POWERBOAT Level 2

GENERAL

The RYA Level Two course is our most popular course and the two days over which it is run gives plenty of time for both practical instruction and theory. Whilst at first glance the syllabus appears very similar to the level one course the extra time available makes a real difference to the depth in which subjects are covered and therefore the amount a student can learn.

EY COURSE DETAILS

PRIOR EXPERIENCE

No prior boating experience is necessary. The course equally suits those new to boating and those who have been boating for years. Most people take Level 2 and bypass Level 1. You do not need to already have Level 1 before you take Level 2.

MINIMUM AGE

We are generally happy for a child over 12 to attend a course with their parent/guardian on our boats at any time – please call to discuss. Children over 16 can attend a normal course at any time but we must have the parent/guardian’s specific permission – please call to discuss. If you want a child of under 16 to attend on their own then they must attend one of our dedicated Children’s Courses see the Children’s Courses section.

INSTRUCTOR – STUDENT RATIO

3 students to 1 Instructor and boat..

COURSE DURATION

2 days from 9am to 5pm.

WHY CHOOSE POWERBOAT TRAINING UK FOR YOUR POWERBOAT LEVEL 2 COURSE?

Our boat: with 7.5m our main teaching boat we have invested considerably so that you get to use quality kit in great condition. Our RIB is fully equipped for training up to Advanced level and are fitted with Icom and Garmin electronics.

Our location and teaching facilities: Monte Real club yates Baiona is a truly amazing teaching location –Our classrooms are well resourced, professional, clean and tidy. Likewise our base in Baiona.

Our Instructors: we ensure that our instructors are teaching 100% ‘Best Practice’ and have a process whereby we constantly review their sessions to ensure that you get the most productive experience from your time with us. All teach because they love boating and we work with them to constantly ‘upskill’ their qualifications and experience.

What is included in the course price? ~ when you undertake your Level 2 Course on our boats then the price you pay includes Fuel (often charged as extra at the end of courses by schools),. Price includes VAT too

Does the course price represent good value? remember in life you pretty much get what you pay for. We don’t pretend to be the cheapest but the course will be on well maintained first rate craft, and run by instructors guaranteed to teach current best practice. We have great facilities in a large marina offering a great all-round experience.

Course prices: 450€

The RYA Powerboat level 2 course is aimed both at those new to boating and those that have boated a while that want to improve their boat handling.

Your instructor will cover the following topics with you during your time with him/her:

Boat Handling including in confined spaces.
Boat Handling including in confined spaces.
Approaching and securing to a buoy
Anchoring
Handling a boat at planing speed
Man overboard
Launching & recovery
Navigation to include charts, tides, buoyage
Undertaking a passage
The ‘Collision regulations’

The vast majority of the time on this course is spent on the water and out of the classroom.

The time that you do spend in on theory will cover: The types of craft and their respective advantages/disadvantages; engines & drives; use of power tilt & trim tabs; safety checks; personal buoyancy; awareness of other water users; application of the collision regulations (IRPCS); local bylaws; towing and being towed; communication with other craft; emergency action; distress signals; fire precautions and fire fighting and rope work.

On the second day of the course we spend time looking at charts, tides, buoyage and using a compass. Using these skills we then prepare a short pilotage plan and execute it to put into practice the skills developed it in the classroom.

Essentially day one of the course is aimed at developing your ability to competently handle the craft in close quarter situations whilst day two develops the ability to navigate and then puts this into practice ensuring you have the ability to undertake short inshore passages.

THIS COURSE IS AIMED AT

The RYA Powerboat Level 2 course course appeals to a wide variety of individuals from those new to powerboating to those who may have boated for many years.

Some examples of the sorts of people that the Level 2 course is best suited to:

Those new to boating keen to ensure that as they start boating they are doing it right. The course focuses on ensuring that you develop a really good base understanding of boat handling, navigation and seamanship. After the course you can then bolt on more practical experience to really cement the knowledge gained on the course.
Those who have boated a while but never received any formal training. Level 2 ensures that you will carry on but doing it the ‘right way’ ensuring that you use the most efficient methods and with a good understanding of the ‘building blocks’ of boating. Many of the people falling into this camp tend to wonder before a course how much they will gain from the course as they have been boating so long yet after the course wonder why they never did it sooner. Indeed for some it really reinvigorates their boating leading them to seek out new places to go with a greater confidence.
For those thinking about buying a boat the course serves as a great way to become a more educated buyer.

The course is relevant whether you have your own boat or don’t ever intend owning your own craf

SYLLABUS

Aim:“To teach boat handling and seamanship in powerboats. Minimum age 12, those aged 12 to 16 will receive a Level 2 Certificate endorsed “The holder should only use powered craft under the supervision of a responsible adult.”

