So what are the Powerboating qualifications?
RYA Level 1 Start Powerboating – Age 8+ max 3 per course
Provides a practical introduction to boat handling and safety in powerboats. It covers boating techniques for launching and recovering a boat from a road trailer, everyday boat handling and the use of safety equipment. The course may be conducted in a variety of boat types, both planing and displacement, and the certificate issued will be endorsed to show the type of boat in which the training took place. A one day introduction to Powerboating with no previous experience required.
Cost £150 – £200 (one day course)
RYA Level 2 Powerboat Handling – Age 12+ max 3 per course
Provides the skills and background knowledge needed by the competent powerboat driver and is the basis of the International Certificate of Competence. It aims to teach boat handling and seamanship in powerboats. It focuses on low speed close quarters handling, man overboard recovery, an introduction to driving at planing speed, and collision regulations. The course can be taken at an inland or coastal location. It may be conducted in a variety of boat types, both planing and displacement. The certificate issued will be endorsed to show the type of boat in which the training took place.
Cost £250 – £350 (Two day course)
RYA Powerboat Intermediate Course – Age 16+ max 3 per course
Covers the practical use of pilotage and passage planning by day on coastal waters using both traditional and electronic navigational techniques. It aims to teach the standard required to complete a short coastal passage by day. This course builds on the foundation knowledge of the Level 2 course and is suited to those who aim to drive larger more powerful powerboats. During the course you will cover cruising at planing speed and more advanced boat handling. It is recommended for anyone considering moving on to the Advanced course.The course can be conducted on a planing or displacement boat
Cost £300 – £350 (two day course)
RYA Powerboat Advanced Course – Age 17+ max 3 per course
Aims to teach boat handling, seamanship, pilotage and navigation up to the standards required to drive a planing powerboat safely by day and night in tidal coastal waters, with which the candidate may be familiar, in more demanding conditions. Given the nature of these passages Advanced Powerboat courses should be delivered on powerboats of a minimum of 6 metres and an engine size sufficient to enable coastal passages at planing speed.
Cost £300 – £350 (two day course with one night passage)
Chichester Boat Club only offers PB1 and PB2 courses.
Very few people do the PB1 as it is only an introduction to powerboating. The majority of people do the PB2 as it is the minimum level of qualification needed by sailing clubs and boat hire companies, in the UK and abroad, to use their boats (up to 10m).
RYA qualifications are recognised in the UK and some European countries, if you want to hire a boat abroad you will need to convert your RYA qualification to an ICC (international Certificate of Competence). This can be done via the RYA website at no cost to RYA members.
https://www.rya.org.uk/knowledge/abroad/icc#link3
I hope this was helpful and if you want to book a Powerboat Level 1 or 2 course please visit our RYA Powerboat Course Tab on the main menu of this website.
