13 Powerboat courses

Whether you are a novice or a seasoned professional – the RYA Powerboat Level 2 Training could be the right Course for you. Our Courses will provide you with the key skills you need to be safely confident and competent on the water with a powerboat.

A 2 day course for Powerboat Instructors (aged 17+) looking to advance their instructions level to include the Advanced and Intermediate Powerboat courses. The course builds on the command, teaching and communication skills all introduced at Powerboat Instructor level which will have been solidified by experience running courses. The course covers how to coach and train all aspects of the Advanced Powerboat course including safe command of a vessel at day and night, meteorology, Collision Regulations, Emergency situations and search patterns, and use of engines. The course is a mix of theory and practical.   Course Pre-Requisites To do this course you will need the following certificates: First Aid certificate, Powerboat Instructor (with logged teaching hours), Advanced Powerboat course completion certificate, one of the following Certifiates of Competnce with a valid commercial endorsement; Advanced Powerboat Certificate of Completence, RYA Yachtmaster™ Coastal (Power) Certificate of Competence, or RYA Yachtmaster™ Offshore (Power) Certifcate of Competence (Instructors who do not hold a valid commercial endorsement will only be able to teach Intermediate Powerboat). RYA Instructor Training At Torbay Sea School we have trained many RYA Instructors who have gone on to instruct with us, other RYA training centres or as freelance instructors. During the course of your general RYA training you will have gained all the skills necessary to sail, motor or power boat with confidence to a high standard. The following courses consolidate all those skills and give you the tools required to instruct others to gain their RYA qualifications. You will be able to utilise our Instructors experience and our boats/equipment to feel at ease with instructing others.

The Powerboat Instructor course aims to provide candidates with the necessary skills and knowledge required to instruct the RYA National Powerboat Scheme in a safe and effective way. The course duration is 3 days and comprises both practical and theoretical training scenarios where candidates are expected to deliver short training sessions. These sessions aim to develop the candidates personal skills and teaching ability in the safety of the training environment. The course does focus on teaching you how to instruct. You will learn effective methods of instructing and coaching, how to debrief, and how to structure the courses. We do revise the skills you will need to teach, but you will need to be proficient on a power boat to do this course. All potential Powerboat Instructors are required to complete a 1 day pre-assessment course to assess your personal boat handling skills. This assessment must be completed within the 3 months prior to the commencement of your Powerboat Instructor course. Course Pre-Requisites To do this course you will need to have completed Pre-Assessment. You will also need the following certificates: Valid First Aid Certificate, RYA Powerboat Level 2, RYA VHF Short Range Certificate. You will need to have 5 years powerboating experiencing (or one season full time). The minimum age of this course is 16 years old. Ideally you will have a familiarity with a range of craft giving you a wide range of knowledge of powerboats. Your theory knowledge should be at RYA Day Skipper Theory level, and we would recommend holding the certificate. RYA Instructor Training At Torbay Sea School we have trained many RYA Instructors who have gone on to instruct with us, other RYA training centres or as freelance instructors. During the course of your general RYA training you will have gained all the skills necessary to sail, motor or power boat with confidence to a high standard. The following courses consolidate all those skills and give you the tools required to instruct others to gain their RYA qualifications. You will be able to utilise our Instructors experience and our boats/equipment to feel at ease with instructing others.

 A course for leisure and professional boaters wanting to undertake more adventurous trips by day and night, this 2 day course, with at least one night navigation exercise, will provide you with an RYA Advanced Powerboat Course Completion certificate. Anyone undertaking this course must have practical skills of the Intermediate level and theory knowledge of at least Coastal Skipper/Yachtmaster level. The course is split between theory and practical, with an emphasis on the application of theory knowledge to practical situations including preperation for sea, passage and pilotage making, skippering (meteorology, rules ofg the road)), navigation at planing speed, night cruising, and emergency situations. The Advanced Powerboat Certificate of Competence can only be issued after an exam, usually taken immediately after the course. If you are looking to take this exam, please let us know and we will arrange an examiner for you. The cost of this exam is payable directly to the RYA. To take this exam your must meet the following pre-requisites: 2 years relevant experience including night pilotage As a guide; 30 days at sea, 2 days as skipper, 800 miles, 12 night hours in the past 10 years Hold a valid First Aid certificate Hold a GMDSS Short Range Certificate (SRC) or higher grade marine radio certificate Age 17 or over Power Courses Our powerboat training is currently delivered on an MCA coded 7.8m Ribcraft with a 200hp Suzuki four stroke outboard engine and an E-series Raymarine chart plotter. We maintain a 3:1 student to instructor ratio which allows our experienced RYA instructors to tailor courses to the various levels and needs on board and deliver at a manageable pace. All course costs include tea and coffee, waterproofs are available on request.

