What course next?

chrishowden · 08 April 2011, 17:39

I have done my powerboat level 2, safety boat, dayskipper, first aid and vhf course sor what course should I do next any ideas.

kerny · 08 April 2011, 17:43

Enjoy your rib mate

chewy · 08 April 2011, 17:50

Advanced powerboat.

chrishowden · 08 April 2011, 17:58

can i skip the intermidate course

martini · 08 April 2011, 18:03

Quote:

Originally Posted by chrishowden

can i skip the intermidate course

Yes

Quote:

Originally Posted by chewy

Advanced powerboat.

Poly · 08 April 2011, 19:09

Chris,

You might want to discuss the relevance of Intermediate to your level of skill, experience and confidence and see if you think it is worthwhile, with some RYA PB Instructors. You certainly don't need the bit of paper to do the advanced course, but they'll assume you have that level of competence.

If for example all your powerboating has been in one relatively small area then you might learn useful stuff on an intermediate course based somewhere completely different.

I think there is also an age limit on the Advanced course which may? cause you an issue. IIRC min age for advanced is 17, min age for intermediate is 16?

I guess the question to ask yourself with any training is what do you want to learn / be able to do?

SeaSkills · 08 April 2011, 19:59

Hi Chris,

If you meet the age requirements, and having done your Day Skipper (shorebased, I assume) - I think you could reasonably look at doing your Advanced Powerboat without doing Intermediate if that's what you want to do. Best to talk to one of the quality RYA schools and explain your personal experience, what you want to do, and see what they say.

Another option if you're looking for useful courses to do would be Sea Survival. That would also allow you to apply for a commercial endorsement for your certificates

Good luck with it,
Ian

watersidemat · 08 April 2011, 22:28

Do a night passage and brush up on lights/shapes and chart work to remind yourself and go for advanced.
More or less same as Intermediate but advanced has a night passage and sounds more impressive.
If I can do it anyone can!

chewy · 08 April 2011, 22:53

I'd get your skills upto crack then do Advanced. I made the mistake of assuming school was a student when in fact he's a student.

Doug Stormforce · 09 April 2011, 07:50

Not sure why people are so keen to skip the intermediate.

If you have mastered high speed navigation practically then the advanced is the next step but if not then intermediate will give you a chance to put the Dayskipper shorebased into practice.

biffer · 09 April 2011, 08:47

Get out and use your boat. I know plenty of guys with all the papers and they still can't drive a boat

lakelandterrier · 09 April 2011, 21:49

I agree with Kerny and Biffer - go and enjoy your boat!

Experience & hours at the helm are just as valuable (if not more so) than courses for sake of them.

If you want to do a course, ask why do I need / want to do this course and what do I want to get from it. It can be far more valuable facing situations and making decisons without an instructor on hand to overwatch / take final responsibility. Having a certificate in itself doesn't equal high levels of abilty / competance. It means you'have on the day,and with guidance, met a paper standard.

I'm not criticising any training organisation - all I've had contact with have been very professional. All I am saying is doing courses just to do them is not a substitute for getting hours in on your (or someone elses's) boat and cousres should be a means to an end not an end in themselves.

mitchc · 10 April 2011, 08:06

The basic training is great, but as others have said go and use your boat. I'm a dive instructor and I've seen loads of people do courses for the sake of doing them just to get a ticket. They still can't dive though!

Go and use the boat and build up your experience. Once you are happy in your local area take it further afield and out in slightly more challenging conditions.
Then once you think "hmm I wish could have gone out today but didn't because of my skills" talk to a instructor about how he/she could've helped you?
Maybe even see about cruising in company. Be sensible, read the very good RYA books on the subject but overall enjoy your boat.
Just my 2p's worth.

Be safe on the sea, and ask lots of questions despite how silly you think they maybe.

Sent from my iPhone using Rib.net

lizardland · 10 April 2011, 12:16

I got my first RIB about a year ago. I did PB2 and have always planned on doing Advanced. However I've always planned on waiting at least a year to, I don't want to feel like I've just got a ticket rather than the experience to back it up with. Do what others said, get out on the boat. But not just that, get your hands dirty on it as well, I deliberately bought a very basic boat so that I'd have to go and do work on it. Basic bits of servicing, hull repairs, installing equipment, etc. I also bought a knackered old engine off ebay for 30 quid to dissect and play about with, that was good learning as well (til someone nicked it off the drive).

Day Skipper theory is quite good but I wouldn't spend a load of money on it. It gives you a good grounding in the theory side, navigation, etc. Alison Noyce's book is quite good, all the basics and well explained. [EDIT] Ignore that, just read that you've done day skipper.