In line bilge blower

[Jamesrl]

OK, many thanks James. Radio license is first. I can do that down round Cardiff or Swansea. Then I'll look into the Dayskippers.

Day Skipper alone will demonstrate how little you know about going out to sea but you'll enjoy it, Yacht Master gives you a lot more to think about.

I consider myself as being fortunate as I did the last course WITHOUT GPS being involved, real navigation with only a chart, dividers and a plotter.

After two courses and a far bit of homework you have to pass the Collision Regs exam with a minimum of 80% to qualify along with the others, any less you get NOTHING. We had a bloke on our course who re-sat Regs twice and couldn't get over 79%, poor sod, two years and Nowt. 

[therecklessengineer]

Your best bet is to do an RYA or RYA approved course for your Radio license, Day Skipper and Yacht Master.

Sailing a boat is easy it's all the other things that are important, Navigation, Meteorology, seamanship, Avoidance of Collisions at Sea Regs. and instant recognition of vessel lights at night

Getting the rules wrong in international and coastal waters can be VERY expensive, the fines are in the thousands.

Taking people onboard and getting it wrong with a loss of life can lead to a prison sentence for manslaughter. YOU are responsible for their souls.

It's amazing what you DON'T know and taking a vessel out without the knowledge is a very stupid thing to do.

Get your Yacht Masters, as I have, and you can earn money moving boats for owners.

I've spent many happy hours at sea navigating for inexperienced skippers and after spending a couple of days at sea arriving with in 10mins of ETA is sooooooooooooooooooo statisfying.

So to summarise RYA or RYA approved only in my mind.

Oh Yeh, then there's the boat handling Cert if you want to sail abroad.

HTH   

+1

Another Yachtmaster here. And Advanced PB instructor. And dinghy/windsurfing instructor. The navigation for Yachtmaster is actually more involved that what's taught for merchant vessel navigation.

It usually amazes people how much there is to learn. Actually getting the boat to go where you want is quite easy in relation to everything else!

[therecklessengineer]

I consider myself as being fortunate as I did the last course WITHOUT GPS being involved, real navigation with only a chart, dividers and a plotter.

I wasn't allowed to use GPS. So much more fun without it.

[therecklessengineer]

Back on topic....

An explosion proof fan is normally of a brushless design with plastic/aluminium blades and housing to prevent sparks.

[julesandtash]

I would support Jim's recommendation for the RYA. I used to do a lot of powerboat stuff, skippering a dive RIB and teaching at an RYA centre as an RYA Advanced Poweboat Instructor.

Unfortunately that centre closed down and I now have a family, the combination of which curtailed my diving and boating.

Some of the things I came across with untrained people on their own boats and those who came on courses with some very bad habits was scary