Power Boat Level 1

Section A Practical boat handling
Launch and recovery (8 to 11 year olds to observe this session only)
Knowledge of:
* Considerations to be taken during the launch
* The use of a trailer or launching trolley
* Considerations to be taken regarding sea conditions and hazards
* Construction, width and condition of ramp/slipway

Preparation of boat and crew
Understands:
* Personal buoyancy and appropriate clothing
* The use of the following equipment: lines, fenders, anchor and warp, bailer, fire extinguisher, pump, paddles or oars, compass, flares, torch, whistle, charts, first aid kit, sharp knife.
Can perform the following:
* fasten to a cleat and stow an anchor

Boat Handling
Knowledge of:
* Planing boats: propeller angle and immersion, use of shallow drive
* Low speed handling: ahead and astern
* Displacement boats: handling ahead and astern, carrying way in neutral
Understands:
* How to carry out pre-start checks, including fuel tank and fuel bulb
* Steering, controls and windage
Can:
* Steer and control boat speed
* Start and stop the engine
* Demonstrate the use of an appropriate length kill cord at all times

Picking up and securing to a mooring buoy
Knowledge of:
* Preparation of mooring warps
* Use of a boat hook
* Method of approach
* Crew communication
* Making fast

Leaving and coming alongside
Knowledge of:
* Wind effect
* Approach in tidal stream or current
Understands:
* Leaving - ahead or astern
Can:
* Demonstrate the use of painter, lines and fenders, attachment to boat, stowage under way
* Control speed and angle of approach
* Make fast alongside

Being towed
Knowledge of:
* Preparing own lines for towing
* Accepting a tow
* Securing tow lines
* Trim and balance under tow

Section B Theory
Knowledge of:
* Loading and balancing the boat and the effect on handling and performance
* Local Byelaws and Insurance
Understands:
* Crew numbers: minimum number in the boat, keeping a look-out
* Awareness of other water users, including effect of wash
* Application of IRPCS. Understands rules 5,6, and conduct around commercial shipping in confined waters

Power Boat Level 2

Section A Practical
Launching and recovery
Knowledge of:
* Use of a trailer or launching trolley
* Consideration of launching and sea conditions, including hazards and obstructions
* Number of persons required to launch/recover a powerboat, Construction, width and condition of slipway
* Steep/slippery slipways, beach launching, lee shores
* Care of trailer bearings, hitch, lashings, ties, lights and winch
* Trailer parking
Can:
* Prepare the powerboatboat, lines, fenders, safety equipment, fuel tanks, lines and secure gear on board

Powerboat handling
Knowledge of:
* Loading: effect on handling and performance, effect on balance and trim, CE Plate and manufacturer's recommendation for powerboats
* Displacement boats: handling ahead and astern, carrying way
Understands:
* Crew members: minimum number in high-speed powerboats
* Awareness of other water users, including effect of wash
* Steering, controls, effect of current or tidal stream
* High speed manoeuvring: planing, trim tabs and power trim
* Planing powerboats: propeller angle and immersion, shallow drive, high/low speed handling, tiller/console steering
Can:
* Carry out pre-start checks, engine starting and stopping
* Demonstrate the use of an appropriate length kill cord at all times
* Carry out low speed manoeuvres including: turning in a confined area, effect of wind on bow and holding off. Demonstrate an awareness of the danger of flooding when going astern
* Carry out high speed including S-turns and U-turns

Securing to a buoy
Understands:
* Preparation of mooring warp
* Use of a boat hook
* Method of approach
* Crew communication
* Making fast
* Procedure when overshooting
Can:
* Approach and secure to buoy

Anchoring
Understands:
* Method of approach in various conditions
* Taking way off
* Crew communication
* Check holding
* Depth of water, holding ground, scope required
Knowledge of:
* Types of anchor
* Stowage and attachment to boat
* Preparation of anchor, chain and warp
* Weighing anchor
Can:
* Approach and anchor correctly
* Weigh anchor correctly

Leaving and coming alongside
Understands:
* Preparation and use of painter, lines and fenders, attachment to boat, stowage under way
* Speed and angle of approach
* Wind effect
* Method of approach in tidal stream or current
Can:
* Make fast alongside
* Use springs
* Leave - ahead or astern

Man overboard
Knowledge of:
* Recovery of man overboard using a powerboat
Can:
* Take immediate action
* Observe the man overboard
* Carry out the correct return with awareness of propeller
* Approach and recover the man in the water

Section B Theory
Knowledge of:
* Types of craft: advantages and disadvantages of different hull forms with respect to sea keeping ability
* Engines and drives: advantages and disadvantages of outboard, inboard and outdrive units, single and twin screws, choice and use of fuels
* Siting of fuel tanks, fuel lines, batteries, wiring, fire extinguishers
* Routine engine maintenance checks, basic fault diagnosis
* Close down procedure
* Advice to inland drivers about coastal waters
* Use and limitations of GPS
* Application of local byelaws, especially around commercial shipping
* Sources of weather information
Understands:
* Awareness of other water users
* Communication with other craft - hand and sound signals
* Disabled craft
* Emergency action, preventing sinking
* Adrift - alternative means of propulsion
* Towing and being towed
* Fire precautions and fire fighting
* Distress signals and the Mayday call
Can:
* Apply IRPCS, principally rules 5, 7, 8, 9, and 12-19

