powerboat advanced commercially endorsed

RYA Advanced Powerboat

Become competent in driving powerboats up to 24m.

Find out About the RYA Advanced Powerboat Course / Certification

Find an Advanced Powerboat Course / Exam

The RYA Advanced Powerboat is a 2 day (and 1 night) course that builds confidence and competency in boat handling, seamanship, pilotage, and navigation in more challenging conditions (day & night). An examination is required for candidates who wish to attain an Advanced Powerboat Certificate of Competence (‘CoC’). A commercially endorsed CoC allows the individual to operate craft commercially up to 20 miles from a safe haven by day or night. It is a step-up license from the Power Boat Level II, suitable for deck crew looking to operate larger tenders, further distances with confidence and competence.

Course prerequisites / assumed knowledge.

• Competent handling to the standard of the Intermediate Powerboat Certificate
• Knowledge of navigation and chartwork to the level of Coastal Skipper
• First aid certificate (Elementary First Aid as part of STCW Basic Training meets the requirement) (a prerequisite for the exam)
• VHF SRC or higher certificate (a prerequisite for the exam)

Minimum Duration:

The course runs over a minimum of 2 days which must include at least 1-night navigation exercise.

Course Outline:

• Preparation for Sea
• Boat Handling
• Passage Making and Responsibility as Skipper
• Meteorology
• Rules of the Road
• Use of Engines
• Emergency Situations
• Night Cruising

Course Outcome:

Upon completion of this course, the student will be able to plan and execute coastal trips and return to a familiar port or superyacht by day and night.

Those who wish to obtain an Advanced Powerboat Certificate of Competency must pass the Advanced Powerboat Examination

RYA Advanced Powerboat Exam (Practical)

Prerequisites:.

Seatime required: (If the below sea time requirement is met, and the student has the required knowledge, the exam can be taken without completing the Advanced Powerboat course. Completion of the course will reduce the sea time and experience requirement. Please view information on the RYA website or contact a training provider through the links at the bottom of this page for more details)

• 30 days at sea, which may be reduced to 20 days at sea if an RYA Advanced Powerboat course completion certificate is held;
• 2 days as skipper;
• 800 miles, which may be reduced to 400 miles if an RYA Advanced Powerboat Course completion certificate is held;
• 12 night hours.

Certification / qualifications required:

• A GMDSS-compliant Marine Radio Operator's Certificate such as the RYA Short Range Certificate or higher
• Valid first aid certificate (the STCW Elementary First Aid meets these requirements for yacht crew who have completed their basic training.

Exam duration:

• 4-7 hours depending on the number of candidates. COntact an exam facilitator to find out more information.

Commercially Endorsed Advanced Powerboat Coc (Certificate of Competence)

Provided the exam is passed and the prerequisites are met, this certificate can be commercially endorsed with allowing the crew members to drive commercial vessels up to 24m in length, subject to MCA’s codes of practice, the flag under which the vessel operates as well as the region. This makes the course a viable option for the crew members who need to drive large tenders but do not hold Yachtmaster certifications.

Find an RYA Advanced Powerboat Training/ Exam Provider:

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Advanced Powerboat (‘CoC’) Commercial Exam

Duration: 1 day

Time: From 10am plus the evening

Group Size: 3 per boat

Min Age: From 18

Price: See text

• BOOK NOW & DATES
• Work Commercially
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Advanced Powerboat (‘CoC’) Commercial Exam - General

The RYA/MCA Advanced Powerboat Certificate of Competence (‘CoC’) Examination is undertaken by those wishing to operate craft commercially up to 20 miles from a safe haven by day or night.

Exam Duration

This can only be a rough guide and a whole variety of factors affect how long each examination lasts. As a guide though – 1 candidate 4 – 5 hours, 2 candidates 5 – 6 hours, 3 Candidates 6 – 7 hours

Minimum seatime required

2 years relevant experience including night pilotage. (As a guide 30 days, 2 days as skipper, 800 miles, 12 night hours). If you hold an RYA Advanced Powerboat Course Completion Certificate the seatime is reduced to: 20 days, 2 days as skipper, 400 miles, 12 night hours. Your theory knowledge should be at the level of RYA Yachtmaster Theory.

Examiner – student ratio

3 students to 1 RYA/MCA Examiner and boat.

Minimum Age

What training and preparation should I undertake before taking the examination?

This will vary from person to person but it is easy to underestimate the level that you need to be at for the Advanced Examination. The common mistake to make is to assume that because you have taken the Advanced Powerboat Course that you are at the right level. The Advanced Powerboat Course is a really good work-up to the exam and certainly most people should undertake it. However by way of example the Advanced Course may introduce you to night navigation whereas the exam requires you to demonstrate a high degree of competence at night way above the level you would have been at if the Advanced Course was your first trip out at night. In short the advanced course introduces techniques and methods whilst the exam tests that using those techniques and methods is second nature to you. This will only be the case if you have invested plenty of time practicing the methods and actually put them into practice on real passages.

Make sure that ahead of the exam that you ensure that your theory is fully up to scratch (you need to be at the level of RYA Yachtmaster Theory) and put time in ensuring your close quarter boat handling is very good in any conditions. You should be able to put a RIB into almost any marina berth the examiner chooses either bow or stern first in any conditions. Practicing the various pilotage techniques you will use day and night to ensure you are totally happy with their use is of course essential.

