Learn Powerboating Course

Title: Start Powerboating Course

Price: from £299 p/p

Duration: 2 Days

Catchment area: Powerboating courses serving London, Brighton and the counties of East and West Sussex, Kent and Surrey in the South East of the UK.  About 45mins from Eastbourne's sovereign harbour and 20 minutes from Newhaven harbour and Lewes to the East.  About an hour from Croydon and Crawley, and 40 minutes from Haywards Heath and Gatwick Airport to the North.  About 45 minutes from Worthing, an hour from Littlehampton and 35 minutes from Shoreham Harbour yacht club.

Location: Brighton Marina.

Parking: Brighton Marina's free multi storey car park.

Candidates: Beginner drivers, Novice boat handlers, Start powerboating candidates, Powerboat learners, Dive boat drivers,  Marine industry personnel, New boat owners,  Anyone needing powerboat certificates or licences, Anyone needing licenses for hiring powerboats abroad, particularly Europe.

Frequently asked questions:

Do I need a RYA Powerboat licence to drive a boat?

In the UK, you do not legally need a certificate or licence or attend any course to drive a powerboat for anything up to 24m or under 500 gross tons.  

However, it does depend where you are driving, which company/club/country, what type of boat, who you are on the boat with and the reasons you are on the water. ie leisure or commercial.  This Powerboat  qualification will cover you for most scenarios.

Will my Powerboat certificate allow me to drive in France, Spain and other EU Countries?

In most EU countries you will need at least an ICC (International Certificate of Competence) certificate and a VHF operator’s licence to drive and powerboat. The RYA Level 2 qualification is deemed equivalent to ICC but you will need to send an ICC application form to the RYA with a copy of your Powerboat Level 2 certificate to receive a genuine ICC certificate.  Only this is guaranteed to be recognised by French, spanish and other world wide authorities.  Powerboat Level 2 or ICC will not cover you however for CEVNI or VHF.  If you are going inland (French canals, lakes etc), you will also need to do a CEVNI test. The CEVNI is a 30 minute test paper which you can do at the end of your course, but does require extra preliminary study. 

Do I ever need to renew my Powerboat Certificate?

No, your Powerboat Certificate is for life.  However, if it has been a while since you have have driven then it might be prudent to do a powerboat refresher.

Is there a Powerboat written exam at the end of the course?

No, the powerboat course is an attendance course with continual instruction and assessment, but some study is required.

Where will my Powerboat licence be valid?

This RYA qualification is not a ‘licence’ it is a certificate and is not a legal requirement in the UK.  However, if you are travelling abroad it would be prudent to covert your certificate to an ICC on completion of the course - a simple administration procedure.  Although RYA qualifications are generally internationally recognisable, the ICC is a legal requirement in most places, and bureaucracy being what it is in certain countries, some simple form filling at the end of your course here will save you a lot of grief in some foreign harbour master's office!  It will almost certainly be a minimum requirement for bareboat charter and powerboat hire.

What is the right Powerboat Course to take, there seems to be so many?

There are a number of specialist Powerboat courses such as BSAC Helsman's certificate, Rescue Boat Driver, Safety boat driver, Advanced Powerboat Course etc etc, but this course is the 2 day RYA Power Boat Level 1 and 2 combined, which will cover most forms of leisure pursuits such as fishing, diving.  It is also referred to in some quarters as...

Practical powerboat Licence, Powerboat License, Skipper's certificate, Power boat Course, Speedboat Courses, RYA Powerboat Course, Powerboat and speedboat Training, Skipper practical training course, UK powerboat training courses, Speed boat licence, Speedboat training course, Boat skipper's licence, Boat skipper's practical course, and many other things.

...but don’t worry, it's usually the same course!

Is there a fee for issuing a Powerboat Licence?

No, it is all included on the course fee.

Are there any other hidden costs?

No, but If you book over the phone, a 2% credit card charge will apply.  Please allow for meals & drinks at lunch time as these aren't provided. If you don't have wet weather gear, you will need to arrange to hire this.

Why go to Brighton Marina to do my Powerboat Course?

Some Training Centres can be draughty out of the way places incompatible with Powerboat training.  At Brighton Marina, you are in the heart of one of the biggest marinas in Europe, with plenty of opportunities to practice manoeuvres in different scenarios surrounded by different types of boats, and only minutes from the open water.  The training boats are modern and well maintained, and the training area - The Sussex Heritage Coastline - is part of England's newest National Park - The South Downs.Brighton Marina with its many cafe’s bars and restaurants is a great place to hang out afterwards too!  

Do you do group discounts, special dates, special offers or ‘on location’ training?

For groups of 6 or more, we are happy to discuss your specific needs, whether it be a Powerboat Course group discount rate, a date to suit you, holding the course at your dive club, boat club, marina, crew house or business. Special prices and special offers apply to new bookings only.

What does the course cover?

1 Launching and recovery

• 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
• Prepare the boat, lines, fenders, safety equipment, fuel tanks, lines and secure gear on board

2 Boat handling

• Loading: effect on handling and performance, effect on balance and trim, CE Plate and manufacturer's recommendation
• Displacement boats: handling ahead and astern, carrying way
• Crew members: minimum number in high speed craft, keeping a look-out
• Awareness of other water users, including effect of wash
• Steering, controls, effect of current or tidal stream
• High speed manoeuvring: planing, trim tabs and power trim
• Planing boats: propeller angle and immersion, shallow drive, high/low speed handling, tiller/console steering
• Carry out pre-start checks, engine starting and stoppping
• 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
• Carry out high speed manoeuvres including S-turns and U-turns

3 Securing to a buoy

• Preparation of mooring warp
• Use of a boat hook
• Method of approach
• Crew communication 
• Making fast
• Procedure when overshooting
• Approach and secure to buoy

4 Anchoring

• Method of approach in various conditions 
• Taking way off
• Crew communication
• Check holding
• Depth of water, holding ground, scope required
• Types of anchor
• Stowage and attachment to boat
• Preparation of anchor, chain and warp
• Weighing anchor
• Approach and anchor correctly
• Weigh anchor correctly

5 Leaving and coming alongside

• Preparation and use of painter, lines and fenders, attachement to boat, stowage under way
• Speed and angle of approach
• Wind effect
• Method of approach in tidal stream or current
• Make fast alongside
• Use springs
• Leave - ahead or astern

6 Man overboard

• Recovery or man overboard
• Take immediate action
• Observe the man overboard
• Carry out the correct return with awareness of propeller
• Approach and recover the man in the water

7 Theory

• Types of craft: advantages and disadvantages of different hull forms with respect to sea keeping  ability
• 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
• Application of local byelaws, especially around commercial shipping
• Sources of weather information
• Awareness of other water users
• Communication with other craft - hand and sound signals
• Disabled craft
• Emergency action, preventing sinking 
• Adrift - alternative means or propulsion 
• Towing and being towed
• Fire precautions and fire fighting 
• Ropework
• Distress signals and the Mayday call
• Apply IRPCS, principally rules 5,7,8,9,12-19

8 Coastal

• Pilotage and passage planning 
• CG66 Small Craft Safety Scheme
• Charts, chart symbols, buoyage systems
• Tides and tidal streams
• Use steering and hand bearing compasses
• Apply Section A on coastal waters