Advanced course IOW area

LURCHER · 17 November 2007, 18:34

A mate of mine who lives on the IOW is thinking of doing his advanced RYA powerboat course,knowing I have just completed one he is seeking my advice on the following points and wonders whether it would be best to do it from the school I used in the Portsmouth area rather than on the island .He has 2 concerns .
1 Are there any sea schools of equal ablity and quality to to those on the mainland ?
2 Mainland schools seem to be better value and equipped with more choice of boats and equipment .
Would any Portsmouth schools be prepared to pick him up from Wooton each day ?

I learnt so much on my course it was fantastic and a real eye opener .

Jimmy C · 17 November 2007, 19:02

hmmmm

Well i have booked onto an advanced course with Paul Glatzel in Poole for Dec 15/16th but am currently the only person on it! As i would be driving from southampton each day i would be happy to give anyone a lift. Appreaciate that it may not be the area that he wants to do his course in tho.....

jimmy

Tim M · 17 November 2007, 20:39

Lurcher. I'm sure Jimbo would be happy to help out if your friend wanted to use Haslar. I'd be happy to help out too if needed.

Rogue Wave · 17 November 2007, 21:45

Tim Griffin Cowes/Newport www.griffinmarineservices.co.uk and Dave Robson at Aqua Power (Yarmouth) both run excellent schools and have been doing it for a long time. The advanced course is quite comprehensive and involves one very long day Your buddy would be better off learning at an Island based school or getting a Visa and staying overnight in England

tim griffin · 18 November 2007, 08:57

Quote:

Originally Posted by LURCHER

A mate of mine who lives on the IOW is thinking of doing his advanced RYA powerboat course,knowing I have just completed one he is seeking my advice on the following points and wonders whether it would be best to do it from the school I used in the Portsmouth area rather than on the island .He has 2 concerns .
1 Are there any sea schools of equal ablity and quality to to those on the mainland ?
2 Mainland schools seem to be better value and equipped with more choice of boats and equipment .
Would any Portsmouth schools be prepared to pick him up from Wooton each day ?

I learnt so much on my course it was fantastic and a real eye opener .

Well you certainly know how to upset the locals don't you.

All schools that are RYA Accredited have to pass strict inspections on equipment and facilities.

Regarding equipment we run A Gemini Dive Rib 300 hp Yanmarr with VHF DSC .Radar ,Chartplotter and Magnometer also two Solent Ribs 7 metres in length with a 150 Opti on solentis (new 2003) VHF dsc and chartplotter . Our other Solent rib Amean ( new in May 2007 )has a 200 hp etec with Standard Horizon VHF DSC and Chartplotter so equipment wise I think we have a pretty good list of boats to offer our clients
The cost of the course is £275 so not bad value for money .
Regarding Ability take a look at our website and see how we shape up.We run Powerboat Instuctor Courses for the RYA -RLSS UK and BSAC so we must be fairly ok in our ability to teach in fact we are the only Powerboat Centre in the UK that can do this.
Dave Robson from Yarmouth has taught quite a few from this forum and everyone has been happy with him.
If your friend would like to chat about whats involved on the Advanced course get him to give me a ring .

I am interested to know why your friend and you think schools on the Island are not of the same ability in teaching than mainland schools .
Regarding price I think we are competitive enough as our busy season shows to entice quite a few over from England to take their courses with us.

LURCHER · 18 November 2007, 19:22

I am not trying to upset locals just asking a simple question , judging by the rather agressive response I think I might advise my friend to look towards Pompey!

Rogue Wave · 18 November 2007, 19:39

There are not many instructors whom I think are better than myself, but this guy is definitely one of them

http://www.aquapower.co.uk/

scm · 18 November 2007, 21:31

Got one running in Lymington 14-16 Dec, Scorpion ribs. 5 confirmed to date.
Regards
Stuart

tim griffin · 19 November 2007, 08:31

Quote:

Originally Posted by LURCHER

I am not trying to upset locals just asking a simple question , judging by the rather agressive response I think I might advise my friend to look towards Pompey!

Perhaps I misread your post as I interpreted it as you were saying that Island schools were not of the same quality -ability -equipment and value for money as mainland schools so below is a list of schools that will be able to offer to your friend the course he requires.I have included a list of Portsmouth and Southampton Schools so your friend has a big choice.

Island Schools
Bembridge Powerboating
Aqua Power
Sea Smart
UKSA
IWAC

Portsmouth Schools
Ondeck
Haslar
Boatability

Southampton Schools

1st Wave
Stormforce
Mendez Marine

Alternatively your friend could look up on the RYA Website www.rya.org.uk
to find a school .

LURCHER · 19 November 2007, 17:48

Thanks one and all will pass on to him

Doug Stormforce · 19 November 2007, 18:39

I would more than happily help your friend out (but in Southampton), we have advanced courses running most weeks at the moment. We could maybe pick him up from the Ferry this sideif required. However if he is based on the IOW it makes sense to look closer to home.

Whatever has been said above Tim Griffin runs a very reputable centre in Cowes, he is running better RIBs than most other RYA centres I have come across (mainland or IOW) and his boats are new. He knows what he is doing and has a good reputation for all levels of instruction. He teaches a lot of his courses himself and uses a select couple of instructors for the rest.

Failing that Jimbo will organise something for you in Pompey, he also knows his stuff and has good kit.