Overall the key thing is to ensure that you have enough experience and time afloat as you need to evidence a high degree of competence and confidence to the examiner. The examiner has to judge whether to recommend that you are capable of being responsible for 12 passengers so he/she has to be sure that you have the necessary skills.

Why choose Powerboat Training UK for your RYA Advanced Powerboat Examination?

Our boats ~ with 7.8m fully coded Ribcrafts based in both Poole and Lymington we are able to provide first class boats for you to use on the examination. Each RIB is fully equipped with all relevant safety equipment and are fitted with Icom and Garmin electronics.

Our location and teaching facilities ~ Poole Harbour is a truly amazing location – so much so that the RNLI and the Royal Marines base their training operations here.

Likewise our base in Lymington at Aquasafe Powerboat School is at Lymington Yacht Haven which like Cobbs Quay is a large marina with a huge range of craft. Our classrooms are well resourced, clean and professional.

Both locations provide a first class venue for an examination and except in extreme conditions exams are rarely weather affected.

What is included in the examination fee and what else do I pay? The examination fee is set by the RYA each year and is available in our price list. It is payable to the RYA through the examiner on the day either by credit card or cheque.

You will also need to either provide your own boat or charter one of our RIBs.

If you charter on of our RIBs then this is at the rates detailed in our Course Prices – here

If you want to use your own craft you will need to provide a seaworthy vessel equipped with the following:

• Lights conforming with IRPCS
• VHF radio (may be portable)
• GPS (may be hand held) or Plotter
• Depth Sounder
• Anchor, Chain and Warp
• Basic tool kit and spares
• Heaving line
• Paddles or additional means of propulsion
• Flares – 2 hand held, 2 orange smoke
• Bilge pump or buckets / bailer
• First Aid Kit

Additionally if not on the boat you will need to bring to the exam:

• Laminated or waterproof charts
• A GPS set (may be hand held)
• Tide tables
• Pilotage information for the local area, eg pilot books, port information etc
• Plotting instruments

You must wear a 150 or 275 Newton lifejacket with a DoT(UK) approved lifejacket light.

Advanced Powerboat (‘CoC’) Commercial Exam - Syllabus

Syllabus for the Advanced Powerboat Certificate of Competence Examination

Preparation for Sea

• Preparation of vessel
• Safety brief
• Stowing and securing gear for coastal passages
• Engine operations and routine checks, fuel systems, kill cord
• Fuel system, bleeding, changing filters and impellors

Boat handling

• Hull forms and their handling characteristics, propeller configurations.
• Knowledge of action to be taken in rough weather
• Significance of tidal stream on sea conditions
• Steering and power control through waves
• Understanding and correct use of power trim and tabs
• Towing, under open sea conditions and in confined areas
• Strategy up and downwind and in heavy weather

Awareness of the effects of wind and tide when manoeuvring, including

• Steering to transits and in buoyed channels
• Turning in a confined space
• All berthing and un-berthing
• Picking up and leaving a mooring buoy
• Recovery of man overboard
• Awareness of ground speed and ability to hold the boat on station

Responsibilities of skipper

• Can skipper the vessel with effective crew communication
• Preparing the vessel for sea and for adverse weather
• Tactics for heavy weather and restricted visibility
• Emergency and distress situations
• Customs procedures
• Courtesy to other water users

Passage making and Pilotage Your chart work and theory knowledge should include:

• Charts, navigational publications and sources of navigational information
• Chart work, including position fixing and shaping course to allow for tide
• Tidal heights and depths
• Buoyage and visual aids to navigation
• Instruments, including compasses, logs, echo sounders, radio navaids and chartwork instruments
• Passage planning and navigational tactics
• Importance of pre-planning High speed navigation, pre-planning and execution
• Use of electronic navigation (GPS & Radar)
• Pilotage techniques and plans for entry into or departure from harbour
• Use of leading and clearing lines, transits and soundings as aids to pilotage.
• Navigational records
• Limits of navigational accuracy and margins of safety
• Lee shore dangers

You should be able to enter and depart from a charted port by day or night. Your Examiner will give you a pilotage exercise and ask you to explain your planning. You will need to be aware of the problems of collision avoidance and how to determine your position by night.

Meteorology You should be able to use weather and tidal information to predict likely sea conditions and make passage planning decisions.

• Definition of terms including the Beaufort Scale, and their significance to small craft.
• Sources of weather forecasts
• Weather systems and local weather effects
• Interpretation of weather forecasts, barometric trends and visible phenomena
• Ability to make passage planning decisions based on forecast information

Rules of the Road

Application of the International Regulations for Preventing Collisions at Sea. You should have a working knowledge of IRPCS as well as an understanding of their application.

Candidates will be expected to know what safety equipment should be carried on board the vessel, based either on the recommendations in RYA booklet C8, or the Codes of Practice for the Safety of Small Commercial Vessels. In particular, candidates must know the responsibilities of a skipper in relation to:

• Fire prevention and fighting
• Safety briefs
• Hull damage/watertight integrity
• Medical emergency
• Towing and being towed
• VHF emergency procedures
• Explanation of helicopter rescue procedures
• Use of flares
• Man overboard
• Search patterns
• Lifejackets
• Awareness of risks to passengers and crew through shock and vibration caused by operating at speed
• Awareness of strategies to mitigate risk of injury caused by shock and vibration Candidates should be familiar with all the equipment on board the vessel, as they may be asked to use this during the examination.

