Thank you for booking your Own Boat course with us. Please find our recommended equipment list for all Own Boat Courses.

The school undertakes training on a client’s vessel subject to the following conditions:

  • That the client adheres to our Terms & Conditions of Booking – which specifically address own boat tuition.
  • That the vessel is adequately equipped for the course being undertaken.

Items we would typically recommend you carry onboard – Daytime Navigation

Listed below are the items that we typically recommend you carry onboard.

VHF Flares Anchor and rope
Two medium length mooring lines (at least) Bailer, bucket or hand operated bilge pump Paddle(s)
Boathook Fenders GPS/Chartplotter
Knife Toolkit and basic spares (older craft) First aid kit
Fire extinguisher Spare kill-cord (if relevant) Rescue throwing line
Survival bag Compass
Local charts Spare battery key (if relevant)

NB: The above lists are as a guide – the kit required will vary vessel to vessel and according to the passages you intend undertaking.

If you are missing any kit in this list then please contact us a week or two before the course; we are able to bring some of the kit, depending on what you are missing. If you are new to boating then we can arrange for an Instructor to accompany you to a local chandlers to purchase suitable equipment giving advice as necessary.

Important: Please note: If your vessel is over 13.7m then you are legally required to carry certain equipment. These two links will provide you more information about these regulations: RYA Website, Government Website

Night-Ex Equipment

Listed below are the items that we typically recommend you carry onboard at night time in addition to the above equipment.

  • Navigation lights
  • Depth sounder
  • GPS/Chartplotter
  • Lights for lifejackets

If providing any of this equipment proves difficult for whatever reason then do discuss it with us as it is very likely that the school could loan the client some of the necessary equipment for the duration of the course.

Lifejackets

We often get asked what sort of lifejacket we would recommend for you to take on your own boat. There are two main types of lifejackets: automatic and manual. We would recommend that you purchase an automatic lifejacket because if you were to fall in the water, the lifejacket would automatically inflate. There are multiple different inflation devices and designs of automatic lifejackets; we would recommend that you have a discussion with your local Chandlery.

Please ensure that if you bring your own lifejackets that they have crotch straps and have been recently serviced (to ensure the components are in date). We will be able to go through your lifejackets with you at the start of the course.

Vessel Suitability

The course Instructor(s) will make an assessment of the client’s vessel on the first morning of the course. If in the Instructor’s opinion the vessel is not fit for the course to be undertaken on then the course will be cancelled. In making his assessment the Instructor is to be allowed (should he require) to undertake a short trip with the client to assess it. In the unlikely eventuality that the client’s vessel is considered unsuitable then the following terms apply:

  • If it is feasible the school will offer the immediate use of its own vessel(s) for the course at cost.
  • In the event that the school’s vessel(s) are either unsuitable for the course or are unavailable then the client will be liable to the school for 100% of the total course cost. If the client chooses to rebook the course after remedying the reasons for the Instructors decision to not run the course then the school will discount the new course cost by 50%. .
  • That the Instructors reasonable demands will always be followed during the duration of the course – refer ‘Terms & Conditions of booking’.

Please feel free to call us to discuss the equipment that you have on your craft and its suitability for a course.