The RYA Powerboat level 2 course is broken down into three sections: Practical, theory, and coastal. See below for the complete syllabus.
Section A - Practical
Launching and recovery
Students will gain knowledge of:
- Use of a trailer or launching 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
Students will be able to:
- Prepare the boat, lines, fenders, safety equipment, fuel tanks, lines and secure gear on board.
Boat handling
Students will gain knowledge of:
- Loading: Effect on handling and performance, effect on balance and trim, CE Plate and manufacturer's recommendation
- Displacement boats: Handling ahead and astern, carrying way
Students will understand:
- Crew members: minimum number in high speed craft, keeping a look-out
- Awareness of other water users, including effect of wash
- Steering, controls, effect of current or tidal stream
- High speed manoeuvring: planing, trim tabs and power trim
- Planing boats: propeller angle and immersion, shallow drive, high/low speed handling, tiller/console steering
Students will be able to:
- Carry out pre-start checks, engine starting and stopping
- Demonstrate the use of an appropriate length kill cord 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
- Carry out high speed manoeuvres including S-turns and U-turns
Securing to a buoy
Students will understand:
- Preparation of mooring warp
- Use of boat hook
- Method of approach
- Crew communication
- Making fast
- Procedure when overshooting
Students will be able to:
- Approach and secure to buoy
Anchoring
Students will gain knowledge of:
- Types of anchor
- Stowage and attachment to boat
- Preparation of anchor, chain and warp
- Weighing anchor
Students will understand:
- Method of approach in various conditions
- Taking way off
- Crew communication
- Checking holding
- Depth of water, holding ground, scope required
Students will be able to:
- Approach and anchor correctly
- Weigh anchor correctly
Leaving and coming alongside
Students will understand:
- Preparation and use of painter, lines and fenders, attachment to boat, stowage under way
- Speed and angle of approach
- Wind effect
- Method of approach in tidal stream or current
Students will be able to:
- Make fast alongside
- Use springs
- Leave - ahead or astern
Man overboard
Students will gain knowledge of:
- Recovery of man overboard
Students will be able to:
- Take immediate action
- Observe the man overboard
- Carry out the correct return with awareness of propeller
- Approach and recover the man in the water
Section B - Theory
Students will gain knowledge of:
- Types of craft: advantages and disadvantages of different hull forms with respect to sea keeping ability
- Engines and drives: advantages and disadvantages of outboard, inboard and outdrive units, single and twin screws, choice and use of fuels
- Siting of fuel tanks, fuel lines, batteries, wiring, fire extinguishers
- Routine engine maintenance checks, basic fault diagnosis and
- Close down procedure
- Advice to inland drivers about coastal waters
- Use and limitations of GPS
- Application of local byelaws, especially around commercial shipping
- Sources of weather information
Students will understand:
- Awareness of other water users
- Communication with other craft - hand and sound signals
- Disabled craft
- Emergency action, preventing sinking
- Adrift - alternative means of propulsion
- Towing and being towed
- Fire precautions and fire fighting
- Distress signals and the mayday call
Students will be able to: Apply IRPCS (International Rules for Prevention of Collision At Sea), principally rules 5, 7, 8, 9, 12-19
Section C – Coastal
Students will gain knowledge of:
- Pilotage and passage planning
- CG66 Small Craft Safety Scheme
Students will understand:
- Charts, chart symbols, Buoyage systems
- Tides and tidal streams
Students will be able to:
- Use steering and hand-bearing compasses
- Apply section A on coastal waters
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