Section C Coastal
Knowledge of:
* Pilotage and passage planning
* CG66 Small Craft Safety Scheme
Understands:
* Charts, chart symbols, buoyage systems
* Tides and tidal streams
Can:
* Use steering and hand bearing compasses
* Apply Section A on coastal waters

Section D
Direct assessment for experienced powerboat drivers
The candidate should have the equivalent of at least one full season's powerboat handling experience.
The candidate must complete the practical exercise described overleaf, and satisfactorily answer questions on Section B.
Candidates seeking assessment on coastal waters will demonstrate a knowledge and practical application of Section C.
Practical assessment of all candidates for Level 2

The practical exercise detailed in the diagram in the powerboat logbook shows the manoeuvres required to be demonstrated during the practical assessment. Candidates are expected to show that they understand the principles of each manoeuvre. Failure to successfully complete a manoeuvre at the first attempt will not necessarily result in overall failure, but a timely awareness of the need to abort an exercise and try again is important.

Intermediate

Section A Theory
Planning a day cruise
Knowledge of:
* Navigation
* True and magnetic bearings
* Bearing and distance
* Chart symbols
* Tidal diamonds and tidal streams
* Use of pilot books
* Position lines
* Use of marina locks (can be covered practically if appropriate)
Understands:
* Latitude and Longitude
* The principles of GPS
* Sources of forecast information and the interpretation of forecasts
Can:
* Use a plotting instrument and plot a course to steer (CTS)
* Work out tidal heights for standard ports using a tidal curve
* Interpret Lateral and Cardinal buoyage
* Implement IRPCS, in particular rules 5, 7, 8, 9, 13-17, 23
* Use GPS waypoint navigation and determine XTE, SOG, COG, BTW, DTW*
* Use a laminated chart afloat
* Use pilotage to enter an unfamiliar port by day
* Explain how to make a VHF emergency call
*XTE - cross track error, SOG - speed over ground, COG - course over ground, BTW - bearing to waypoint, DTW - distance to waypoint

Section B Practical

The aim of the practical session is to put into practice the theory detailed above and to complete a passage, which shall include:

Boat Preparation
Understands:
* The importance of protective clothing and safety equipment
* The minimum level of equipment for the boat
* Considerations of equipment required for longer passages
* Correct stowage of equipment

Boat handling
Knowledge of:
* Effect of waves
* Rougher conditions
* Awareness of other water users
* Mooring stern-to between posts or Med style
Can:
* Demonstrate awareness of wind and tide
* Moor alongside, in a marina berth (where available)
* Demonstrate the use of an appropriate length kill cord at all times

Pilotage
Can:
* Demonstrate a practical application of techniques for pilotage in local waters

Passage making
Understands:
* The need for pre-planning, including advice in the event of having to return at night
Can:
* Apply the lessons learnt in the theory section and successfully complete a practical passage
* Fix position by traditional and electronic means

Man overboard
Understands:
* Techniques for picking up a man overboard in differing conditions
Can:
* Pick up a man overboard

Advanced

Practical
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:
o Steering to transits and in buoyed channels
o Turning in a confined space
o Berthing in various conditions of wind and tide.
o 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 X-FE, SOG, COG, BTW, DTW*
*XTE - cross track error, SOG - speed over ground, COG - course over ground, BTW - bearing to waypoint, DTW - distance to waypoint

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

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 meteorological trends

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 action 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

Night cruising
Can:
* Take charge of a powerboat at night, including leaving and entering harbour
* Demonstrate ability at keeping a proper lookout and identifying lit and unlit marks by night

Motor Cruising

Course Content:

Day Skipper Practical

Aim: To skipper a launch in familiar waters by day.
Duration: 4 days (or 2 weekends).
Qualification: Course completion certificate.
Prerequisites: None. Recommended 2 days previous experience.

Modules:

Boat & engine checks
Safety equipment
Handling in various conditions of wind & tide
High speed work, power & trim tabs
Practical pilotage & navigation
Use of charts & GPS
Tidal heights & streams
Buoys & beacons
Meteorology
Rules of the road

Coastal Skipper Practical

Aim: To skipper a launch on coastal passages by day and night.
Duration: 5 Days.
Qualification: Course Completion Certificate.
Pre-requisites: Skills and experience equivalent to Day SKipper Practical.

Modules:

Passage planning
Skipper responsibilities
Pilotage planning & use by day & night
Managing the boat & crew
Weather & navigation
Effective handling in confined spaces
Anchoring & mooring
High speed & open water handling
Emergency actions & procedures

Personal Watercraft

Course Content:

Launching, handling and recovery skills. Passage planning and decision making.
Ability After Course:

Self-sufficient in good conditions. Aware of limitations of self and vessel.
Minimum Duration:

1 day

Club Safety Boat

Modules:

* Preparation, boat checks & safety equipment
* New Zealand law
* Launching & retrieving
* Boat handling
* Mark laying
* Communication
* Righting inverted & partially inverted craft
* Casualty rescue
* Towing
* End of day procedures