Candidates should be familiar with all the equipment on board the vessel, as they may be asked to use this during the examination.

Advanced Powerboat (‘CoC’) Commercial Exam - Enquire

Thank you for your interest in this examination!

Due to the entry requirements for the examination we always ask that we have a chat through the exam and your experience before we go ahead and agree dates with you and book you onto the examination. Obviously for most of the people that we book onto exams we are doing so alongside arranging other courses for them such as Yachtmaster Theory and the Advanced Powerboat Course.

Please either give us a call or fill in the form below and we will make contact with you. Alternatively you can email us at [email protected]

Get in touch

Where to find us...

Powerboat Training UK Ltd, The Slipway, Cobbs Quay Marina, Poole, Dorset, BH15 4EL

T: 01202 686666 E: [email protected]

Aquasafe Powerboat School, Lymington Yacht Haven, Kings Saltern Road, Lymington, Hampshire SO41 3QD

T: 01590 678809 E: [email protected]

Marine Education, Port of Poole Marina, Poole, Dorset BH15 1HJ

T: 01202 406066 E: [email protected]

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Register your interest in this course

At the moment it is not possible to book places on this particular course as we have marked it as full. However it may be that we are able to add additional people to this course or to add you to a reserve list in case someone already booked cannot attend. If this date is of particular interest to you please complete the form below and we will contact you to see what we can do to accommodate you.

Request a last minute space

At the moment it is not possible to book places on this particular course as we have marked it as closed due to it being very close to the course running. However it may be that we are able to add you to this course or to add you to a reserve list in case someone already booked cannot attend. If this is is of interest to you please complete the form below and we will contact you to see what we can do to accommodate you.

What we offer from the RYA

RYA Powerboat Courses

We offer a comprehensive range of RYA powerboat courses in our commercially coded 6-metre rib. The range includes Power Boat level 1, Power Boat Level 2, Intermediate, Advance Power Boat and Tender Operator, as well as the Advanced Certificate of Competence Exam. All based from our Lowestoft training centre at Royal Norfolk & Suffolk Yacht Club.

RYA Online Courses non-RYA Online Courses

We offer the RYA interactive courses for VHF Marine Radio, PPR, and Safe and Fun. We have partnered with Navathome to offer the RYA Dayskipper, Yachtmaster offshore and Yachtmaster Ocean theory courses via their online delivery system.

RYA Shorebased Courses

We offer a range of RYA Shorebase navigation courses up to Yachtmaster level. We also offer VHF and bespoke radar & electronic navigation programmes. All these courses can be taken at either our base in Foxes Marina Ipswich or our Lowestoft training centre at Royal Norfolk & Suffolk Yacht Club. 

We are an established training company offering a range of RYA and Maritime training courses for the leisure and commercial users in the UK and Europe. Under the leadership of the owner and principal Ian Patience, and our Powerboat Chief Instructor Sarah Davies we have a dedicated team of instructors to teach all our Powerboat, Shore Based and Own Boat courses.

We operate out of our training centre in Lowestoft at the Royal Norfolk & Suffolk Yacht Club.

We take the upmost pride in providing a professional and personal service to our clients as well as supporting our suppliers who enable us to deliver what we do. The team’s passion and ethos is to find ways to make boating accessible and fun for all, regardless of experience levels.

We ensure that our instructors are teaching ‘Best Practice’ and we have a process whereby we constantly review their sessions to ensure that you get the most productive experience from your time with us. All our instructors teach because they love boating and we work with them to constantly ‘upskill’ their qualifications and experience.

We are also very proud to work with the RYA providing our boats and instructors for their Continuing Professional Development days and events.

Why Choose Us

When you undertake your course with us the price is all-inclusive, no hidden extras.

Remember in life you pretty much get what you pay for. We don’t pretend to be the cheapest, but the course will be on well-maintained first-rate craft and run by instructors guaranteed to teach current best practice. We have excellent facilities in the marinas offering a great all-round experience.

Our approach follows a few simple steps to achieve this:

• Understanding our client’s requirement
• Matching them up with the correct course and solution
• Deliver the Courses ensuring we meet with their expectations
• Support our clients going forward with advice and help when required

What makes us different is that we invest our time to ensure our clients get the best possible service, should it be on our Power Boat or in the classroom.

We firmly believe that one of the things we are most proud of as a company is our ability to combine a friendly and professional approach to our business with the ability to serve such a diverse range of clients.

This is feedback from one course in 2020 “Craig and I have just completed our Day Skipper and Competent Crew courses with Ian on Clearlake, on the River Orwell, Ipswich. Fabulous five days. We were complete beginners, keen to learn a new skill and we couldn’t have chosen better teacher. Ian looked after us like royalty on their beautiful boat, he was patient and skilled at showing us the ropes (or halyards & sheets, lol). Ian is a natural yachtmaster with a wealth of experience and knowledge and absolutely loves his sailing, it was an honour to be taught by him. Highly recommend this company.”

Ian Patience

Owner and training principal.

