Launching and recovery

Knowledge of:

• Use of a trailer or launch trolley

• Consideration of launching and sea conditions, including hazards and obstructions

• Number of persons required to launch/recover

• Construction, width and condition of slipway

• Steep/slippery slipways, beach launching, lee shores

• Care of trailer bearings, hitch, lashings, ties, lights and winch

• Trailer Parking

Can:

• Prepare the boat, lines, fenders, safety equipment, fuel tanks, lines and secure gear on board

• Prepare to go afloat

• Tie relevant knots

Preparation of Boat and Crew

Understands:

• Personal buoyancy and appropriate clothing

• The use of the following equipment: lines, fenders, anchor and warp, bailer, fire extinguisher, pump, paddle or oars, compass, flares, torch, whistle, charts, first aid kit, sharp knife

Boat Handling

Knowledge of:

• Loading: Effect on handling and performance, effect on balance and trim, CE Plate and manufacturer's recommendation

• Handling characteristics of displacement boats, rudder-steered craft and shaft-driven vessels

Understands:

• Crew members: minimum number in faster craft, keeping a look-out

• The importance of boat control in waves and adequate seating to minimise the possibility of injury

• Awareness of other water users, including effect of wash

• Steering, controls, effect of current or tidal stream

• Handling a boat at planing speed, trim tabs and power trim

• Planing boats: Propeller angle and immersion, shallow drive, planing and displacement handling, tiller/console steering

Can:

• Carry out pre-start checks, engine starting and stopping

• Demonstrate the use of an appropriate length killcord at all times

• Carry out low speed manoeuvres including:

  • Turning in a confined area

  • Effect of wind on bow and holding off

  • Demonstrate an awareness of the danger of flooding when going astern

• Handle a boat at planing speed

Securing to a buoy

• Understands:
  Preparation of mooring warp

• Use of a boat hook

• Direction of approach

• Taking way off

• Crew communication

• Making Fast

• Procedure when overshooting

Can

• Approach and secure to buoy

Anchoring

Knowledge of:

• Types of anchor

• Stowage and attachment to boat

• Preparation of anchor, chain and warp

• Weighing anchor

Understands

• Correct approach in various conditions

• Taking way off

• Crew communication

• Check holding

• Depth of water, holding ground, scope required

Can:

• Approach and anchor correctly

• Weigh anchor correctly

Leaving and coming alongside

Understands:

• Preparation and use of lines and fenders, attachment to boat, and stowage under way

• Speed and angle of approach

• Wind effect

• Method of approach in tidal stream or current

Can:

• Make fast alongside

• Use springs

• Leave - ahead or astern

Man Overboard

Knowledge of:

• Recovery of man overboard

Understands:

• Cold shock and immersion hypothermia

• How and when to raise the alarm

• Can:
  Take immediate action

• Observe the man overboard

• Carry out the correct return with awareness of propeller

• Approach and recover the casualty in the water

• Demonstrate both drift down and into wind approach methods

• Switch off engine

Knowledge of:

• Types of craft: advantages and disadvantages of different hull forms with respect to sea-keeping ability

• Seating arangements

• Stepped hulls

• Engines and drives: advantages and disadvantages of outboard, inboard and outdrive units, single and twin-shaft drives, choice and use of fuels

• Siting of fuel tanks, fuel lines, batteries, wiring and fire extinguishers

• Routine engine maintenance checks, basic fault diagnosis

• Close down procedure

• Advice to inland drivers about coastal waters

• Use and limitations of GPS/chart plotters

• Applications of local byelaws, especially around commercial shipping

• Sources of weather information

Understands:

• Awareness of other water users

• Communication with other craft

• Disabled craft

• Emergency action, preventing sinking

• Adrift - alternative means of propulsion

• Actions to be taken by a disabled craft and being towed

• Fire precautions and fire fighting

• Distress signals, means of issuing distress, DSC and the Mayday call

• Advice for vessels in restricted visibility

Can:

• Apply IRPCS, principally rules 5-9, 12-18

Knowledge of:

• Byelaws and local regulations

• Insurance

• Boat registration schemes

Understands:

• Pilotage and passage planning

• Charts, chart symbols, buoyage systems

• Tides and tidal streams

Can:

• Use steering and hand bearing compasses

• Apply Section A on coastal waters