This course aims to teach boat handling and seamanship in motor cruisers. By the end of the course you will feel comfortable berthing and unberthing in straightforward locations and should be confident in general boat handling.
Duration: Two days
Minimum age: 12
Non-residential/residential course
Practical
Safety and Seamanship
Understands:
- The importance of crotch straps
- The difference between manual and auto-inflating life jackets
- Appropriate clothing
Can:
- Correctly fit a life jacket
Engine Operation and Maintenance
Knowledge of:
- Fuel consumption range and reserve
Understands:
- Engine monitoring while running
- Routine maintenance checks
- Basic fault diagnosis
Can:
- Perform pre-start checks
- Locate fuel cut-offs
- Perform close-down procedure
Boat Preparation
Knowledge of:
- Local boating conditions and regulations
- CE marks; loading; effect on handling and performance
Understands:
- Safety equipment; life jackets; dangers; the need for crew
- Use of kill cord (if fitted)
- Secure stowage of equipment
Can:
- Tie and know the use of relevant knots: round turn and two half hitches; bowline; clove hitch
- Prepare boat, lines and fenders
Boat Handling
Knowledge of:
- Differences between hull shapes and propulsion systems
Understands:
- Steering; controls; windage
- The effect of wind on bow
- Carrying way
- Movement around the boat and crew positioning at sea
- Boat control in waves
- Use of power trim and trim tabs
Can:
- Start and stop the engine
- Steer a straight course at low speed
- Turn in a confined space
- Handle a boat at planning speed
- Use trim tabs/power trim (where fitted)
Securing to a Buoy
Understands:
- The importance of crew communication
- Methods of approach in various wind and tide conditions
- Taking way off
- The procedure when overshooting
Can:
- Prepare mooring warps
- Use a boat hook
- Make fast
- Approach and secure to a buoy
Berthing Alongside and Leaving
Knowledge of:
- How to moor and loewe a bow/stern to (practical experience when possible)
Understands:
- Preparation and use of lines and springs
- Methods of approach in various conditions
- Berthing alongside
- Leaving an alongside berth
Can:
- Attach fenders
- Coil a line
- Throw a mooring line
- Secure lines to cleats
- Make fast alongside
- Use springs to leave a berth
- Communicate to let the helm know when they have slipped or attached the lines
Man Overboard
Knowledge of:
- Various methods for recovering the person overboard from the water
Understands:
- That engines should be switched off unless it is unsafe to do so
- Drift-down approach
Can:
- Take immediate action
- Observe the man overboard
- Carry out the correct return with awareness of the propellers
- Approach and recover the man-overboard dummy
Anchoring
Knowledge of:
- Types of anchor
- Depth of water; holding ground; scope required
Understands:
- Stowage and attachment to boat
- Preparation of anchor, chain and warp
- Correct approaches in various conditions
- Taking way off
- The importance of crew communication
- Use of windlass
- Weighing anchor
Can:
- Approach and anchor
- Check holding
- Weighing anchor
Theory
Vessel
Knowledge of:
- Types of craft
- The advantages/disadvantages of different hull types with respect to seakeeping ability and wash considerations
- Engines and drives- advantages/disadvantages of different drive systems
- The choice and use of fuel