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 and 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"
• Making fast

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

Dates

Mon 14th Jul 2008

Mon 04th Aug 2008

Mon 01st Sep 2008

Mon 06th Oct 2008

Mon 10th Nov 2008