Advanced Skipper Course

Giving you the confidence on the water

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Advanced Skipper Course Overview

The purpose of this course is to give you confidence to complete a short coastal trip by yourself (daytime only).

This is conducted in your own boat, so it is totally hands on. Applicants must be by this stage be a reasonably confident skipper and hold a VHF operator’s certificate and preferably a current first aid certificate.

What We Will Cover

Before you go our instructors will cover:

  • Planning the trip
  • Weather forecast and tide
  • Navigation
  • Course mapping on a chart plotting a course to navigate
  • The difference between true north and magnetic north bearings
  • Charts & symbols
  • Distance and bearing measurement
  • Buoys and beacons
  • Tidal diamonds and tidal streams
  • Chart depth. chart datum and tidal information from Nautical Almanac
  • Latitude and longitude
  • Introduction to cardinal, directional and lateral markers
  • The principles of operating your GPS, sounder and radar if fitted

Getting your Boat Trip ready:

  • The minimum level of equipment for the boat
  • Protective clothing and safety equipment
  • Correct stowage of equipment

Boat operation – Knowledge of:

  • Boat handling
  • Wave awareness, effect of waves, wave crossing
  • Keeping a good look out for other water users
  • Tidal flow, wind, wind against tide
  • Coming into a marina, wharf, boat ramp or coming alongside a pier or another vessel
  • Demonstrate your knowledge and understanding of your local marine area
  • Demonstrate man overboard and retrieval
  • Demonstrate boat handling skills

Steve Bone

Principle Instructor

From basic childhood dinghy experience to jet boats, runabouts and small launches. Lots of fun with offshore power boat racing. Large commercial vessel handling, including both passenger and vehicular ferries and tour boats on Lake Taupo Fullers Ferries, The Auckland Harbour Master vessels as a Maritime Officer.

Qualifications & Experience

  • Coast Guard Rescue Vessel Skipper

  • Boat Master Instructor

  • Local Launch Masters Licence

  • Inshore Launch Master Licence

  • Commercial Launch Master’s Licence

  • Rescue Vessel Skipper

  • Radar Certification

  • Certified in Fire and Emergency

Our Three Courses

Basic Boating Skills

To provide a basic practical introduction to boating on the water for those with no previous experience.

The course is conducted in your own boat. All training is done on the water.

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Intermediate Skipper

The course is taught in your own boat. Either one on one, or you and a friend of family member for the same price.

This is not a classroom course, it is a full hands-on practical training.

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Advanced Skipper

To give you confidence to complete a short coastal (daytime only). This is conducted in your own Boat, so it is totally hands on.

Applicants must be by this stage be a reasonably confident and proficient skipper.

Read More

Frequently Asked Questions

Where are the courses held?

The courses are conducted in your boat, at your preferred location.

No, you may prefer to training such as navigation, buoys and beacons in the comfort of your home.

We will apply your payment to the next available date that is suitable for you. Refunds on a case-by-case basis.

We can tailor a training to your needs, based on and hourly rate, P.O.A.

You will receive a certificate of completion for each course you attend and complete.

Yes, by all means bring another person if the training is aboard your boat

Please pay in full prior to the commencement of the course, by bank transfer or PayPal through the site.

We can offer advice & support that will enable you to confidently buy you the boat best suited to your requirements.

Practical Boating Training

Give us a call to schedule your first lesson