Theory Session

  • Types of craft. Hull types and characteristics
  • Engines and drives
  • Engine operation and maintenance
  • Safety and Seamanship including personal safety, lifejackets and buoyancy aids, flares, first aid kits
  • Anchoring, including types of anchor, stowage, depth of water, preparation, check holding, weighing anchor
  • Towing disabled craft
  • Fire precautions, extinguishers, blankets
  • Rules of the road (International Regulations for Prevention of Collisions at Sea)

Practical Session

  • Preparation of a boat for sea including local regulations, safety equipmenmt, loading, CE marks, use of kill cords, launching and recovery from trailers.
  • Ropework and knots including bowline, round turn and two half hitches, clove hitch, sheetbend.
  • Boat handling including steering controls, starting and stopping, low speed handling, turning in a confined space, effect of wind on the boat, high speed planing, trim tabs and power trim, S turns, U turns, stopping from speed, displacement craft handling ahead and astern, carrying way.
  • Securing to a mooring buoy including preparation of mooring lines, methods of approach in various conditions, crew communication, making fast.
  • Berthing alongside including preparation, fenders, methods of securing ropes to cleats, making fast and importance of ‘taking a turn’ on a cleat or bollard, use of springs.
  • Man Overboard including initial actions, keeping casualty in sight, recovery manoeuvre, propeller risk, final approach and recovery.