Ian is a highly dynamic individual who has a passion to pass on his skills and knowledge. Ian has a hands-on approach, excellent organisational and management skills, and a very clear understanding of the teaching and coaching process. His priorities when working are safety and ensuring his clients have an enjoyable time while learning. Returning happy clients have been key to Ian’s success. Ian is part of the RYA Eastern Regional Coaching Team delivering training to instructors and coaches. He has sailed over 80,000 miles in Europe, the Caribbean and the Far East. He has skippered yachts and powerboats up to 86ft ranging from cruising and racing yachts to luxury power boats. He has competed at World Championships in dinghies. In 2019 over an 8 week period he sailed round the UK with clients on board helping raise over £10,000 for Macmillian Cancer Support. What does Ian do in his spare time? When not at sea he can be seen enjoying long walks with his second love Bella his Labrador or racing his third love a 1923 traditional Norfolk Broads gaff rigged cruising yacht. And when winter comes he has recently reestablished his love of skiing.

Sarah Davies

Chief instructor and centre manager.

Sarah is an experienced instructor and centre manager having run and worked in a range of centres. She teaches and coaches in a relaxed, friendly and professional manner, understanding the varied requirements of clients at S&PBT. She is passionate about the importance of excellent seamanship skills, developed from her wide background in boating and she particularly enjoys enabling students to succeed. Sarah is a commercially endorsed RYA Advanced Powerboat Instructor, as well as a shorebased Navigation Instructor and Senior Dinghy Instructor and holds her Yachtmaster (Offshore) qualification, with many thousands of miles sailed. From small rowing dinghies on the Norfolk Broads to Warships and pretty much everything in between, she has been involved with boating all her life. She was the National Schools’ (girls!) dinghy champion and has competed at international level in keelboats. A keen offshore sailor with a forces background, she has sailed with and skippered a multitude of adventurous sail training expeditions around Europe. She raced in the RN and Army Dinghy and Offshore Racing Teams and was part of Tracy Edwards’ crew aboard ‘Maiden’ in their ground-breaking all female entry into the 1989/90 Whitbread Round the World Yacht Race. With service in the RN and as a trained cartographer, she has experience of ship and ocean navigation and, working alongside the UKHO, the promulgation of Navigation Warnings When not teaching she enjoys racing and cruising her classic dinghy and small yacht. She also supports locally run charitable projects that enable and support young people to get afloat and to benefit from the challenges and opportunities boating can offer. She also gets involved in a variety of other outdoor activities in hot pursuit of her family.

Simon Davies

Chief commercial instructor.

Simon is responsible for our commercial clients. He has a broad background in teaching and coaching and is a commercially endorsed Yachtmaster Offshore, Advanced PB and Safety Boat Instructor, and a Dinghy Senior Instructor. Simon is also a RYA VHF SRC Assessor and Navigation instructor. His focus is on delivering training in a manner that allows students to develop through experience, recognising that people learn in different ways. He is empathetic and places a strong focus on safe practice. Simon has been boating for around 40 years and has a broad range of experience from being the Principle of a large RYA centre in Europe with 14 yachts and 5 PBs delivering all aspects of the RYA scheme, to racing dinghies and most things in between. He has sailed extensively in the UK East and South coasts, North Sea and Baltic, and has crossed the Atlantic and Bay of Biscay. He has experience of many yacht and motorboats from 76’ downwards. He is a keen recreational sailor and power boater and owns a small yacht cruiser and powerboat with his wife. He also supports charitable events and junior sailing as a volunteer. Simon spent most of his career in the Armed Forces and latterly worked in an international educational IT company before leaving to focus on teaching sailing and power boating full time

Nick Noot-Davies

Senior instructor.

I started boating in 2005 at an outdoor activity centre on the Blackwater Estuary in Tollesbury. I did my RYA dinghy sailing level 2 then decided sailing wasnt for me. It was when they first asked me to crew the safety boats (a Humber RIB, a Porter RIB and a ‘Jaffa’) that my love for powered craft developed. Since I started powerboating I have worked hard to consolidate my experience into qualifications. I am currently an RYA Advanced Commercial Power Boat Instructor (APBI) with Safety Boat certificate , an RYA PWC Instructor and an RYA Shorebased Instructor (VHF SRC, Diesel Engine and Navigation) this allows me to teach PB1 and 2, Safety Boat, Intermediate Powerboat, Advanced Powerboat, Personal Watercraft (Jetski) and VHF SRC courses aswell as the Diesel Engine Maintenance course and the Navigation courses. I have my Advanced Powerboat certitifcate and my Advanced Power Boat CoC qualification with Commercial endorsement and also work commercially for boat trips, safety cover, refresher courses etc from time to time. I am the Assistant Bosun at Nottinghamshire County Sailing Club and ensure their 9 Powerboats are kept in safe running order, performing tube and hull repairs and engine servicing. When I am not on the water I run a website design agency, work as a cloud engineer, as well as spending time with my young family.

Tim Miles-Hayler

Bio coming soon

Operating Areas

Powerboat & theory courses - royal norfolk & suffolk yacht club the mostly eastly rya training centre in the uk.

Based on the North Sea coast at Lowestoft, we have access to 120 miles of navigable inland waterways and the North Sea, this enables us to provide a rich and wide variety of boating areas for all levels of training.

Our training centre is in a perfect position to see the comings and goings of a commercial port. Clients can experience port control lights and the use of the VHF radio.

