Powerboat Courses

We offer all of the courses in the RYA Powerboat Scheme.

Our Powerboat fleet consists of:

• 4 Jeanneau Rigiflex with 15hp tiller steered outboards
• 1 XS 4.6m RIB (rigid inflatable boat) with 60hp Mercury Outboard
• 1 XS 6.5m RIB commercially coded Cat 4 vessel with 200hp supercharged Mercury Outboard
• 1 XS 6.5m RIB vessel with 150hp Mercury Outboard

There are 5 levels to the scheme, which are listed below. All Participants must be aged 12 years and above and be confident around water.

All courses run from 9.00am – 5.00pm except the Advanced Course which includes a night passage. Courses are offered 7 days a week. Private tuition for fast track individuals is also available, please call us for more information.

Additionally to RYA Powerboat Courses we also offer a Skipper Charter of our largest craft. Please call the centre for detailed information 01642 678000.

Level 1

This course provides a practical introduction to boat handling skills and is aimed at the novice boater who wishes to get a taste of boating, however 90% of our customers start at level 2.

Pre-Requisites – None

Cost: £178.00 pp

Duration: 1 day

For available dates please contact the centre on 01642 678000.

Level 2

This is the most popular of RYA courses and is known as the National Powerboat Certificate. Successful completion of this course allows candidates to apply for an ICC (International Certificate of Competence). This is normally required in most European counties for using or chartering a boat. You are not required to complete the Level 1 qualification prior to this course. Included in the course syllabus is:

• Launching and recovery
• Boat Handling
• Securing to Moorings
• Anchoring
• Leaving and Coming alongside
• MOB (Man Over Board)
• Shorebased subjects
• Coastal
• Pre-requisites – None

Cost: £265.00 pp

Duration: 2 days

Direct assessment is available for the Level 2 National Powerboat course however this is assessment with no training and candidates should have at least one full seasons powerboat handling experience. Please call the bookings team for more information on direct assessment 01642 678000.

For course dates please select ‘BOOK LEVEL 2 COURSE NOW’

Intermediate Day Cruising (on request)

A great course for those wishing to develop their skills and learn the knowledge to plan and undertake short coastal passages by day. the course covers practical use of pilotage and passage planning by day on coastal waters, using both traditional and electronic navigation techniques.

Candidates should be competent to the standard of the National Powerboat Certificate Level 2 with Coastal Endorsement.

Cost: On request

Duration: 2 days

For available dates please contact the centre on 01642 678000

Advanced Powerboat course (on request)

This course is aimed at the experienced boater, both professionals and keen amateurs, with a number of years experience under their belt. The course provides the skills and background knowledge needed by powerboat drivers operating by day or night in known or unfamiliar waters, the skippers role and boat handling in more demanding conditions.

Candidates are expected to be very experienced boat handlers and have a good knowledge of navigation and chartwork up to the level of day skipper. Due to the demands of this course there is no time for candidates to be “taught” navigation and chartwork. If you feel you have weaker areas in your knowledge please contact us to discuss this in more detail.

This is mainly a practical course and candidates should expect to be capable of navigating at speed by night in unfamiliar waters using a variety of techniques.

Pre-requisites – You are required to hold a first aid cetificate and VHF operators licence.

Cost: On request

Duration: 2 days, including night passage

Please note, we run this course on a maximum ratio of 1:3 students.

For available dates please contact the centre on 01642 678000

Safety Boat Course (on request)

This course introduces the techniques used in powerboats escorting fleets of racing dinghies and windsurfers, providing safety and rescue cover for training fleets and assisting in race management.

Courses are run on demand by the centre and also through the RYA North East Training section.

For available dates please contact the centre on 01642 678000

Refresher Powerboat course (on request)

We also offer refresher powerboat courses for those people who have already completed the necessary qualifications but maybe haven’t managed to get onto the water as much as they had hoped. These courses can be offered on a bespoke basis depending on what skills you want to refresh and can therefore be different durations.

To discuss availability and further details please contact the centre on 01642 678000

The International Certificate of Competence (ICC)

Once you have completed your Powerboat Level 2 Course you may want to charter a boat abroad. To do so you would need to apply for the International Certificate of Competence (ICC). Find out more here.