rya powerboat 2

chris.beddoes@b · 11 October 2007, 19:42

any recommendations for training schools for level 2 near Southampton?

BassBoy · 11 October 2007, 19:49

Mendez Marine

Tim M · 11 October 2007, 20:32

Haslar Sea School in Gosport

Channel Ribs · 11 October 2007, 20:51

Another vote for Mendez

tim griffin · 11 October 2007, 21:06

Mendez Marine Hamble
Doug Innes Stormforce Southampton
Haslar Sea School Gosport
1st Wave Southampton
Boatability Port Solent

All the above are close to where you want, or have a look at the RYA website
for a school near you www.rya.org.uk
Cheers Tim

Stuart M · 11 October 2007, 22:21

Can recommend both from experience

Mendez Marine Hamble
1st Wave Southampton

laser · 11 October 2007, 23:14

would fully recommend Haslar Sea School, have done many course and have been extremely impressed with the quality of the courses given and the quality of instructors.

Jimbo · 12 October 2007, 11:10

Quote:

Originally Posted by laser

Haslar Sea School... ...extremely impressed with... ...the quality of instructors.

Yeah, but you would say that, as having done all your courses with us up to and including Powerboat Instructor, you now work here!

Lostboy · 15 October 2007, 10:35

Stormforce Coaching - did mine and both of my kids (15 and 13 at the time), in my own boat, excellent!

NautiAndNice · 18 November 2007, 21:57

Chris,

Give Doug/Becky a shout at Stormforce Coaching, Kemps Quay.

Niamh

Ian M · 18 November 2007, 22:47

There seems to be a lot of the trade passing comments here; from a customer/user point of view I would ask to check out the boats they use first. The instruction for my level 2 was OK, but the boat was s--t. Poxy little 4.5 metre ribcraft I think it was, that would not get on the plane due to the massive amount of growth on the hull. Spent the whole course plodding around at trolling speeds. Oh yes, and I had to take along my own foot pump on the second day to get the tubes up to a sensible pressure. Very impressive

Sorry it is end of the season was all the explanation I got, oh and yes, an offer to have another free level 2 - what use was that to me - but there again they knew that didn't they.
Still pissed!

Rogue Wave · 18 November 2007, 22:54

What school was it

Ian M · 18 November 2007, 23:04

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rogue Wave

What school was it

Yeah, thought about that before I posted. The reason for the post was to point out the potential pit falls from a customer view point. Even given the treatment that I got (or rather didn't!), I still feel dis-inclined to post the name of the school when it will potentially affect a number of people's income. Perhaps taking your own boat is a good idea

Rogue Wave · 18 November 2007, 23:23

but you haven't really protected the next victim that comes along!

As you won't commit to telling the world who made you so unhappy would you at least confirm that it was a school that only taught powerboating or was it a sailing school that had a powerboat course on. Out of interest was the school or instructor forum members?

Also did you take your complaint to the RYA

Powerboat training, perticularly in the Solent. is a very competitive business whixh means that the equipment is generally in tip top condition. Fuel usage needs too be controlled on any training courseand a dirty bottom just glugs it away so it's far beter to clean the boat which makes me think it wasn't a dedicated powerboat school

If people don't do a good job then they don't really deserve to have an income or do they?

BassBoy · 19 November 2007, 11:33

Did you get a certificate? If so, how did you complete the 'high speed S and U turn' element of the course, which I believe is a mandatory 'CAN DO' element of the course?! Check your log book G20/04.
Your certificate should state whether you completed the course on a 'displacement' or 'planing' craft'. Which was it!?

Ian M · 19 November 2007, 12:47

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rogue Wave

but you haven't really protected the next victim that comes along!

As you won't commit to telling the world who made you so unhappy would you at least confirm that it was a school that only taught powerboating or was it a sailing school that had a powerboat course on. Out of interest was the school or instructor forum members?

Also did you take your complaint to the RYA

Powerboat training, perticularly in the Solent. is a very competitive business whixh means that the equipment is generally in tip top condition. Fuel usage needs too be controlled on any training courseand a dirty bottom just glugs it away so it's far beter to clean the boat which makes me think it wasn't a dedicated powerboat school

If people don't do a good job then they don't really deserve to have an income or do they?

