year before doing my coastal skipper.
What I did was to simply read as much as possible. Tom Cunliffe's dayskipper (or coastal, can't remember which now) was extremely useful and despite what many of the locals will tell you about how easy the rivers are to navigate, in my inexperienced opinion you do need to be able to read a chart and identify drying areas, and to know basic bouyage, tides etc as well as the fundamentals of colregs.

If (when) you've got your PB2 and VHF course, I think the best thing then is to simply gain experience when you get your own boat.
There's a limit to how far you can progress up the training ladder anyway without some first hand experience.
The best money I ever spent was the few hours training I did with a guy at a local marina. It's not "official" training, just hands-on tuition either on their dory or your own boat. I did both, and when we got the new twin-screw boat, the very first thing I did was to book a couple of hours close-quarter handling tuition which was, again, hugely beneficial.

So... long story short! VHF next, join RCC and come along on some of the cruises and get a couple of hours tuition on your boat when you get it (feel free to pm me if you want the guys details)

 

[stevefisher]

Thanks, Murv. RCC is the club Rob (my significant other) and I have been looking at. We have the forms...

 

[RobBradley]

Thanks Murv again for your help.

Had a look at Tom Cunliffe's book, think we will be ordering that for kindle, looks a good read.

And will certainly take you up on your offer of tuition contact, will certainly be used. We will both be joining as soon as a few more details work out, and certainly looking forward to getting involved. Love the cruise reports, hope to be there as much as possible.

Saturday for Steve and I, its the beginning of finally starting to live the dream, a dream I have had forever, cannot wait.

 

[JerryC]

Kindle not for me. I would say, if you guys are intending to cruise the S Coast then buy the Channel Pilot (aka Cunliffe) as a real book, its only 20 squid or so. Read it thoroughly several times before you set off, and make loads of notes. Then when you might need to grab it (with your notes) in a hurry, you will probably know all there is to know about pilotage in the area where you are, so you won't need to grab it, lol.

Second point, when you eventually get your boat, as said in posts above, you can't beat getting some tuition for own-boat close-quarters handling. If you don't do it, that's where the damage is usually caused ... in your own marina.

 

[RobBradley]

Thanks JerryC

Has been confirmed the Powerboating course we are doing is the coastal PB2.... Awesome!

 

[Murv]

Best of luck, and enjoy! ��

 

[RobBradley]

Day one done, great day, four different power boats, and awesome fun! What a day, so calm, no wind, still smiling.

We didn't sink, crash in to the bridge, and no one fell in all day, so far so good. Strangely both Steve and I preferred slow precise manoeuvring over gunning it, must be our age. Loved going full speed, but equally I loved just pottering along. Coming to the jetty, securing to buoys and reverse were my favs, taking your time and just thinking about each movement, really did enjoy that part.

Roll on tomorrow!

Rob

 

[ProDave]

View attachment 73359

Day one done, great day, four different power boats, and awesome fun! What a day, so calm, no wind, still smiling.

We didn't sink, crash in to the bridge, and no one fell in all day, so far so good. Strangely both Steve and I preferred slow precise manoeuvring over gunning it, must be our age. Loved going full speed, but equally I loved just pottering along. Coming to the jetty, securing to buoys and reverse were my favs, taking your time and just thinking about each movement, really did enjoy that part.

Roll on tomorrow!

Rob

When I did my coastal PBL2 we had one day like that, and the next day F5. We still carried on and the windy day proved just as much fun and just as useful,. but somewhat wetter (in a RIB)

 

[RobBradley]

Completed… and passed.

Just wanted to say, we completed the course at Cambria Sea Scouts in Greenhithe. They had a great number of power boats available, some with tillers, others with wheels. And a very good mix and rotation throughout the weekend.

Most of the weekend I was either 1 to 1 with an instructor, or 2 to 1 instructor, and we had an amazing time.

Will admit at the start I was a little nervous, trust me, if it can go wrong, I normally test just how badly wrong it can go. But by mid afternoon my confidence in my ability was growing.

Yesterday there was next to no tide, or wind! Today however I learned a hell of a lot. They took us by Whites jetty to practice close quarters, and all of a sudden started to experience ebb tide joy!

By the end of today, bringing their largest rib back to the jetty, and coming in perfectly, not even a bump… I did grin ear to ear.

Got to say the school staff were superb, explained over and over until they were sure you got it, and gave you as many turns as your needed until you were confident. At £200 with option of instalments, thought it was a bit of a bargain, hence jumping at it.

Next, VHF, and probably a bit of charting, actually enjoyed that bit as well.

Both Steve and I are really glad we did it before even buying any boat, as even after everything we have read up on the last few months gave us absolutely no preparation for tidal waters. Certainly an eye opener.

And we did it on our front door! How cool….!

Rob and Steve

 

[mm42]

Well done.

Beware, it is addictive. I did my PB2 in 2014 and now make a living working on a 49m ship all over Europe.