Dates

2010

Syllabus

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 planning
- 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 XTE, SOG, COG, BTW, DTW*

Pilotage

Can:
- Carry out pilotage plans and pilotage for entry into or departure from harbour
- Use leading and clearing lines, transits, back bearings and surroundings as aids to pilotage
- Use GPS and understand its limitations in pilotage
- Navigate using surroundings

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 meteorology trends
- Can interpret a Synoptic chart

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 actions 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