The Boat Club, Sandbanks

What we’ve been doing

2019 has seen us teaming up with ‘The Boat Club’ at Parkstone Bay Marina, we’re giving boat club members a regular monthly update on all the various things that make up their boating experiences, from navigation to managing the boat and venturing further afield.

For Dorset Marine Training,

This relationship allows us to introduce our students to the advantage of Club membership boating.  Without being too precise, the costs of a years membership at the Boat Club can be the same as simply paying for a berth for your own boat for that same year.  If your plan is to head out 20 times in a year, you”l probably make it 10-15 (if we’re honest and the weather fits around your spare time).   With a boat of your own, to have to come down, fuel your boat, clean it, realise that something rather important has broken.  Start scratching your head, send everyone off to the cafe whilst the problem is rectified, only to realise it’s getting late and no boating today after all……     All of a sudden the attraction of a ‘managed’ boat club becomes immense.

Chris and the team at the boat club provide-

A thoroughly pleasant environment and ethos to encourage you to be able to enjoy hassle free boating on a variety of different craft throughout the harbour and Poole Bay area.  For those who want to go further afield, Dorset Marine Training are offering support training through our instructors who love to adventure around that next corner.   We can produce some plans to make the longer journeys enjoyable and manageable, using a variety of techniques to get home safely.

Once someone has become a member, we can step onboard to train in more proficient journey planning.  Giving people confidence alone or certification to a higher level.

This week:

Sarah has been getting involved with some practical training, even helping out with some of the ‘Powerboat Level 2’ courses on the Boat Club’s boats.  Dom has created evening training refresher packages which saw the members enjoying a visualisation of exactly how a lifejacket worked last night.  We dressed the members in safety kit and set it all off.  With some snacks and  beer, it was a great environment.

New year’s resolutions – New VHF DSC handheld radio kit.

It’s easy to make a ‘New Year’s Resolution’.

Something you want to do, think you ought to do, even promise to do….. something that will be good and hopefully change you (in a good way)…..   We have a ‘new year’s resolution’ to improve the training facilities that we offer each year. The best way to do that is to research it, plan it, then do it.

Yesterday we received our new Handheld ‘Icom m93 DSC’ digital training radios.  These comprised two demonstration units for the classroom and a fully functioning unit for the boats.  As technology has changed, the offering to us as leisure and commercial boaters has improved.  We wanted  to give students equipment that is for sale currently.  kit that demonstrates the best in current technology.  Kit that we believe to be the best on the market.

We’ve always used ICOM radios, because they feel great and they work well.  The technology is up to date and well researched and the customer support is unparalled.  Whether I’m chatting with ‘Virgil’ in tech support or ‘Ian’ in marketing, they both treat me like a valued customer.  Never like the random, gadget obsessed, attention deficit boater than I may appear to be.

A week ago, we ran various polls across our social media channels to find out what sort of VHF radio equipment people were using.  This enabled us to quickly see that our audiences are using Digital handheld units to compliment the fixed VHF radios on board their boats

We purchased the M93 DSC radios knowing that we would be supported by ICOM and that they would perform adequately in both Classroom and water based environments. There are a number of VHF courses taking place over the next two months.  We will be testing the units out at sea.  In a couple of weeks I hope to give a report on, hopefully, how well the M93 is fitting in.

What should I do now I’ve completed my RYA Powerboat Level 2 Course?

What next after a Powerboat Level 2 Course?

Having just had one of our busiest months for Level 2 Powerboat Courses, we felt it was time to talk about the next steps.  We sincerely hope that if you undertook the course with us that you had a great time. We hope you want to carry on your boating.  The journey will now be different for each person but the main priorities:

1. Getting afloat.  Is it practical for you to get out and start practising afloat now or within the next few weeks?
2. Stuck on Shore. Think back over your course and consider whether there are any aspects of the theory side you’d like to look at in more detail and develop further.