This one day course is an introduction to powerboating includes boating techniques for launching and recovering a boat from a road trailer, everyday boat handling and the use of safety equipment. By the end of the course you will be able to drive a powerboat under supervision. Power Courses Our powerboat training is currently delivered on an MCA coded 7.8m Ribcraft with a 200hp Suzuki four stroke outboard engine and an E-series Raymarine chart plotter. We maintain a 3:1 student to instructor ratio which allows our experienced RYA instructors to tailor courses to the various levels and needs on board and deliver at a manageable pace. All course costs include tea and coffee, waterproofs are available on request.

Providing the skills and background knowledge required of a competent powerboat driver, this is a beginner 2 day course . The course is split in half to cover theory and practical, where the theory is applied. subjects covered include low speed close quarters handling, man overboard recovery, an introduction to driving at planing speed, and collision regulations. By the end of the course you will be a self-sufficient powerboater in the right conditions and be aware of your own limitations and those of the craft. Power Courses Our powerboat training is currently delivered on an MCA coded 7.8m Ribcraft with a 200hp Suzuki four stroke outboard engine and an E-series Raymarine chart plotter. We maintain a 3:1 student to instructor ratio which allows our experienced RYA instructors to tailor courses to the various levels and needs on board and deliver at a manageable pace. All course costs include tea and coffee, waterproofs are available on request.

The RYA Powerboat Instructor Skills Assessment is a mandatory requirement ahead of all Powerboat Instructor courses. Course Duration 1/2 day for each group of 3 attendees. If we have 6 attending then one group will go afloat in the morning and another in the afternoon with an overlap at lunchtime to address the theory element of the assessment. Instructor – student ratio 3 students to 1 Powerboat Trainer per boat. Minimum Age Those over the age of 16 can attend the assessment. Course price For those attending the RYA Powerboat Instructor course with us the cost of the assessment is £150. Course dates You can attend a pre-assessment at any time up to 6 months before your course. Assessments are always scheduled the day before a instructors course for those that can’t get to the centre ahead of the course. We are usually happy to schedule dates for assessments to suit your diary. Candidates for the pre-assessment will be expected to demonstrate competence in Hold off a mark Pick up and secure to a buoy Moor alongside up/downtide Turn using warps Turn in a confined space Recover a man overboard (dummy) Stop and start the engine Planing speed runs including figure 8 and ‘U’ turns Theory including charts, tides, buoyage, colregs and pilotage RYA Instructor Training At Torbay Sea School we have trained many RYA Instructors who have gone on to instruct with us, other RYA training centres or as freelance instructors. During the course of your general RYA training you will have gained all the skills necessary to sail, motor or power boat with confidence to a high standard. The following courses consolidate all those skills and give you the tools required to instruct others to gain their RYA qualifications. You will be able to utilise our Instructors experience and our boats/equipment to feel at ease with instructing others.

This 2 day course builds upon the basic knowledge and skills covered in the Level 2 course and is aimed at those who want to drive larger and more powerful powerboats and is a good step to progressing onto the Advanced course. This course covers the practical use of pilotage and passage planning by day on coastal waters using both traditional and electronic navigational techniques, boat preperation, cruising at planing speed, advanced boat handlingand man overboard drills. By the end of the course you will be able to plan and execute short coastal passages by day. It is strongly recommended that candidates hold a first aid certificate and a VHF/SRC operator's certificate. Power Courses Our powerboat training is currently delivered on an MCA coded 7.8m Ribcraft with a 200hp Suzuki four stroke outboard engine and an E-series Raymarine chart plotter. We maintain a 3:1 student to instructor ratio which allows our experienced RYA instructors to tailor courses to the various levels and needs on board and deliver at a manageable pace. All course costs include tea and coffee, waterproofs are available on request.

The RYA Powerboat Level Two course, it is over two days, which gives lots of time for both practical instruction and theory. If you’re new to powerboating, or want achieve the RYA Certificate, this practical hands-on course will prepare you with the safe helming and handling skills you need to complete daylight trips in your powerboat.

Designed in conjunction with the Professional Yahcting Association (PYA) this 2 day course builds upon existing basic powerboating knowledge and skills to allow you to gain confidence in your ability to manouevre a powerboat smoothly whilst completing tasks such as pilotage (by day and night), passenger carriage and management. This course is intended for operators responsible for ferrying passengers between superyachts and shore at day or night, operating short handed. Power Courses Our powerboat training is currently delivered on an MCA coded 7.8m Ribcraft with a 200hp Suzuki four stroke outboard engine and an E-series Raymarine chart plotter. We maintain a 3:1 student to instructor ratio which allows our experienced RYA instructors to tailor courses to the various levels and needs on board and deliver at a manageable pace. All course costs include tea and coffee, waterproofs are available on request.