promises! promises!

vince · 21 June 2006, 19:59

Last month, being the doting father that i am, i said to my eldest daughter, who has just turned 12, that if she did really well in her SATS exams, i would send her on a powerboat 1+2 !
And now that she HAS done well, i am going to have to honour it. Which also means letting her drive the RIB!

Does anyone else have an experience of this? What level can she do? Any safety pointers? (besides her going nowhere near the rib)

IanE · 21 June 2006, 20:26

my 2 did a specific junior course at 13 and 14 and got on really well. They enjoyed the course but agreed that 120hp 6.3m was different from 4m 25hp
!!
We made a week of it - they did junior on tues/wed and I did PB2 thu / friday.

The venue was exceptional - Baltimore West Cork.

Ian

tcwozere · 21 June 2006, 20:30

Try and get her onto a course where she can be taught using your boat. I have been meaning to send mine on summat for ages, but haven't got around to it. A year later, I don't think either need to, what they have learned from practical experience far outweighs the PB 1+2 courses..

vince · 21 June 2006, 20:53

I`d agree with that, she`s driven our 4.2 zodiac before in the lake district on ullswater, and got on fine. She even discovered she could flip daddy out of the boat by turning every time i stood up! But a 6.3 is a bit different on the sea with 135 orses. Perhaps i`m being a bit over protective, kids are like sponges, they just seem to soak everything up in their stride and get on with it.

BogMonster · 21 June 2006, 22:40

Quote:

Originally Posted by tcwozere

Try and get her onto a course where she can be taught using your boat. I have been meaning to send mine on summat for ages, but haven't got around to it. A year later, I don't think either need to, what they have learned from practical experience far outweighs the PB 1+2 courses..

I feel a bit the same way. There is no legal requirement for certification here and no facility for getting training, so I have been "feeling my way" since I got mine in about March, but initially I was determined to do 1&2 when I am over in the UK next month.

But having accumulated some 30 odd hours in my boat I really feel completely comfortable with it now (was quite nervous to start with) and am starting to think that there may not be much point as it would be 2 days out of my relatively short holiday and I don't know how much I would get out of it. There is a nagging doubt in my mind that I might be picking up bad habits and/or lulling myself into a false sense of security though, since it has all been self-taught! I wish I could see a syllabus for exactly what is covered on the courses, had a look on Google a couple of months ago but there was only very general information.

I suppose the appeal from my point of view is that I would then be able to hire boats if I am on holiday, I assume you need at least a PB2 to be able to do this.

AndrewH · 22 June 2006, 00:16

Quote:

Originally Posted by BogMonster

I wish I could see a syllabus for exactly what is covered on the courses, had a look on Google a couple of months ago but there was only very general information.

When I did my PB2 the syllabus included sections on:
Launching and Recovery, Boat handling, Basic MOB recovery, Securing to bouys and dockside, Anchoring, Leaving and Coming Alongside, Understanding Met and Nav charts

There was also a practical on the water assesment of most of the above with the addition of some high speed S and U turns

There are many others here who could fill in where I've left gaps but hope this helps

Quote:

Originally Posted by BogMonster

I suppose the appeal from my point of view is that I would then be able to hire boats if I am on holiday, I assume you need at least a PB2 to be able to do this.

Yeah I believe that PB2 is the basis for the International Certificate of Competence

codprawn · 22 June 2006, 00:40

Well I did my PB2 and safety boat - also a VHF course. To be honest as it is now about 6 months or more ago I may as well not have done it.

I am prob totally different to most people - can't be taught much - have to learn for myself so my findings may not apply to others.

90 miles from Guernsey was simple - 20mins in home waters taught me far more - especially trying to control a big RIB in a strong crosswind when mooring - much harder than a Gin palace with bowthrusters etc!!!

In other words experience experience experience.

BogMonster · 22 June 2006, 02:39

Thanks Andrew

Mmm I know what you mean Codders the first few times coming alongside in "a bit of a breeze" (~20 knots of wind not being that uncommon here) was "interesting" and there were some "slight cock ups at first" (ok some quite big ones...)

but the worst thing so far is trying to get the boat back on to the trailer single-handed in a strong crosswind. Having to hit the trailer doing about 5 knots just to keep enough steering input to stop the boat going sideways definitely requires a degree of confidence/recklessness

trying to avoid doing that now or it is going to end in tears one day...