Getting afloat

If you have the opportunity to get afloat, it really is important to get out there and start practising.  Use a boat whilst the knowledge is fresh and the confidence high.  You passed the course, you have the ability to get out there so seize the chance.  Think back to day one of your course – what was one of the first things you talked about?   Conditions and Planning??

First of all make sure the boat you plan to use is ready. Has it been serviced, is the trailer road ready, is all the kit on board?   Have you organised all the personal kit like waterproofs and lifejackets, don’t forget navigation charts?  Have you thought about where to launch or if on a mooring whether there are limited times due to tides or locks.  Plan carefully, it will make your first trip not only safer, but also more enjoyable. 

If you need to borrow a boat look into hire possibilities – a really good start if you’re local is with our friends at Poole Boat Hire.  They are limited to the harbour but that still provides plenty of space to explore. Its an hour and a half each way to Wareham for example!  If you want to borrow further afield or hire a RIB then contact us for advice.  The bonus of hiring is there should be back up in case of breakdown. If its your own boat perhaps consider SeaStart membership. 

Check and check again:

Check local information and organise a plan for your trip. Don’t forget insurance and harbour dues if its your own boat! Why not refresh your mind with a read through of your Start Powerboating Book? Have a look at the Student Page on our website for useful resources.   If you’re a member of a sailing club or similar why not ask if you can get afloat on the safety boat?  great idea to take along an experienced helm as crew?

Plan the day:

Next think about the actual day. Who is going with you – are they trained, do they need a briefing or any equipment providing?  Consider on your first trip who is going with you.  If you’ve a friend or family member who is unsure of boating perhaps delay their attendance until a  later trip when you’ve a little more experience. Instead take along a couple of people who have boating experience or similar.  Plan just a short trip the first time – build up as your experience progresses.  

Then check the conditions, forecasts and tides. If it seems a bit ‘iffy’ listen to your instincts and delay for a nice day, however disappointing that might be.  Don’t forget to check several sources of info and interpret the information you’ve given.    Ask around for local information if needed.  Don’t forget to leave a shore side contact and set up RYA SafeTrx 

If you do decide to go out, when you hop on board double check the boat.  Remember to set SafeTrx running & think about the prestart checks and engines checks. Don’t forget your killcord and before releasing the lines just think about wind and tide as you learnt on your course.  Enjoy and stay safe!

Stuck on shore – further learning & course options

If you are unable to get afloat immediately why not have a read of your coursebook Start Powerboating and reflect on the parts of your course you’d like to develop further.  The usual next steps for study include: VHF Marine Radio Course, Navigation Training or studying books such as the Powerboat Handbook to understand and refine your practical skills.

VHF 

Don’t forget if you’re on coastal waters we advise you carry a VHF whether it’s a portable, handheld or a fixed radio set.  To operate the VHF you are required to have an ‘Authority to Operate’.  (In an emergency please just use the set!).   This qualification can be undertaken as either a one day classroom course or you can study online and then arrange a convenient time for a short assessment with us.  Initially we find some reluctance to take the radio course. However, we have yet to find a student who hasn’t enjoyed and taken away a lot from the course.  It’s underrated and our most commonly received feedback is ‘didn’t expect to enjoy this but had a great day and learnt lots!’ 

What to expect from a VHF course:

We know its tough to sit in a classroom but we do our best to make the course as relaxed and informal as possible. In order to keep you engaged we use lots of interactive learning  and have training radios to practice on.  We practice Mayday & PanPan calls along with which channels to use, how to set up the radio to be able to hear clearly and we look at the fabulous DSC functions.  If you have any questions about your own radio we have a great contact at Icom who is fab at providing answers. 

There is a short assessment at the end of the day but please don’t let this put you off attending.  We teach in small groups, are happy to provide bespoke courses and if you want to delay the assessment for another day just let us know at time of booking.  Tell us what works for you.

