Course Content

You will be coached in safety, boat handling, navigation and engine maintenance aboard our Haines 35.

2012 Dates

Syllabus

Types of craft

• Sportsboats, motor cruisers planing / displacement
• Types of hull, seakeeping, wash considerations

Engines and drives

• Petrol / diesel
• Single / twin screw
• Shafts / outdrives, outboard, waterjets

Engine operation and maintenance

• Pre-start checks inboards / outboards
• Engine checks while running
• Routine maintenance checks
• Fuel consumption range, reserve and location of cutoffs
• Basic fault diagnosis

Safety and seamanship

• Personal safety equipment, lifejackets, buoyancy aids, flares, first aid kit
• Anchoring: types, stowage, depth of water, preparation, check holding, weighing (may be done practically)
• Disable craft, towing
• Fire precautions, extinguishers, fire blankets

Rules of the road

• Has a working knowledge of the IRPCS

Boat Preparation

• Local boating conditions and regulations
• Preparation of boat, lines and fenders
• Safety equipment, lifejackets, dangers, number in boat
• CE marks, loading, effect on handling and performance
• Use of kill cords.
• If trailing - number of people for launching/recovery, slipway condition steep/slippery, wind, tide.
• Can tie and knows use of bowline, round turn and two half hitches, clove hitch, single and double sheetbend.

Boat handling

• Steering, controls, windage
• Starting and stopping
• Low speed, steering a straight course
• Turning in a confined area
• Effect of wind on bow
• High speed / full power, planning, trim tabs and power trim
• S turns, U turns, stopping from speed
• Displacement craft - handling ahead and astern
• Carrying way

Securing to a buoy

• Preparation of mooring warp and boathooks.
• Method of approach in various conditions.
• Crew communication.
• Making fast.

Berthing alongside

• Preparation and use of lines and springs, fenders, attachment to boat, stowage underway, securing to cleats
• Method of approach in various conditions of wind and tide
• Making fast - importance of "taking a turn"
• Use of springs to leave a berth.

Man overboard

• Immediate reaction
• Proper observation of man overboard
• Correct return
• Awareness of propellers
• Final approach and recovery of man overboard

Awards

RYA Helmsman Tidal Practical Certificate