Personal Watercraft Operator (PWC)

Crew and Instructor Course

This is a one-day theory and practical course designed to cover the requirements for the safe operation and maintenance of a personal watercraft. As well as the theory component, the instruction will emphasise the practical applications of handling a PWC on the water. Candidates should be 16 years of age or over. Please note however, if there are local laws in place in specific area of operation of a PWC, those laws will of course supersede IYT’s minimum age requirement.

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Candidates will be required to:

• Understand the concept of jet driven propulsion.

• Demonstrate safe handing of PWC and fueling.

• Have a general knowledge of the safety equipment and spares/tools to be carried.

• Demonstrate basic maintenance and safety checks.

• Understand basic PWC operations, load constraints, weight distribution, stability and balance.

• Understand PWC handling, in different types of conditions, weather, other water users, swimmers etc.

• Understand the importance of weather, and the effect on safe operations.

• Be aware of safety precautions such as: Lookouts near swimmers, keeping a proper lookout, speed in anchorages.

• Demonstrate launch and recovery, stowage, Transfer to and from a vessel and dock, coming alongside, beaching and launching from beach and handling with wind and/or current effects.

• Demonstrate the ability to carry out visual checks and aids to monitoring engine condition, be aware of the contents of the tool kit, spare parts and service items.

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Students enrolling in the PWC Instructor need the following requirements:

• 2 years on a vessel with PWC experience

• Have a commercial 200GT licenses or higher

• Minimum 21 years of age

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Launching and Recovery

Safe launch and recovery procedures, understanding the dangers of using launch ramps, control of trailer, ramp etiquette and other launching procedures from a larger vessel.

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Nautical Terminology

A knowledge of terms and definitions:
Relative direction, fore/aft, bow/stern, ahead/abeam/astern, port/starboard, windward/leeward

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PWC Under Power

Demonstrate and understand basic maneuvering, taking into account the effects of wind, tide and currents, Propeller effect when in gear ahead and astern.

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Man Overboard Procedures

Demonstrate proper procedures for man overboard in the event of losing a passenger.

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Basic Collision Regulations (Rules of the Road)

Understand the basic rules for Collision avoidance, between sailing vessels, power and salining vessels and power vessels and the need to keep right (starboard) side in channels.

Demonstrate a basic knowledge of buoys, beacons and buoyage systems, lights, shapes and sound signals.

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SCHEDULED 2017

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October 9-10, 2017

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October 23-24, 2017

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November 13-14, 2017

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November 27-28, 2017

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December 11-12, 2017

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SCHEDULED 2018

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 January 15-16 

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 January 25-26 

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 February 1-2 

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 February 22-23 

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 March 1-2 

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 March 22-23 

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 April 5-6 

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 April 26-27 

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 May 3-4 

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 May 24-25 

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 June 13-14 

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 June 28-29 

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 July 9-10 

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 July 26-27 

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 August 2-3 

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 August 23-24 

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 September 6-7 

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 September 27-28 

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 October 4-5 

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 October 25-26

 

 November 12-13 

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 November 22-23 

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 December 10-11

 

  December 20-21 

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