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rogue Wave

but you haven't really protected the next victim that comes along!

As you won't commit to telling the world who made you so unhappy would you at least confirm that it was a school that only taught powerboating or was it a sailing school that had a powerboat course on. Out of interest was the school or instructor forum members?

Also did you take your complaint to the RYA

Powerboat training, perticularly in the Solent. is a very competitive business whixh means that the equipment is generally in tip top condition. Fuel usage needs too be controlled on any training courseand a dirty bottom just glugs it away so it's far beter to clean the boat which makes me think it wasn't a dedicated powerboat school

If people don't do a good job then they don't really deserve to have an income or do they?

Taking your points as they come:
but you haven't really protected the next victim that comes along!

I'll protect anyone who cares to know. PM me and I'll let you know the name of the school. This really was the thrust of my original post; protect yourself by walking the ground - go and see the school, talk to the school principal and instructors, and look over the kit. Don't just go on 'recommendations'. the school I went to was 'recommended'.

As you won't commit to telling the world who made you so unhappy would you at least confirm that it was a school that only taught powerboating or was it a sailing school that had a powerboat course on. Out of interest was the school or instructor forum members?

Whilst I did take the course some time ago, I thought it possible that my comments mught just tweak the memory of the school principal involved, and ellicit some sort of comment, so yes, he is a forum member, and yes, it is a dedicated power boat school. I am prepared to accept that this may have been a glitch in the otherwise smooth running of the school, and do know that they have replaced the boats that I was instructed on, but they were still happy to take my money and that of the other two students on the course!!

Also did you take your complaint to the RYA

No, I did not go to the RYA, although this is an RYA affiliated school. I took my complaint back to the school but do not feel that my complaint was handled in a satisfactory manner. At the end of the day I took the course, passed and gained some knowledge in the process, so OK on that score. My complaint, if you want to call it such, is that the course was run when the equipment was not really prepared to adequate standards.

Powerboat training, perticularly in the Solent. is a very competitive business whixh means that the equipment is generally in tip top condition. Fuel usage needs too be controlled on any training courseand a dirty bottom just glugs it away so it's far beter to clean the boat which makes me think it wasn't a dedicated powerboat school

Agree with the comments re fuel usage - just makes the situation even less understandable.

If people don't do a good job then they don't really deserve to have an income or do they?

Yes, I sort of agree with you on this one, I just do not feel inclined to be the one to 'put the knife in', at least in public

Understand that I have raised a somewhat contentious issue, but I thought it worthwhile given the nature of the original post by Chris Beddoes. Any way Rogue Wave, rest easy, it is NOT your school that my grievence is with.

Ian M · 19 November 2007, 12:55

Quote:

Originally Posted by BassBoy

Did you get a certificate? If so, how did you complete the 'high speed S and U turn' element of the course, which I believe is a mandatory 'CAN DO' element of the course?! Check your log book G20/04.
Your certificate should state whether you completed the course on a 'displacement' or 'planing' craft'. Which was it!?

Interesting point. I guess we all know what it should be, and what it is likely to be marked up as..........I'll have a look this evening

I think that perhaps I have taken this thread far enough off topic, and apologies to Chris for that.

Rogue Wave · 19 November 2007, 19:16

PM sent

Rogue Wave · 19 November 2007, 20:21

Only joking

I think that's a result You've put a question mark over every School that posts on the forum except us. What a shame I never use the forum to trawl for work.

For the benefit of anyone else reading this thread if you can't resolve your issues with the school you used then you always have the RYA to turn to. Every school has to obtain a course satisfaction questionaire at the end of the course, and that's the first thing the RYA wants to see in the case of a complaint. Also during the annual inspections these forms are inspected.

I think your point about asking what vessel is being used is very sensible and maybe should be extended to how much time on the water and where will we be going

Jon Brooks · 20 November 2007, 09:35

Big thumbs up for both Mendez and Haslar, never used Stormforce but Doug has a great reputation and not just for drinking!

Totally agree with Stu, if you had a bad course and got no where with the school you should report it to the RYA.
It is vital to keep the standards high and if schools get away with shoddy work this lowers the standard and that is no good for anyone, not the students not the schools.