No matter what the weather may throw at us we have the added benefit if we cannot get out to sea to move in to the dock areas. Our clients spend as much time looking at the various crafts as they do driving the boat. While clients are in the classroom they get to see the large ships leaving and entering the port.

Our centre is located 5 min walk from the train station and easy access from main roads.

Our Powerboat (RIB)

Rebel – Humber Destroyer 6 meter Rib – Designed to exceed expectation the Destroyer series promises you an effortless dry ride due to the performance deep ‘V’ hull design but with safety and comfort in mind.

No matter what the job at hand the Destroyer series will come through any task with flying colours. The most amazing characteristics of these superb looking craft are their ability to ‘grip’ the water enabling sharp responsive high speed turns. Any short attempt to become airborne ends with a soft landing as the perfectly formed deep ‘V’ irons out the shock of re-entry.

Driving our rib brings a smile to everyones face.

Length 6.0 m Beam 2.28 M Draft 1 m Built 2008 Cruising Speed 25kt 2019 115 HP Mercury outboard engine MCA Coded Vessel Cert No R20MV0060002 Coded for 4 but seating for 6

Navigation equipment Garmin Chart Plotter 2019 Icom Radio Fixed 2018 Icom Handheld Radio 2020

Our Classroom

Our Training Room At Royal Norfolk & Suffolk Yacht Club –

The recently refurbished facility comfortably accommodates 6 clients attending our theory courses.

Most important is an endless supply of good quality coffee, tea and hot chocolate with yummy biscuits.

"Navigating your way to Success"

Our Training Centre:

Royal Norfolk & Suffolk Yacht Club The Royal Plain, Lowestoft Suffolk, NR33 0AQ

Speak to us:

01493 253004 - training centre, 07775 581912 - course admin.

For Powerboat or Shore based course enquiries please email our Chief Instructor:

[email protected]

For non course enquiries please email our owner and training principal

[email protected]

Registered address: The Old Chapel, Marsh Road, Upton, Norfolk NR13 6BS Company Registered Number 09520284

© 2021 Sail and Powerboat Training ltd

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RYA Commercial Endorsements

If you are looking to work on small commercial vessels then you must commercially endorse your RYA qualification. There are two qualifications that you can commercially endorse, RYA powerboat level 2 & RYA advanced powerboat (with exam).

- rya powerboat level 2.

When commercially endorsed the powerboat level 2 will allow you to work on small commercial vessels under 10 metres in length and no more than 3 miles from shore during daylight hours. 

- RYA ADVANCED POWERBOAT CERTIFICATE OF COMPETENCE (EXAM)

When commercially endorsed the advanced powerboat will allow you to work on small commercial vessels under 24 metres in length and no more than 20 miles from shore both during day and night. 

As well as your RYA Powerboat Level 2 or Advanced Powerboat Qualification, you will need to complete the following courses:

- professional practice and responsibilities (ppr).

A compulsory online course for RYA Commercial Endorsement holders. No matter what your role on the water, we all have a duty of care to crew, passengers, and other water users, and you will be held to account if things go wrong.

- RYA SHORT RANGE RADIO (SRC/VHF) COURSES

When using radios on the water the RYA SRC/VHF radio course will teach you everything you need to know about protocol and how to use the the radios. This specialist course is run over 1 day and includes an exam at the end which you can book directly with the RYA (just follow the instructions sent to you when booking the course). Using specifically adapted radios in the classroom environment gives the perfect start to understanding how the radios work and can be used.

- RYA/MCA SEA SURVIVAL COURSES

This 1-day Sea Survival Course will prepare students for all eventualities at sea and is vital for yachtsman, crews, skippers and power boaters of all types. This training course concentrates on sea survival for professional crews, commercial operators and offshore race crews. The RYA Sea Survival Course covers essential survival techniques including what to do if the worst happens and you have to abandon your boat or ship. RYA/MCA Sea Survival is also day 1 of the 2 day ISAF Offshore Safety Crew Course, which is required for crews racing offshore in ISAF races.

- RYA/MCA FIRST AID COURSES

The courses cover areas including drowning, cold water shock, sea sickness, dehydration and hypothermia. They are only one-day courses but could save yours or a crew members life. These courses are aimed at anyone who gets afloat, whether on inland waters, rivers, estuaries or on cross channel passages. Immediate action in an emergency at sea can save lives.

THE POWERBOATING, VHF, SEA SURVIVAL AND FIRST AID COURSES CAN BE BOOKED ON THE CALENDAR BELOW

How do I apply for my commercial endorsement?

The following items must be sent to RYA Certification, RYA House, Ensign Way, Hamble, Hampshire SO31 4YA:

• Your Original Powerboat level 2/ Advanced Certificate. 
• Your Professional Practices and Responsibilities certificate
• Your completed commercial endorsement application form   
• Your original, completed ML5 or ENG1  medical fitness form .  
• A copy of your RYA Basic Sea Survival certificate or STCW Personal Survival Techniques
• A copy of your RYA Marine Radio SRC Certificate or other acceptable GMDSS Marine Radio Operator's Certificate.
• A passport sized photo with your name on the back
• The application fee (£35)

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What is a commercial endorsement?

