RYA 2 recomendations ??

[Backwoodsman]

Hello to everyone.

I am new to the forum and looking for a recommendation as to where is the best place to do the RYA2 Training in Scotland ??

[chriswood]

Hi. I've been meaning to mention this on previous threads re RYA powerboat 2 courses. I did mine last year via the Sea Cadets as a non member. It cost me £40. Received all the relevant RYA docs afterwards. To my knowledge they hold them a few times a year on a regional basis. It might be worth giving your local Sea Cadets a ring. For not much more they asked if I wanted to stay overnight as it's a 2 day course so doesn't have to be that local. Just a thought. Chris

[fop]

I did mine at Port Edgar. Great fun blasting under the Forth bridges and jumping wakes of big cargo ships. Landed at Inchcolm island for a picnic. Great instructors. Recommended. They have a new RIB with a 150 but I don't know if they use that for Level 2.

Powerboating | Port Edgar Watersports

As a p.s. I was talking to the owners about them making a Rib available for hire. They seemed to like the idea. I'll post something up here if it happens.

[ShinyShoe]

£40 probably doesn't cover their costs!

Did mine in Glasgow. On the Clyde. Next to the transport museum.

You ask for best but don't define best.

Best could mean cheapest. Best could mean most flexible. Best could mean best tuition.

Cheapest will be non commercial.
Most flexible will be commercial.
Best tuition could be either.

Beware the course that needs 3 students. I choose someone who would run it just for me if that's all that booked. I ended up me and some of the time one of his staff. Weather was bad so couldn't complete all manoeuvres in time. Stayed an extra day.. No extra charge.

I wanted tidal endorsement.

If they teach advanced courses the instructor is higher qualified ;-)

I was tempted to go to Easdale. But bit of a treck from grim South.

I paid about £200 2 years ago. Could have done it locally with a local sailing club for £120 but felt I'd get better training up norf...

[beamishken]

Sorry to hijack the thread but does anyone know what the minimum age is for level 2 my son's 11 & an excellent helm but would like to get him a qualification?
Our sailing club seem a bit vague about the minimum age requirements and just say he's too young wouldn't mind doing it somewhere else in Scotland fourth or clyde area if he could do it now

[jlandells]

It's 8 for level 1 and 12 for level 2.

[ShinyShoe]

And under16 get an endorsement to say need adult supervision.

[beamishken]

Cheers for the info thats basically what the club were saying but none of the instructors seemed to know if the 12 yo limit was a club limit or an RYA limit.
I guess he'll have to wait until next year when he's 12 as I can't see the point in level 1
I assume the adult supervision requirement will cease once he reaches 16

[Jon Tallis]

My experience with my kids - recommend getting them some 'formal' tuition as early as pos. they will learn lots from a professional instructor no matter how good you are. Teaching your own kids = nightmare! give him a L1 this year and an L2 next.
Adult supervision is RYA recommendation up to 16yrs and obviously best practice, but at the end of the day it's your call (and your insurer's)

[Backwoodsman]

Thanks for the replies.

I guess I am looking for the "best" instruction available, best location and best boat for the course...

I appreciate its all a matter of choice so looking for recommendation from those who have already done courses..

I appreciate that there is probably a "Guru" who is considered the best instructor if anyone feels that they know and don't want it to be a public matter then please PM me.

I can sort out accommodation transport etc. I am happy to pay the going rate rather than just getting a bargain.

Thanks/

[ShinyShoe]

Find a club that participate in the RYA Honda RIB challenge?

[Poly]

Originally Posted by chriswood

Hi. I've been meaning to mention this on previous threads re RYA powerboat 2 courses. I did mine last year via the Sea Cadets as a non member. It cost me £40. Received all the relevant RYA docs afterwards. To my knowledge they hold them a few times a year on a regional basis. It might be worth giving your local Sea Cadets a ring. For not much more they asked if I wanted to stay overnight as it's a 2 day course so doesn't have to be that local. Just a thought. Chris

Chris I am sure I wrote some thoughts on this before. Theoretically a PB2 is a PB2 and all equivalent. In practice what you get from a sailing club is likely to be rather more focused at safety boat use than cruising. A big centre may be more general but still often are catering for the 'need a ticket' market and cost is likely to be cheaper by sharing boats, instructors etc amongst larger group. A specialist school would give you more personalised attention, and if pb is all they do then you get a specialist rather than a sailing or windsurf instructor wearing a different hat. however big centres may be more likely to expose you to a variety of boat types.

Where abouts are you? key question to ask suppliers is how much of the time is afloat? Classrooms are cheap, require only one instructor don't burn fuel and easy to manage.

[chriswood]

Hi Poly. Not sure why you thought the course was so limited from the info I put in my post. Although the course was inland, not costal, it was extremely informative, giving me an excellent practical and theoretical understanding of powerboats. The instructor was superb, we spent all of the 2 full days out on the water in a variety of boats working up from tiller to a 5m rib. We took it in turns to work on our practical skills and didn't finish the day until the instructor was happy that we understood all areas of the course. Both days were long and there was no classroom based teaching. Ratios wise there was me, another guy and the instructor. The instructor wasnt a windsurfer or sailing guy - he was a powerboat nut - from what he told me he's been around boats all his life and it showed. His enthusiasm for boating, his knowledge and wanting to pass this on to us was superb and for someone who attends and books courses regularly (not in boating) I was very impressed with him and the way he delivered the course.
For me it was never about just 'getting the ticket' it was about obtaining a good understanding of powerboats, there capabilities and developing my boat handling skills before I ventured out on my boat and in this instance that's exactly what I got.

[Poly]

Chris sorry I actually meant to reply to the op and was clumsy fingers on the app! I think you proven part of my point though unless the course was on lomond/Ness/tay then there is a significant bit of passage planning that you missed out or only covered in theory, even with that tides are a major part of what you need to understand for the best experience.

[Copinsay]

Hi

I did my PB2 at Findhorn Marina:

RYA Training Centre - Findhorn Marina

And my Advanced at Ardfern with Chris at SeaSkills:

SeaSkills - Our instructor Chris - based at Ardfern

No hesitation in recommending either - good tuition and lovely locations to do the courses... well worth the travel for me, even with a ferry and a 4-6 hour drive for me to get to either venue :o)

Cheers

Steve

[Copinsay]

Just to add to the other comments:

1 - I'd always recommend doing a coastal PB2 rather than inland / fresh water, just for the opportunity of doing more challenging handling when you have an instructor with you.

2 - Do your theory over the winter (and DSC radio exam if you don't have it) so you can spend more time on the boat when doing the practical... And also check what standard the other people will be / class size, as very frustrating if you are being held back. Again doing the Coastal Skipper / Yachtmaster Offshore is a good investment in my view.

Good luck and well done for checking out the training.

Steve

[Copinsay]

.....

[chriswood]

Hi Poly - no probs. As you say there is only so much cruising you can do on a half mile long lake. :-)

[ShinyShoe]

Although to be fair the syllabus is very focussed on close quartets manoeuvres.. Coming alongside boats, moorings, mobs, jetties, probably did 70% of mine within half a mile of the start location. Made to park in some stupidly tight spaces..

[ShinyShoe]

But feels better to know you can do all of that with tide and wind rather than just wind...