training
BE SAFER WHEN YOU TAKE YOUR BOAT OUT THIS SEASON
The Association supports and promotes appropriate training for skipper and crew of all craft owned by members.
In collaboration with a number of training services providers at Cobbs Quay we will be promoting training courses, sponsoring training activities and providing useful aids for passage planning and navigation, as required by the SOLAS regulations.
We are arranging for Paul Glatzel (Powerboat Training UK) and Stuart Newcombe (Principal Power) to attend some of the Hamble cruises arranged for this year and provide a practical introduction for members to the range of RYA training courses on offer at all experience levels.
Clive Snow will be providing practical experience on Girl Fisher, for those interested in informal experience, aboard one of the largest vessels in the marina.
We recommend that members attain an International Certificate of Competence (ICC) as a minimum qualification. This applies equally for sailing vessels and motor craft.
In order to apply for an ICC powerboat skippers must have attained RYA National Powerboat Certificate level 2 or the RYA Day Skipper (Practical) Certificate.
These qualifications involve collision regulations, passage planning, navigation, weather and vessel handling, all of which are pre-requisites for safe cruising.
Holders of an ICC can take a short (multi-choice) CEVNI test which will qualify them to navigate inland waterways, which is mandatory if you wish to venture up the rivers in France.
The publications below give details fo the courses and ICC's issued.
Holders of an ICC will also be eligible for discounts on marine insurance with some brokers.
In order to comply with radio licensing requirements all skippers must also possess a VHF DSC certificate and radio operators licence.
We recommend that all CQBHA members attain the above levels of qualification.
Further qualifications to Coastal Skipper and/or Yachtmaster level can be progressed at the next stages. These advanced practical and theory qualifications will equip skippers with the necessary skills to navigate more difficult passages (eg Bembridge, Island Harbour, Channel Islands, Carentan or other French tidal ports), understand weather conditions more fully, and enhance handling skills. Attainment of these qualifications can also qualify skippers for larger marine insurance discounts.
Member Report
From Andy Woodhouse on attending the CQBHA Diesel Engine Maintenance Course
I have always considered myself to be fairly practical and, since a small boy, have enjoyed making and maintaining things. This included in my late teens a complete rebuild of a Triumph Spitfire car that was purchased as a non running wreck and left my hands as a half decent car, although my wife would argue against this! Over the years, as cars have become ever more difficult to service and maintain by the Diy’er, the chances for me to improve my mechanical skills have become less and less and, I must confess, I cannot remember when I last did anything other than basic checks on a car engine and, as for boats, well these are different again. Firstly mine has two diesel engines in it, that look very complicated and secondly, unlike in a car, if I try to do something and it breaks down at sea then I have an all together larger problem to deal with! Therefore other than basic checks, I have adopted the policy of regular servicing by Poole Marine, keeping my fingers crossed and taking out a Sea Start membership!
For the last few years I have kept telling myself that I should learn more about my boats engines and systems but have always found a reason not to sign up for the RYA course! When I read that a course was being organized by the CQBHA, I decided that something had to be done so I immediately sent off an email and signed up. I also enrolled my 14 year old son Harry, who has an interest in all things boat based but has virtually no mechanical knowledge at all.
On the 11th October 2008, Harry and I arrived at Hamble Point Marina, and started the first of the day’s challenges. Trying to find the Sea Start offices that the course was being held in! This was actually quite difficult due to the signs being all faced towards the water and not the land!!! When we did get in we were welcomed by Brynn, who was to be our tutor for the day. We were warmly welcomed with a cup of tea and when the other delegates arrived the day’s activity started. Over the next few hours, we covered many subjects. What I quickly noticed was that the other CQBHA members were in the same position as me. I think we all had either a little knowledge or virtually no knowledge at all of how our boats really worked, and perhaps more importantly what we should do when they stopped! This meant that the atmosphere was very relaxed and I think at some stage just about everyone asked some really basic questions without the fear of embarrassment.
I think that the course was made more interesting by having some practical content. As we were in the Sea Start training room Brynn soon had us all “playing” with all sorts of parts. Within the first half an hour we had all taken apart a Turbo charger and understood the difference between it and a supercharger. The day continued in this theme, working our way around the engine and then the drives and onto subjects such as cooling, electrical systems etc. In the afternoon we all had the chance to try and change an impeller on a demonstration engine, something I had heard lots about but never ever contemplated doing. We all succeeded.
As the day drew to a close I realised that it was now after 6pm! We had covered so much and through the enthusiasm of Brynn, the day had flown by. We all left having received our certificates and I certainly had the satisfaction of having spent a very good day, playing with bits of boats!
I was concerned about how much Harry had learned during the day, but soon realized that he had learned an awful lot. The car ride home was full of chat about what did what in an engine, and how much he had enjoyed the day. I would recommend that anyone with a boat attends this course if it is run again, and the discounted pricing organized by the CQBHA made it even better.
Thanks to Clive Snow for organizing.