It is an endorsement printed on your RYA certificate of competence to show that you have undergone additional training and a medical fitness test, enabling you to work on commercial vessels. There are two types of commercial endorsement:

The standard commercial endorsement allows you work on board British flagged vessels subject to the MCA’s codes of practice for small commercial vessels. The following wording would appear on your certificate:

• For Yachtmaster Offshore and Yachtmaster Ocean Certificates of Competence: This certificate is valid for use as a Master of yachts of up to 200gt on commercially and privately registered yachts until (date of expiry).
• For Powerboat Level 2, Powerboat Advanced, Day Skipper and Yachtmaster Coastal Certificates of Competence: Valid for vessels of up to 24 metres in length used for commercial purposes subject to the codes of practice issued by the MCA until (date of expiry).

The STCW endorsement is for holders of the RYA Yachtmaster Offshore and Ocean Certificates of Competence working under non-UK maritime authorities. It requires you to take 4 additional courses:

• Personal Survival techniques (STCW A-V1/1-1)
• Personal Safety and Social Responsibilities (STCW A-V1/1-4)
• Elementary first aid (STCW A-V1/1-3)
• Fire fighting and fire prevention (STCW A-V1/1-2)

The following wording would appear on your certificate: The certificate holder has completed training under the STCW code A- VI/1 Para 2.1. This certificate is valid for use as Master of yachts of up to 200gt on commercially and privately registered yachts until:(date of expiry).

Which certificates can be commercially endorsed?

The following certificates can receive the standard commercial endorsement:

I) Course completion certificate:

• RYA National Powerboat Certificate – Level 2
• RYA National Powerboat Certificate – Advanced (only if issued before January 1, 2005)
• RYA Day Skipper (tidal) practical course completion certificate.
• RYA Day Skipper (non-tidal) practical course completion certificate, only if supported by a Day Skipper shorebased course completion certificate.

II) Certificate of competence (exam passed):

• RYA Advanced Powerboat Certificate of Competence
• RYA Yachtmaster Coastal Certificate of Competence
• RYA Yachtmaster Offshore Certificate of Competence
• RYA Yachtmaster Ocean Certificate of Competence

In addition, the RYA Yachtmaster Offshore and Yachtmaster Ocean Certificates of Competence can receive the STCW endorsement.

Which certificate do I need?

The MCA’s codes of practice categorise British flagged commercial yachts according to the type of yacht and the waters in which they operate. It is this categorisation that determines which of the above certificates you will need. See the MCA’s table of manning requirements below.

The RYA is a certifying authority for the codes of practice and can give advice on the coding and categorisation of commercial yachts. See the requirements for commercial boats link below.

How do I apply for a standard commercial endorsement?

Send the following items to RYA Certification, RYA House, Ensign Way, Hamble, Hampshire SO31 4YA:

• Your original certificate – see list above
• Your Professional Practices and Responsibilites certificate – more information
• A commercial endorsement application form – see link on the right
• An ML5 or ENG1 medical fitness certificate – download the MCA’s ML5 form from the link on the right. Skippers working in category 1 or 0 waters will need the ENG1 medical. Contact the MCA for a list of approved doctors.
• A copy of your RYA Basic Sea Survival certificate or STCW Personal Survival Techniques
• A passport sized photo with your name on the back

*From April 2012 applicants for the commercial endorsement will also have to complete an online course and assessment, as detailed in the ‘What is a commercial endorsement?’ section above.

How do I apply for a STCW endorsement?

• Your original RYA Yachtmaster Offshore or Yachtmaster Ocean certificate of competence
• A commercial endorsement application form – see link below
• Evidence of completion of STCW courses – see list above

Revalidating your commercial endorsement

All commercial endorsements must be revalidated every five years by proving at least 150 days of actual sea service on appropriate vessels during the previous five years, and be in possession of a valid medical fitness certificate.

If you are unable to prove the requisite sea service but are able to demonstrate that during at least half of the five year period you have been employed on duties closely associated with the management and operation of one or more of the appropriate types of vessels, you may have your certificate considered for revalidation.

*April 2012 onwards applicants for the commercial endorsement also have to complete an online PPR course and assessment, as detailed here .

Once you have taken your first PPR course, at subsequent renewals of your commercial endorsement you will need to take a reduced version of the course and a short test to make sure you are still up to speed with the subject.

Note: If you are over 65 and subject to more regular medical fitness examinations, you do not need to take the PPR course each time you renew your medical. You will simply need to take it when your commerical endorsment is due for renewal (normally every five years).

Contact details

• Certificates of Competence

RYA Advanced Powerboat Exam

Full details of the exam syllabus and requirements are shown in the RYA's Powerboat Logbook (code G20) available from the webshop.

Boats used for exams

You may use your own boat or a boat that you have chartered or borrowed. You will be responsible for ensuring the boat is seaworthy and suitable for the area in which the exam takes place and equipped as shown below.

