Power Yacht Training – Boat Master
Boat Master training at Asian Yachting Academy introduces power boat knowledge and practical handling. Review the entry requirements and course information below, then explore the syllabus to understand what you will practise during training.
Prepare for Boat Master training
First, check the minimum age and training arrangements. Then make a note of your experience on the water and any questions about engines, equipment or boat handling. This helps the academy advise you before you book.
Explore the ISSA training pathway for background, and review our training materials. Finally, contact Asian Yachting Academy to confirm the next Boat Master dates, fees and documents required for registration.
Experience required prior training: None
Minimum age required: 16 years old
Equipment requirements: Power boat up to 12 m long, able to plane
Suggested number of training hours: 25 hours (including 6 h practice)
Who can run the training: ISSA Instructor
Who can do the examination: ISSA Instructor
How to submit the application: To authorised ISSA school only
Qualifications obtained after the course: Skipper power boats:
– up to 12 m long (with inboard or outboard engine)
– day time
– conditions up to 6 B degrees
– up to 10 mile from shore
Click the button below to view the full schedule of upcoming 2-day Boat Master Courses.
Indeed, it was a wonderful and enriching experience! well organised, great content, and an amazing instructor and coach! 🙂
Thank you Boss Andrew for the BMC last weekend. It was truly a privilege to be in the class. What an amazing eye opener and unforgettable experience! Highly encourage everyone to participate! See you on the waters 🤟
We had a great time thank you very much Andrew. Great course and well worth it! 🙏 Well recommended.
Hi Andrew, making good use of the Boat Master license. Good to see that the qualification is widely recognised across Europe. Currently in Meganisi (Greece), rented a 5.7m rib with 150hp outboard. Top speed around 30kts although we are day cruising around the islands at a much slower pace and taking it easy! Thank you for helping this to happen!
Skills and knowledge required for a Boat Master
Boat’s construction
- Knows the basic terminology of a power boat:
° Bow;
° Stern, aft, etc. - Can fill up the water and fuel tanks;
- Can operate the engine;
° Start is;
° Switch it off;
° Check operation of cooling system;
° Check oil level;
° Top up engine oil;
° Check cooling fluid level;
° Top up cooling fluid level;
° Find bottom valves;
° Recognize the breakdown of impeller in cooling system and possibly replace it;
° Check whether alternator is charging batteries when engine is working. - Knows elementary equipment of yacht:
° Echo-sounder (location, operation, typical errors);
° Log;
° Steering system;
Line and spring handling
- Can combine two lines of the same and different diameter;
- Can make:
° Bowline;
° Fast a line on a cleat;
° Fishermen’s bend;
° Coil mooring lines;
- Can:
° Pass, take, make fast on cleat, let go mooring lines;
° Throw mooring lines;
° Describe different ways of taking a mooring.
Handling fenders
- Can:
° Fix the fenders using adequate knots;
° Effectively apply the manouvering fender;
Operating the anchor
- Can:
° Prepare the anchor for weighing;
° Select safe location for staying at anchor;
° Apply rules for safe anchoring (4xdepth, anchor alarm/watch);
° Distinguish different types of anchors and their characteristics.
Safety
- Can:
° Perform the safety briefing:
– How to move on deck;
– How to apply personnal safety equipment (harness, jackstay, etc.);
– Apply distress signalling equipment (pyrotechnics, flags, etc.);
– Different methods to send distress signal;
– Make a distress call with help of VHF;
– Knows procedures to be applied in restricted visibility;
– Basic knowledge about SAR procedures (RIB, helicopter);
– First Aid Kit (location and content).
Handling boat under power
- Can:
° Launch and recover a boat;
° Manouver a boat under power;
° Approach a MOB;
° Take a berth/leave a berth (longside, stern-to, bow-to);
° Weigh anchor.
International Rules for Preventing Collisions at Sea
- Knows the navigation shapes and lights:
° Vessel not under command;
° Vessel restricted in ability to manouver;
° Vessel engaged in fishing;
° Vessel aground;
° Pilot vessel;
° Towing set
° Sailing yacht;
° Power driven vessel; - Knows the vessels’ priority at sea;
- Knows how to proceed in a „close encounter” situation;
- Is familiar and complies with the requirement for continues observation;
- Is familiar with other legal obligations of a skipper and crew;
- Is familiar with and understands after-collision rules applicable at sea.
Navigational Aids
- Knows, understands and is able to recognize lateral and smaller channel marks at day time in system IALA A and B;
- Knows, understands and is able to recognize cardinal marks and other navigational marks (safe water mark, isolated danger mark) at day time;
- Is able to use the list of marks and symbols used on charts (eg. Chart 5011);
- Is able to apply navigational publications when planning a port’s entry (pilot books, almanacs, navigational plans);
- Knows and can recognize light characteristics of Lighthouses/navigational marks.
Terrestrial navigation
- Knows and understands the basic terms from geography:
° Latitude;
° Longitude;
° Magnetic pole;
° Geographic pole;
° Earth’s magnetic field; - Knows the basic types of sea charts, their construction and application:
° Mercator’s projection chart (how is it constructed, spreading of parallels, construction parallel)
° Passage charts, coastal charts, plans; - Can read elementary information from a chart that is crucial for safe sailing:
° Depths;
° Distance;
° Navigational obstacles
° Navigational marks; - Can read charts/ plot latitude and longitude;
- Knows and understands the phenomenon of Earth’s magnetism, variation and deviation;
- Can use a compass;
- Can make use of various bearing lines;
- Has general information about tides and tide-related dangers.
Electronic-based navigation
- Knows how the GPS system works;
- Can enable and check the elementary settings of GPS and plotter;
- Can set and read adequate course on GPS;
- Can plot a position on a chart taken from a GPS;
- Knows what is AIS, ARPA, VTS.
Meteorology
- Knows the Beaufort scale and its meaning for small craft;
- Knows sources of meteo information and how to use them;
- Has the basic knowledge about high, low pressure areas, fronts;
- Can recognize cumulonimbus clouds;
- Understands meteo messages (including those broadcast by radio coastal stations)
- Can take meteo factors into consideration when planning a passage in a coastal zone:
- Has the habit not to leave harbour without valid weather forecast.
Other
- Environmental friendly approach and respect to other yachtsmen and women;
- Knows and applies basic pro-environmental rules;
- Knows and applies social friendly approach at sea and in harbour.