RYA Essential Navigation & Seamanship

When you attended your Level 2 Powerboat Course it was probably the first time you’d considered navigation and safety kit.  Within a two day course we only have time to introduce to information on passage planning and pilotage, buoys and collision regulations.  The Essential Navigation course is a fab short course that starts to develop the concepts further. It introduce a few new techniques.  It is usually taken online in your own time – there is no final ‘test’. Instead you complete exercises as you progress and on successful completion you receive an RYA Certificate. 

If you prefer, we can arrange to run these courses in the classroom over two days.   Whether its an online course or classroom course you choose, you will receive a study pack. This includes practice charts, exercises and a plotter/set of dividers like you used on your PB2 course.  It a brilliant base for those who later choose to go and study our RYA Dayskipper or Yachtmaster Theory Courses.

Summary

Don’t forget we also offer short Powerboat Refresher Sessions on the RIB or can offer bespoke training on either our boat or your own.  Just contact us to have a chat.

If after your Powerboat Level 2 (PB2) Course you decided to progress onto a different style of boat, perhaps a hard sided boat, a motorboat or small motor cruiser then think about some bespoke training or perhaps even look towards the Dayskipper Practical course if you’ve decide to creep into bigger boats.  Remember all boats handle differently and its important to be confident and safe afloat.

We hope the information here provides you with just a few ideas of how to make the most from your Powerboat Level 2 Course and progress your boating.  Please just give us a call with any questions. Whether it’s a simple reminder or you want to book further training we’re always happy to talk.  It is impossible to cover all the reminders from a two day course in just a short blog piece but hopefully this has given you a few reminders!  We love to hear your progress. Please drop us a line or join our social media channels to tell us your news.

Sarah & Dom
www.dorsetmarinetraining.co.uk
01202 901267
enquiries@dorsetmarinetraining.co.uk

Who would notice if you don’t come home? we use SafeTrx!

I thought I’d update this entry on ‘Safetrx’, the app from the RYA that allows us to be tracked, but we’re out on the water to escape right???? .  Do we forget to leave details as to where we are going and when we plan to be back? What options there are to remedy this?  Most of my leisure boating is fairly local and for a while I think I became a bit too relaxed.  I assumed everything would be ok. I neglected to tell anyone I was heading out, assuming I would always be able to look after myself.  It’s a careful balance when we’re afloat, many of us head out on our boats to avoid technology, ringing phones and other life pressures.  Part of the appeal is the ability to run away and hide where no one can find us. But where does this leave us if something were to go wrong?

The image here shows a track of our school boat one night on an exercise that took it right round the back of the islands in the harbour, great experience for the students and well within the abilities and confidence of the instructor but still very dark and maybe into black spots for radio and communications, if the boat hadn’t come back on time, we’d know where it last was and when…..

CG66 – the ‘old’ scheme

Since I started teaching RYA Powerboat Level 2 and the VHF / SRC course, I have been vocal about the importance of the Voluntary Coastguard Safety Registration Scheme known as CG66.  You were able to register you craft details along with emergency contacts and even upload a picture of your boat, canoe etc.  That way people knew what they were searching for.  This scheme had great benefits – if you were genuinely missing the coastguard knew what they were looking for.  It enabled your family to make a call to say you were overdue even with little knowledge of boating & the coastguard already had your details.  Equally if your craft was found without you on the coastguard would start by calling you. This enabled them to see if it was a boat adrift from a mooring or were people missing. 

However, yesterday we received notification that no new registrations will now be accepted on the CG66 scheme – so what next?

SafeTrx – the ‘new’ scheme

For those who already have their boats registered on CG66, the scheme should continue to operate for the next two years.  However, it makes sense to move towards their new scheme which is open to everyone.  They have teamed up with the RYA to provide a scheme that not only offers registration but also options to log passage plans etc.  Its worth having a look at this link https://www.gov.uk/government/news/hm-coastguard-adopts-rya-safetrx-as-new-safety-id-scheme to understand what is happening. 

The new scheme is the RYA SafeTrx scheme and more details can be found here – RYA SafeTrx Scheme  In addition to registering your boat information, you can also use it for individual boating trips to notify emergency contacts if you’re overdue.  There is lots of other local information too with useful phone numbers and VHF channel numbers.  It also includes safety information with advice on navigation marks and weather information.