The vessel must be capable of a minimum of 12 knots, equipped with the following:

• lights conforming with IRPCS
• VHF radio (may be portable)
• GPS (may be hand held) or plotter
• depth sounder
• anchor, chain and warp
• basic tool kit and spares
• heaving line
• paddles or additional means of propulsion
• flares: 2 hand held, 2 orange smoke
• bilge pump or buckets/bailer
• first aid kit

Additionally if not on the boat, you will need to bring to the exam:

• laminated or waterproof charts
• GPS set (may be hand held)
• tide tables
• pilotage information for the local area, eg pilot books, port information etc
• plotting instruments.
• Photographic ID card or document, such as a passport or driving licence

Advanced Powerboat exam pre-requisites

Before you book your exam please check that you:

• can provide a boat
• have completed the required mileage and experience as skipper
• hold a VHF Radio Operators License or Short Range Certificate
• hold a valid first aid certificate
• have read the syllabus in RYA publication G20
• have read and comply with the pre-requisites above.

Candidates should be familiar with all the equipment on board the vessel, as they may be asked to use this during the examination.

If you need your Certificate of Competence in order to work on board a commercial craft subject the MCA's codes of practice, you will need to get it commercially endorsed .

Useful links

Arranging your exam, commercial endorsements, exam payments service, mca manning requirements, professional qualifications.

RYA/MCA Commercial

RYA powerboat courses are primarily for those using small powered craft such as RIBs, dories and sportsboats that don’t generally undertake long or offshore passages.

The types of commercial craft requiring this level of certification are typically: charter fishing boats, small passenger launches, thrill ride operators, harbour patrol launches, construction site safety boats etc.

If you will be using larger boats with accommodation and the capacity to cruise or work further offshore you are likely to need a certificate within the motor cruising programme such as Day Skipper, Coastal Skipper or Yachtmaster Offshore.

There are two types of Advanced certificate:

a) a course completion certificate awarded by a training centre on successful completion of a two-day training course

b) a certificate of competence awarded by the RYA/MCA on successful completion of an exam

If you need a Powerboat Advanced certificate in order to work on board a commercial craft subject to the MCA’s codes of practice, you will need to get it commercially endorsed. You can then work on commercial vessels up to 24m in length, operating in category 3, 4, 5 and 6 waters – that is up to 20 miles from a safe haven.

Please note: it is only possible to commercially endorse an RYA/MCA Powerboat Advanced Certificate of Competence (option b above). The only exception to this is if you were awarded a course completion certificate (option a above) prior to 1 January 2005, in which case you may obtain a commercial endorsement without having to pass the exam.

RYA Commercial:

A commercial endorsement is required for work on board British flagged vessels subject to the MCA's codes of practice for small commerical vessels.  A number of additional training courses and medical fitness certificates are required to be eligible for a commercial endorsement.

The following certificates can receive the standard commercial endorsement:

Course Completion Certificate

RYA National Powerboat Certificate - Level 2

RYA National Powerboat Certificate - Advanced (only if issued before January 1, 2005)

RYA Day Skipper (tidal) practical course

RYA Day Skipper (non-tidal) practical course completion certificate, only if supported by a Day Skipper shorebased course completion certificate

Certificate of competence (exam passed):

RYA Advanced Powerboat Certificate of Competence

RYA Yachtmaster Coastal Certificate of Competence

RYA Yachtmaster Offshore Certificate of Competence

RYA Yachtmaster Ocean Certificate of Competence

*  In addition, the RYA Yachtmaster Offshore and Yachtmaster Ocean Certificates of Competence can receive the STCW endorsement.

SEAWAKE Powerboat Training - Commercial Certificate of Competence

Commercial certificate of competence (coc) £595.

The commercially endorsed Certificate of Competence (COC) is an RYA issued qualification for those wishing to operate crafts commercially up to 3 miles from land during the day for commercially endorsed PB2 and up to 20 miles from land by day or night for commercially endorsed RYA Powerboat Advanced.

A Commercial Certificate of Competence can be attached to RYA powerboat qualifications, including the RYA Powerboat Level 2 and the RYA Advanced Powerboat certificates.

Required previous experience/qualifications

Rya powerboat level 2 commercial endorsement, rya advanced powerboat commercial endorsement.

We offer a pre-exam refresher day if required for those wanting to take the COC, this is priced at £315.

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RYA Powerboat Advanced

The RYA Powerboat Advanced course includes GPS navigation, improved boat handling skills, high-speed navigation, night navigation, rough weather handling and sector searches, as well as a refresher on all other aspects of powerboating learnt on previous RYA powerboat qualification courses.

On completion of this course you can sit the RYA MCA Advanced Powerboat exam (certificate of competence). If you wish to gain work within the marine industry, like skippering commercial vessels, your RYA Advanced Powerboat Certificate of Competence can be commercially endorsed #.

Book RYA Powerboat Advanced at £349 each with DD Marine Training today!

To book a course with DD Marine Training just give us a call to find out the most suitable dates available for you.

Simply call our training office on  02392 465638  or  07764 784614  for phone bookings or email us at  [email protected]

What you will learn

RYA Powerboat Advanced is perfect for anyone who wants to develop skills to a level where they can confidently deal with adverse conditions day and night. £349

Frequent questions

Find out the answers to all those questions you might have about any RYA Powerboat course so you can get the most out of your DD Marine Training course. Click here

Course details

Download our PDF fact sheet that gives details of all DD Marine training courses, training location, joining instructions, refreshments and course timings. Click here

Other courses

DD Marine Training offers many other RYA Approved Powerboat courses, engine skills and maintenance courses, VHF radio and first aid courses.  More courses

Our fully equipped classroom and on the water training helps ensure you get an RYA approved training qualification.

