Aim:
Feeling reasonably confident on a boat and looking for the next challenge? This is it, we will take you out on a boat and teach you some highly advanced skills such as night operation, and superior boat handling skills.
Assumed knowledge:
Candidates should be reasonably competent powerboaters with a thorough knowledge of navigation and chartwork to the level of the Day Skipper certificate.
You are required to hold a first aid certificate and a VHF operator’s certificate.
Duration: 2 days
Minimum age: 17
Practical Preparation for sea
Can:
- Prepare the powerboat
- Carry out fuel and engine checks
- Stow and secure gear
Boat handling
Knowledge of:
Differences for a twin-engine vessel
Understands:
- Characteristics of various hull forms and propeller configurations
Action to be taken in rough weather:
Can:
- Demonstrate a practical understanding and correct use of power trim and trim tabs
Demonstrate an awareness of the effects of wind and tide when manoeuvring, including:
- Steering to transits and in buoyed channels
- Turning in a confined space
- Berthing in various conditions of wind and tide.
- Picking up and leaving a mooring buoy
- Demonstrate the use of an appropriate length kill cord at all times
Passage making and responsibility as skipper
Understands:
- The importance of pre-trip plannin
- Planning and making coastal passages, taking into account the relevant navigational hazards, the type of boat and the strengths of the crew
- Chart plotters and radar, their advantages and limitations
Can:
- Organise the navigation, safety and welfare of the crew during a powerboat passage
- Navigate at higher speed using time/distance
- Use electronic navigational equipment for planning and undertaking a passage, including the use of waypoints, routes and X-FE, SOG, COG, BTW, DTW*
- XTE – cross track error, SOG – speed over ground, COG – course over ground, BTW – bearing to waypoint, DTW – distance to waypoint
Pilotage
Can:
- Carry out pilotage plans and pilotage for entry into or departure from harbour
- Use leading and clearing lines, transits, back bearings and soundings as aids to pilotage
- Use GPS and understand its limitations in pilotage
- Navigate using soundings
Meteorology
Knowledge of:
- Terms used in shipping forecasts, including the Beaufort scale, and their significance to small craft
Understands:
- Sources of forecast information and interpretation of forecasts including synoptic charts
- The significance of meteorological trends
Rules of the Road
Can:
- Apply the International Regulations for Preventing Collisions at Sea
Use of engines
Knowledge of:
- How to change a propeller
- Propeller diameter and pitch
- Propeller ventilation and cavitation
Understands:
- Checks to be made before starting, during running, and after stopping for diesel and petrol engines
- Periodic checks on engines and electrical system including spark plugs, water filters and pump impellers
- How to bleed the fuel system (diesel), change filters and pump impellers
- Transmission belts
- Spares to be carried
Emergency situations
Understands:
- Correct action to take in emergency situations
- Fire prevention and fighting
- Hull damage/watertight integrity
- What to do in a medical emergency
- Towing and being towed
- Helicopter rescue procedures
- Use of flares
- Search patterns
Can:
- Pick up a man overboard in all available conditions
Night cruising
Can:
- Take charge of a powerboat at night, including leaving and entering harbour
- Demonstrate ability at keeping a proper lookout and identifying lit and unlit marks by night