View Full Version : Boat handling
I'm so excited...I bought myself some powerboat handling skills for ma birthday. A 2 day intermediate course with Seaforce on the Clyde. Ya beauty!
I know alot of people on here must have their own boats. Has anyone done a course with Seaforce or done a similar course.
I did my VHF licence with them a couple of years ago. They seemed to be a pretty good outfit.
Are you doing RYA level 2? If so, that's great as you'll be able to be a boat handler for the club.
Yes Claire, it's level 2 and if I enjoy it I'll do the advanced course in the summer. I'll let you know how I get on. Looking forward to our training session at the pool. See you friday!:thumbup1:
Stu
i have RYA level 2, did mine with Proform Marine not seaforce.
nothing too technical about the course, just so long as you dont crash:D
think we had around 6 hours in the class room, 4 hours on the water going fast, MOB recovery etc.
probably spent around 6 hours inside the marina doing manouvers, this was probably the most valuable learning of all.
good luck with your course.
Yogi Diver
19-01-10, 17:50
Did mine at Port Edgar. Same as Stew, most of first day was classroom or reversing onto a pontoon. Sounds boring but learned a lot more that day than the second when we were out in the Forth having fun at high speed with Man Over Board manouvres etc.(Turn towards the side he was sitting on to avoid cutting his head off with the prop. It damages the prop which can cost megabucks to replace.:D)
Great course. Highly recommended to any divers looking to use a Rhib, even if you are not the skipper. You should always be capable of taking charge. That MOB might be the only one who knew what he was doing!!:eek::D
atlantic-diver
19-01-10, 20:19
did my rya level 2 with sport scotland on cumbrae - first building as you leave the slip - maybe 7 years back . good course and plenty to learn . good setup
there as well .
2nd day was a flat calm so drills involving wind adjustment weren't that realistic . chilled out doing the 10 mile nav round cumbrae and enjoyed the
scenary.
with a lev 2 they will let you hire one of their ribs :)
I did my level 2 at largs marina, think it was with the yachting club. Our first day out it was a force 6 - straight in at the deep end!! As the only diver there I was the only one with a drysuit :D
Yes, I think I'll take my dry suit although with the big chill forcast I might be better with my ice skates.
Glasgowbuddha
25-01-10, 14:40
Did my level 2 at Dundee when I was with BDMLR
Looking to do my Intermediate and Advanced with Seaforce over the next few months
I done my RYA level 2 with Seaforce last year.
Thought the course was excellent! I was a bit lucky it was only me and the instructor so it was 1 to 1, plenty of time at the helm.
They let me have a go on each of ribs and even had me on the inflatable docking with the tiler steering.
Can't fault them and they were cheaper than most places.
I'm so excited...I bought myself some powerboat handling skills for ma birthday. A 2 day intermediate course with Seaforce on the Clyde. Ya beauty!
I know alot of people on here must have their own boats. Has anyone done a course with Seaforce or done a similar course.
How much does the course cost?
How much does the course cost?
When I did it last summer it was £190.00 all in. I dont know if there prices have went up since then.
stafforddiver
12-02-10, 12:06
Just a thought, you could do it through the BSAC Region, I think you have to be a member of BSAC or they charge you £20 extra for a 3 month temporary membership. Its £90.
It says you need to bring a boat, but if You don't have to as I think they can hire RIBS at port Edgar if needed.
Its not the same as an RYA level 2, but its the same course as SCOTSAC and PADI do.
http://southscotland.bsac.org/SDCPOE.asp
Cheers,
G
Dive Tramp
12-02-10, 21:01
The CDA (Combined Diver Agency) Diver Coxswain Assessment is roughly equivalent to the RYA Level Two but is entirely devoted to Diver's Boathandling requirements. There is no teaching of skills on this particular Assessment as it is just that, an assessment of your already found and developed skills. It is a test.
stafforddiver
12-02-10, 22:16
The CDA (Combined Diver Agency) Diver Coxswain Assessment is roughly equivalent to the RYA Level Two but is entirely devoted to Diver's Boathandling requirements. There is no teaching of skills on this particular Assessment as it is just that, an assessment of your already found and developed skills. It is a test.
Thats why you do the boat handling course first !
Dive Tramp
12-02-10, 22:47
Thats why you do the boat handling course first !
Uhuh, and then do as much boathandling as your "club drivers" will let you.
There's no course in the world that can teach anyone EXPERIENCE. That can only be done thro time (hence my signature). I was just showing that the CDA Boathandling course, as you rightly imply, doesn't equip one with the skills acceptable to the National Standard required by the rest of Europe but that the CDA Diver Coxswain Cert does (and, of course the RYA Level Two). All of these of which I teach and assess.
I should point out that one does not need to be a member of BSAC in order to take part in a CDA Boathandling course (that is the course that BSAC and all other diving clubs run). If you are a member of any of the organisations which comprise the CDA, that is, BSAC, SSAC, PADI, SAA, then you can take part in the Boathandling course run by a CDA recognised Seamanship Centre, it does not need to be thro BSAC Regional courses etc. Non-divers tend to find their boathandling courses thro RYA recognised Training Centres.
Cost was £200. Well worth it and plenty of time handling the boat.
stafforddiver
12-02-10, 23:43
Uhuh, and then do as much boathandling as your "club drivers" will let you.
There's no course in the world that can teach anyone EXPERIENCE. That can only be done thro time (hence my signature). I was just showing that the CDA Boathandling course, as you rightly imply, doesn't equip one with the skills acceptable to the National Standard required by the rest of Europe but that the CDA Diver Coxswain Cert does (and, of course the RYA Level Two). All of these of which I teach and assess.
I should point out that one does not need to be a member of BSAC in order to take part in a CDA Boathandling course (that is the course that BSAC and all other diving clubs run). If you are a member of any of the organisations which comprise the CDA, that is, BSAC, SSAC, PADI, SAA, then you can take part in the Boathandling course run by a CDA recognised Seamanship Centre, it does not need to be thro BSAC Regional courses etc. Non-divers tend to find their boathandling courses thro RYA recognised Training Centres.
I can't really argue with any of that, however the £2O extra for temporary BSAC membership done via a regional course still works out good value as the instructors are not being paid.
Your centre sounds neat though being able to do everything in a 1 stop shop.
scubamuppet
13-02-10, 08:32
[QUOTE=Dive Tramp;49852]Uhuh, and then do as much boathandling as your "club drivers" will let you.
There's no course in the world that can teach anyone EXPERIENCE. That can only be done thro time (hence my signature). QUOTE]
I could not agree more, the number of shouts we get on the lifeboat that could be prevented by learning basic skills is amazing. Also learning how to use a radio (and being able to tune in radio 1 doesnt count) is a simple but effective way of getting help (I dont think you need a licence to use the radio in an emergency). Mobile phones are good if they work and you know where you are. you cant DF (Direction Find) a mobile phone.
the one great thing about divers is they always plan their dives but they dont always plan the boat journey or allow for it hitting the fan in the same way they do for the dive.
Learning to drive the boat is simple, learning to helm takes time and practice.
Finaly, never ever be scared of contacting the coastguard and say you might have a problem, its always better to get a lifeboat out and for us to do nothing rather than say "I should have called earlier"
I did my level 2 with Seaforce a few weeks ago. Thought they were excellent. Like Ryan I was fortunate enough to get an instructor one on one. Our cub are doing our VHF licence course with them next month.