The RYA Powerboat Advanced course covers a broad range of subjects aimed at developing your skills and confidence as a skipper. This includes techniques for planning, day and night navigation and pilotage into various harbours. You will revise different man over board recovery techniques and review hypothermia and cold water shock. You will learn how to create and carry out a variety of search patterns and there will be advanced powerboat handling practice in a range of wind and tide conditions, plus we will endeavour to find suitable waves to learn how to handle the boat safely in rougher seas. You will also revise collision regulations and meteorology at sea.

RYA Powerboat Advanced course £349 per person:

• Maximum per course: 3 people
• Course duration: 2 days
• Minimum age: 16 years old (accompanied by an adult)
• Course location: Unit 9 Sparkes Marina, Wittering Road, Hayling Island, Hampshire PO11 9SR

Experienced required:

• RYA Powerboat Level 2
• RYA Powerboat Intermediate
• Coastal Skipper / RYA Yachtmaster theory
• RYA First Aid Certificate
• VHF Radio Certificate – RYA SRC

What the course Includes:

• Vessel fuel costs
• Use of waterproofs and lifejacket
• RYA certificate
• Expert tuition
• Free parking

RYA Powerboat Advanced course content:

During this course you will have the opportunity to develop your safety and boat handling to a standard required where you are able to deal with long passages in rougher weather by day and night and, where certified, have the skills to handle commercial vessels (# see below):

• Safety briefing and preparation of vessel
• Boat handling in rough conditions
• Stowing and securing gear for coastal passages
• Engine operations and routine checks
• Fuel system bleeding and changing filters
• Impellors and propeller configurations
• Hull forms and their handling characteristics
• Knowledge of action to take in rough weather
• Significance of tidal stream on sea conditions
• Steering and power control through waves
• Understanding and correct use of power trim and tabs
• Towing under open sea conditions and in confined areas
• Strategy upwind and downwind and in heavy weather
• Awareness of the effects of wind and tide when manoeuvring
• Steering to transits and in buoyed channels
• Turning in a confined space
• Berthing and un­berthing techniques
• Picking up and leaving a mooring buoy
• Anchoring and recovery of man over board
• Awareness of ground speed and ability to hold a boat on station
• Skippering a vessel and effective crew communication
• Preparation for sea and for adverse weather
• Tactics for heavy weather and restricted visibility
• Emergency and distress situations
• Customs procedures
• Courtesy to other water users
• Pilotage and passage making
• Charts, navigational publications and navigational information
• Chart work, position fixing and shaping course to allow for tide
• Tidal heights and depths
• Buoyage and visual aids to navigation Instruments
• Compass, logs, echo sounders, radio nav aids, chartwork instruments
• Passage planning and navigational tactics
• Importance of route pre­planning
• High speed navigation, pre­planning and execution
• Use of electronic navigation (GPS and radar)
• Pilotage techniques and plans for entry or departure from harbour
• Leading and clearing lines, transits and soundings as aids to pilotage
• Limits of navigational accuracy and margins of safety
• Keeping navigational records
• Lee shore dangers
• Advanced meteorology
• Application of IRPCS
• Safety on board
• Skipper responsibilities

Buy the RYA Powerboat Advanced handbook at the RYA shop click here

# RYA commercially endorsed qualifications open the door to a marine career. For information about holding a commercial endorsement on your RYA certification, including medical fitness and the commercial endorsement application form, visit the  RYA website .

Advanced powerboat exam candidates wishing to gain this MCA RYA qualification should be experienced power boaters and this would include:

• 2 years and 30 days at sea
• 2 days as a skipper
• 800 miles and 12 night hours

If students already hold an RYA Advanced Powerboat Course Completion Certificate then sea time is reduced to:

• 20 days at sea
• 2 days as a skipper
• 400 miles and 12 night hours

Your theory knowledge should be to a Coastal Skipper level or above. All exam candidates will also require:

• A passport photo
• A copy of your VHF / SRC operator’s license
• A copy of your valid first aid certificate

Students wishing to commercial endorse their certificate will also require:

• A copy of your Sea Survival certificate
• A completed ML5 medical report
• Adding the commercial endorsement will cost an extra £32 payable to the RYA

Aims to teach boat handling, seamanship, pilotage and navigation up to the standards required to drive a planing powerboat safely by day and night in tidal coastal waters, with which the candidate may be familiar, in more demanding conditions. Given the nature of these passages Advanced Powerboat courses should be delivered on powerboats of a minimum of 6 metres and an engine size sufficient to enable coastal passages at planing speed.

Candidates should be competent to the level of the Intermediate Powerboat Certificate with a knowledge of the navigation and chartwork to the level of Coastal Skipper & Yachtmaster Offshore Shorebased certificate.

It is strongly recommended that candidates hold a first aid certificate and a VHF operators certificate.

2 days including at least 1 night navigation exercise

Preparation for sea, boat handling, passage making and responsibility as skipper, pilotage, meteorology, rules of the road, use of engines, emergency situations, night cruising

Able to plan and execute coastal trips and return to a familiar port by night

The course predominantly takes place afloat however some elements, specifically navigation, are classroom based.

RYA Powerboat Scheme Syllabus and Logbook

RYA Powerboat Handbook

£18.49

RYA Navigation Handbook 2nd Edition

£19.99