POWERBOATING
(Suitable for Runabouts, Ribs, and other outboard-driven craft).
Note: Full details on the Powerboat Scheme, course syllabi & certifications are listed in
the RYA Powerboat Logbook RYA G20, available from Trans Pacific
Marine (phone 0508 800 600 or visit www.transpacific.co.nz).
Powerboating Level One
Aim: To gain a practical introduction to boat handling and safety.
Duration: 1 Day.
Qualification: Course completion certificate.
Prerequisites: None.
Modules:
1. Preparation
- Launching and recovering
- Safety equipment
- Pre-start checks
- Personal buoyancy
2. Boat handling and manoeuvres
- Starting and stopping
- Use of kill cord
- Steering controls
- Securing to a buoy
- Leaving and coming alongside
- Being towed
3. Theory and background
- Rules and regulations
- Rope work
- Awareness of other water users
Powerboating Level Two
Aim: To achieve all basic Powerboat handling and seamanship skills.
Duration: 2 days.
Qualification: Course completion certificate.
Prerequisites: None. Note: Direct assessment option is available.
Modules:
1. Preparation
- Launching and recovering
- Safety equipment
- Lines and fenders
- Fuel tanks
2. Boat handling and manoeuvres
- Effects of current or tide
- High and low speed manoeuvring
- Propeller controls
- Securing to a buoy
- Anchoring
- Leaving and coming alongside
- Man overboard
3. Theory and background
- Types of craft and engine
- Maintenance checks
- Rules and regulations
- Weather forecasts
- Emergency action
Intermediate powerboating
Aim: To complete open-water and coastal passage by day.
Duration: 2 days.
Qualification: Course completion certificate.
Prerequisites: Skills to Powerboating Level Two (Marine VHF Radio Operators recommended).
Modules:
1. Navigation
- Bearings and distance
- Passage planning
- Charted depths, latitude and longitude
- Chart symbols
2. Pilotage
- GPS way point navigation
- Bearings and distance
- Passage planning afloat
3. Boat Handling and Manoeuvres
- Effects of wave and rougher conditions
- Berthing in different situations
- High speed pilotage by day
- Open-water boat handling
Advanced Powerboating
Aim: To enable competent, high speed navigation by day or night.
Duration: 2 days.
Qualification: Course completion certificate.
Prerequisites: Skills to intermediate level, Marine VHF Radio Operators and First Aid.
Modules:
1. Navigation
- Meteorology
- Rules of the road at sea
- Passage planning
2. Pilotage
- Night cruising
- Emergency situations
- Chart plotters and radar
3. Boat Handling and Manoeuvres
- Advanced manoeuvres
- Manoeuvring in rough weather
- High speed trim
Safety Boat Course
Aim: To introduce the techniques used in powerboats escorting racing fleets of dinghies and windsurfers, providing safety and rescue cover for training fleets, and assisting race management.
Duration: 2 days.
Qualification: Course completion certificate
Prerequisites: Powerboating Level Two
Modules:
1. Preparation
- Safety equipment
- Assistance with race management
- Crew communication
2. Boat handling and manoeuvres
- Positioning in respect to fleet
- Standing off another craft
- Coming alongside under way
- Dinghy (including high performance) and windsurfer rescue
- Towing
- Mark laying
3. Theory and background
- Rescue of other water users
- Communication
- VHF
- First aid
Personal Water Craft (PWC)
Aim: To enable competent use of a Jet Ski.
Duration: 1 day.
Qualification: Course completion certificate.
Prerequisites: None. (Day Skipper recommended).
Modules:
1. Theory
- Types of PWC, layout, and controls
- Rules of the road at sea
- Equipment - safety and personal
2. Practical
- Launching and retrieving
- Collision avoidance
- Control at high speed
- Emergencies