MOB stuff would be good to know though (even though I don't carry passengers - could be useful one day and I wouldn't have a clue where to start) and I'm not at all sure about some of my mooring line techniques either - mostly seem to rely on "lots of ropes with lots of knots in" but I would guess it probably doesn't look very professional to the experienced eye

What is it they say - a little knowledge is a dangerous thing?!

Jelly · 22 June 2006, 06:34

As Andrew covered the main points I won't reiterate, but there are some manovers that get covered which people normally need practice on. Even if its only a trick to show you an easier way of doing something.
If you can do your course in the area you normally use you can pick up some local knowledge you might have missed.
As for forgetting it if you don't use it this is to some extent true but normally the knowledge is still there just a little tarnished and just need some practice to get it back.
I would recomend the course but might be worth seeing if the centre you are sending her too are doing any courses with others of the same age group, it might be more enjoyable.
have fun
Jelly

Nick Hearne · 22 June 2006, 07:12

How about something like this?
http://www.salcombepowerboats.co.uk/...s/ribskids.htm

Brambles · 22 June 2006, 07:21

Quote:

Originally Posted by BogMonster

But having accumulated some 30 odd hours in my boat I really feel completely comfortable with it now (was quite nervous to start with) and am starting to think that there may not be much point as it would be 2 days out of my relatively short holiday and I don't know how much I would get out of it. There is a nagging doubt in my mind that I might be picking up bad habits and/or lulling myself into a false sense of security though, since it has all been self-taught! I wish I could see a syllabus for exactly what is covered on the courses, had a look on Google a couple of months ago but there was only very general information.

Stephen,

Get a copy of the RYA Powerboat Handbook available from the RYA or the author here - http://www.powerboat-training.co.uk/ Some great stuff in there & very easy to understand. I'd suggest you do a Level 2 course (perhaps direct access) if you have the time. Things like pontoon bashing (see Codprawns comments above) and proper throttle control are much better taught by an instructor than self taught.

Cheers

Ian

hannah · 22 June 2006, 10:44

Hey, Say goodluck to her doing her course, i took mine when i was just turning 13 and i really enjoyed it !! I think the course becomes official when we turn 16 though, on my course certificate it said to be driven with a responcible adult. But i still loved driving ribs !!

Jimbo · 22 June 2006, 11:01

Quote:

Originally Posted by hannah

Hey, Say goodluck to her doing her course, i took mine when i was just turning 13 and i really enjoyed it !! I think the course becomes official when we turn 16 though, on my course certificate it said to be driven with a responcible adult. But i still loved driving ribs !!

If you are aged between 8-11 and doing a powerboat level 1 course, your certificate gets endorsed "The holder should only use powered craft under the supervision of a responsible adult on board the craft", if you are between 12-16 and doing a level 1 or 2 it becomes "The holder should only use powered craft under the supervision of a responsible adult."

The design of this is that 8-11 year olds must have someone on board the boat, but for 12-16 year olds it is up to the adult to work out whether they are happy being on board or not. Some of the 12-16 year olds at my sailing club are far more competent boat drivers than the adults, and I have no problems letting them take the powerboats to act as ferries for the yachts etc.

I think opening up the RYA powerboat courses to ages 8 and above is a fantastic thing, as I would imagine that most people with kids on this forum let them drive their ribs, and having attended a well run and safe course they will hopefully be a lot better at it with RYA 1 or 2.

G L · 22 June 2006, 11:01

I think you should just get her a new playsation !!!!!!!!!!!!!

whitingiom · 22 June 2006, 11:16

My 8 year old will be delighted to hear he can do Powerboat 1! He's been driving my rib for a couple of years now!

Big brother did his at 14, and had the endorsement until 16.

I agree that some of the kids are better drivers than adults...we have our heat of the Rib Challenge this w/e and I can't get near some of the times set!