Within the RYA Powerboat Scheme the course contents of each course are taught to one of three levels. These levels are:

Knowledge of: The subject will be briefly explained. Familiarisation during the course and where to find out more after the course.

Understands: The subject will be covered in greater depth and you will be asked to demonstrate a basic understanding and go away from the course able to develop your own skill in this area.

Can: The subject will be covered in great depth, including background theory, demonstrations by the instructor and repeated practice by yourself until you can demonstrate good skills in the subject

PRACTICAL

Launch & recovery
Knowledge of:

Use of a trailer or launching trolley
Consideration of launching and sea conditions, including hazards and obstructions
Number of persons required to launch/recover
Construction, width and condition of slipway
Steep/slippery slipways, beach launching, lee shores
Care of trailer bearings, hitch, lashings, ties, lights and winch
Trailer parking

Can:

Prepare the boat, lines, fenders, safety equipment, fuel tanks, lines and secure gear on board
Prepare to go afloat
Tie relevant knots

Boat Handling
Knowledge of:

Loading: effect on handling and performance, effect on balance and trim, CE Plate and manufacturer’s recommendation
Handling characteristics of displacement boats, rudder steered craft and shaft driven vessels

Understands:

Crew members: minimum number in faster craft, keeping a look-out
The importance of boat control in waves and adequate seating to minimise the possibility of back injury
Awareness of other water users, including effect of wash
Steering, controls, effect of current or tidal stream
Handling a boat at planing speed, trim tabs and power trim
Planing boats: propeller angle and immersion, shallow drive, planing and displacement speed handling, tiller/console steering

Can:

Carry out pre-start checks, engine starting and stopping
Demonstrate the use of an appropriate length kill cord at all times
Carry out low speed manoeuvres including: turning in a confined area, effect of wind on bow and holding off. Demonstrate an awareness of the danger of flooding when going astern
Handling a boat at planing speed

Securing to a buoy
Understands:

Preparation of mooring warp
Use of a boat hook
Direction of approach
Taking way off
Crew communication
Making fast
Procedure when overshooting

Can:

Approach and secure to buoy

Anchoring
Knowledge of:

Types of anchor
Stowage and attachment to boat
Preparation of anchor, chain and warp
Weighing anchor

Understands:

Correct approach in various conditions
Taking way off
Crew communication
Check holding
Depth of water, holding ground, scope required

Can:

Approach and anchor correctly
Weigh anchor correctly

Anchoring
Knowledge of:

Types of anchor
Stowage and attachment to boat
Preparation of anchor, chain and warp
Weighing anchor

Understands:

Correct approach in various conditions
Taking way off
Crew communication
Check holding
Depth of water, holding ground, scope required

Can:

Approach and anchor correctly
Weigh anchor correctly

Leaving and coming alongside
Understands:

Preparation and use of lines and fenders, attachment to boat, stowage under way
Speed and angle of approach
Wind effect
Method of approach in tidal stream or current

Can:

Make fast alongside
Use springs
Leave – ahead or astern

Man overboard
Recovery or man overboard

Recuperación o hombre al agua

Understands:

Cold shock and immersion hypothermia
How and when to raise the alarm

Can:

Take immediate action
Observe the man overboard
Carry out the correct return with awareness of propeller
Approach and recover the ‘man’ in the water (Small weighted buoy to be used)
Demonstrate both drift down and into wind approach method
Switch engine off

THEORY

Recovery or man overboard

Types of craft: advantages and disadvantages of different hull forms with respect to sea keeping ability
Seating arrangements
Stepped hulls
Engines and drives: advantages and disadvantages of outboard, inboard and outdrive units, single and twin screws, choice and use of fuels
Siting of fuel tanks, fuel lines, batteries, wiring, fire extinguishers
Routine engine maintenance checks, basic fault diagnosis
Close down procedure
Advice to inland drivers about coastal waters
Use and limitations of GPS/Chartplotters
Application of local byelaws, especially around commercial shipping

Sources of weather information

Understands:

Awareness of other water users
Communication with other craft
Disabled craft
Emergency action, preventing sinking
Adrift – alternative means or propulsion
Actions to be taken by disabled craft and being towed
Fire precautions and fire fighting
Distress signals, means of issuing distress, DSC and the Mayday call

Advice for vessels in restricted visibility

Can:

Apply IRPCS, principally rules 5, 7, 8, 9, 12-18

COASTAL

Knowledge of:

Byelaws and local regulatins
Insurance
Boat registration schemes

Understands:

Pilotage and passage planning
Charts, chart symbols, buoyage systems
Tides and tidal streams

Can:

Utilice brújulas de dirección y de orientación manualUse steering and hand bearing compasses.
Undertake practical handling on tidal waters