market research on boating

tim griffin · 31 March 2004, 06:33

Hi all
i'm doing a bit of research here and would like a bit of help,
can you tell me what was the best boat related course/courses
you have done example first aid,day skipper, pb2 or higher
i don't want a list of your qualifications just the course you feel has added the most to your boating activity in terms of your confidence and its value to you.
thanks
tim
www.griffmarineservices.co.uk

Headhunter · 31 March 2004, 06:57

RYA Coastal Skipper Practical

This was a week's practical with other crew on a yacht.
It put all of the shore based theory into perspective, giving confidence to skipper a boat with good understanding of boat handling, safe passage making/navigation, safety, crew requirements & expectations/limitations and enjoyment.

John

Richard B · 31 March 2004, 07:45

Adv. Powerboat.

This is the one that "added the most to my boating activity in terms of my confidence and its value to you me".

Aging Youth · 31 March 2004, 08:08

Hi Tim,

For myself it was the Level Two and the Advanced Power Boat. I was able to put all the theory together and it worked!

One comment though I think that the RYA needs to modify the Theory courses to take into account modern electronics/navigation. A 3 knot tide flow has little effect at 30knots, when trying to plot a course to steer.

Regards

Richard B · 31 March 2004, 08:15

Quote:

Originally posted by Aging Youth
I think that the RYA needs to modify the Theory courses to take into account modern electronics/navigation.

Kevin, where are you coming from... there isn't a PB2 or Adv PB theory course. And I think that electronic navigation is a separate topic from tidal flows - a GPS won't stop the tide flowing!

Sounds like you did a Day Skipper navigation course as well? Or did you do powerboat courses with a sailing school?

Aging Youth · 31 March 2004, 08:24

Hi Richard,

Just to clarify RYA Day Skipper Theory, Levels 1 & 2 Plus Advanced PB.

Sorry if my reply sonded confusing.

Richard B · 31 March 2004, 08:42

No prob, Kevin...

I'm going to get on my soap box here - I don't think that the RYA should modify the courses to include electronic navigation, at least not if that means removing any of the "traditional" navigation elements. I thought the GPS topics on the Adv PB course were covered adequately.

Our chartplotter was out of action for the 2nd half of last season and I think it was a good wake-up call to stop relying on it!

Want an electronic navigation course? Look somewhere like here: http://www.bishamabbeysailing.co.uk/radar.html (scroll down to the second half of the page)

tim griffin · 31 March 2004, 10:00

Hi Richard
thanks for all the replies so far,PB2 now includes GPS and its limitations and the new RYA intermediate includes
GPS/CHARTPLOTTERS but traditional navigation is still in there and always will be, it has been designed to fill in the gap between PB2 and the Advanced
regards
tim
www.griffmarineservices.co.uknew

Ian · 31 March 2004, 10:48

.. is the one I got most from. It certainly gave confidence to travel further afield with the navigation instruction received.
I have to agree that it is very yachtie biased.

Phil Chitty · 31 March 2004, 10:59

Hi Tim

I would agree with most others on this thread and say that the courses I got the most from were the RYA L2 Powerboat and RYA Advanced Powerboat.

They increased me confidence hugely.

Phil

Suzuki416 · 31 March 2004, 11:18

I have learnt lots from all the courses & the more courses you do the more you find you need to know.

Just done the Day Skipper Theory (4 days in a classroom) & thought it was a great course - if you like that sort of thing.

The PB Advanced was just as fun & was 2 days driving a rib.

I liked them all.

Pete

aligator · 31 March 2004, 15:45

Hi Tim

Yep got to agree with Pete on the learning front.

in answer to your question ,

I got the most from Day skipper, and advanced PB.

Alistair

tim griffin · 02 April 2004, 06:14

thanks to all who replied
its encouraging to know that the RYA'S ethos of education not legislation is fimly in place with those who replied,
most if not all are advanced powerboaters with dayskipper theory
some very well qualified safe powerboaters are out there.
with regard to the theory for the dayskipper, yes it is biased towards sailing how ever the theory is the same for both,better to do the course through a powerboat/motor cruising school as they will throw in the extras for powerboaters eg 6 min rule for high speed
boat navigation.
regards
tim www.griffmarineservices.co.uk