Don’t forget….

This scheme does not replace the need for other safety kit such as VHF radio, PLBs etc!!

If you’re new to boating or this information has made you think about training then please contact us.  We will happily discuss the most appropriate options for you.  One of our most popular courses is the RYA Powerboat Level 2 course.  This course covers safety equipment and passage planning as well as practical skills.

I downloaded the app yesterday and will let you know how I get on.  Anyone else already using it? What feedback do you have?

The most common queries asked at our stand at the Poole Boat Show – Questions from new and aspiring boaters…..

Poole Boat Show Queries

Hi and thanks for visiting our blog.  In this blog we look at a few questions that were raised by our visitors at the Poole Boat Show.  We love helping people to get afloat for the first time & we aim to provide info to assist.  We had a fabulous time at the show last weekend.  There were lots of visitors to our stand and taking up our free powerboat taster trips out in the RIB. 

The show was brilliantly organised and inspired so many people to think about boating.  It lead to people considering whether boating was something they could take up.  Over the coming weeks we hope to spend more time looking at each of these topics.  Let us know what is the most pressing boating question for you.

Should I buy a boat – if I don’t buy how can I get afloat?

So the answer to this will be different for everyone.  For some the exhilaration of boat ownership leads to a sense of freedom on the seas.  For others, the costs or time implications are prohibitive.  However, that doesn’t mean you can’t get afloat.  Options include hiring or volunteering with organisations.  There are Sea Scouts Volunteers , the Maritime Volunteer Service or sailing clubs and events.  If you’re looking to buy then questions arise over: where to buy – new or ‘new to you’, private seller or broker, what to buy and how much to pay.  You then move into questions over storage and maintenance.  We’ll look at these topics over the next few blogs.

I’ve agreed to buy a boat or seen the boat I’m buying what training should I think about?

This will depend on any previous experience, your own learning style and any insurance requirements.  In the UK there is no requirement to have formal qualifications to boating.  (Although there is for the VHF radio on board – that’s for another day). However, you may find your insurance company asks for a qualification to show competence.  If you’re no previous experience afloat then training certainly seems a good idea particularly if you want friends and family to come boating with you again! 

Many of those starting boating in the UK undertake a RYA course.  This may be the Helmsman and Dayskipper for Motor Cruisers or the  RYA Powerboat Level 2 for Powerboats and RIBs.  You may prefer to undertake bespoke training focussing on the areas that particularly affect your boating.  It makes sense to undertake the training on your own boat if possible.  This way you learn the ‘quirks’ of your boat. The Instructor can also give tips and hints that are specific to your location. 

I’m thinking of hiring or not sure what boat to buy – can I undertake training?

In fact, our clients are evenly split between those who train on our boats and those on their own boats.  If you’re not sure what to buy then undertaking a course first will help focus your mind. You can consider what is important to you and you can get advice from your Instructor.  If you’re thinking of hiring then make sure you undertake a qualification that meets the requirements you’ll need . Often if you’re hiring abroad you’ll require an International Certificate of Competence.  This is a relatively easy process for most people after their RYA course but make sure the course you choose qualifies.  If in doubt contact the RYA about the International Certificate of Competence or ask a training centre like ourselves.

Where do people keep their boats round the Dorset Coast?

There are lots of options for boat storage ranging from keeping it on the land in your drive, on a trailer in a yard or on a drystack in a marina or keeping it afloat on a swing mooring or on a pontoon.

Can my youngsters be involved in training?

Absolutely -one of the best things about boating is that it’s a family friendly activity.  Make sure your training provider is comfortable with training youngsters. Get them involved at whatever level is appropriate for their age and maturity. 

Let us know which is the most pressing question for you and we’ll try to get it answered for you in the next blog post.  Thanks for reading, new to this blogging lark but hoping we can start a conversation finding out from our readers what topics they want covering and developing our own style of blog so please stick with us!