Inshore Power Skipper

The Inshore Power Skipper Diploma from the International Sailing Schools Association (ISSA) is designed for individuals seeking to acquire the necessary knowledge and skills to safely operate power-driven boats. This certification focuses on the fundamental principles of powerboat handling, including navigation, safety procedures, engine maintenance, and weather interpretation.

Through a combination of theoretical instruction and hands-on practical training, participants learn how to maneuver powerboats with precision, ensuring safe and responsible navigation. The course also covers essential topics such as docking, anchoring, and emergency procedures, making it ideal for those new to powerboating or looking to formalize their experience.

This diploma provides a solid foundation for anyone wishing to operate powerboats for recreational or professional purposes.

Course Requirements

Experience required prior training: At least 1 cruise on a power yacht

Certification required prior training: None

Minimum age required: 16 years old

Suggested number of training hours: 10 hours theory / one day practical

Who can run the training: ISSA Instructor

Who can do the examination: ISSA Instructor

How to submit the application: To authorized ISSA school only

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Skills and knowledge required for an Inshore Power Yacht Skipper

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Yacht’s construction

1. Knows the basic parts of yacht and what are they designed for:
a. Cockpit
b. Bildge
c. Heads
d. Galley
e. Bow
f. Stern, aft etc.
2. Can operate elementary yacht’s systems:
a. Toilet
b. Gass oven
c. Sink
d. Shower
3. Can fill up the water and diesel tanks
4. Can operate the inboard engine
a. Start it
b. Switch it off
c. Check whether cooling system works
d. Inspection before starting
e. Top up engine oil
f. Check cooling fluid level
g. Top up cooling fuel level
h. Control the tension of V-belt on engine
i. Find bottom valves
j. Recognize the breakdown of impeller in cooling system and possibly replace it
k. Check whether alternator is charging batteries when engine is working.
5. Knows elementary yacht equipment
a. Boom
b. Mast (with various methods of sail reefing)
c. Rigging
d. Haulyards
e. Echosounder (location, operation, typical errors);
f. Log
g. Steering system
h. Keel

Line and spring handling

1. Can combine two lines of the same and different diameter
2. Can make:
a. Bowline
b. Fast a line on a cleat
c. Fishermen’s bend
d. Coil mooring lines
3. Can:
a. Pass, take, make fast on cleat, let go mooring lines
b. Throw mooring lines
c. Describe different ways of taking a mooring

Handling fenders

1. Can:
a. Fix them by applying adequate knots
b. effectively operate the manouvering fender

Operating the anchor

1. Can:
a. Prepare anchor for weighing (switches and controls)
b. Operate the windlass (control the letting out and pulling in the chain)
c. Select safe location for staying at anchor
d. Apply rules for safe anchoring (4xdepth, anchor alarm/watch)
e. Distinguish different types of anchors and their characteristics

Handling the dinghy

1. Can:
a. Inflate dinghy, take it off the deck and put it back on the deck
b. Secure the dinghy to the yacht
c. Paddle
d. Secure the dinghy to the yacht deck
e. Install the outboard engine on the yacht (for storage) and on the dinghy (for work)
f. Connect the fuel system to the outboard engine
g. Start and switch off the outboard engine

Safety

1. Can perform the safety briefing under the deck:
a. Gas system
b. Toilet operation
c. Fire fighting equipment
d. Water supply system
e. Electric system
2. Can perform the safety briefing on deck:
a. How to move on deck
b. How to apply personnal safety equipment (harness, jackstay, etc.)
c. Apply distress singalling equipment (pirotechnics, flags, etc.)
d. Liferaft
e. Different methods to send distress signal
f. Make a distress call with help of VHF
g. Knows procedures to be applied in restricted visibility
h. Basic knowledge about SAR procedures (RIB, helicopter)
i. First Aid Kit (location and content)

Handling yacht under Power

1. Can:
a. Manouver a yacht under power
b. Approach a MOB
c. Take a berth/leave a berth (longside, stern-to, bow-to)
d. Weigh anchor

International Rules for Preventing Collisions at Sea

1. Knows the navigation shapes and lights:
a. Vessel not under command
b. Vessel restricted in ability to manouver
c. Vessel engaged in fishing
d. Vessel aground
e. Pilot vessel
f. Towing set
g. Sailing yacht
h. Power driven vessel
2. Knows the vessels’ priority at sea
3. Knows how to proceed in a „close encounter” situation
4. Is familiar and complies with the requiremet for continues observation
5. Is familiar with other legal obligations of a skipper and crew
6. Is familiar with and understands after-collission rules applicable at sea

Navigational Aids

1. Knows, understands and is able to recognize latteral and smaller channel marks at day time in system

IALA A and B
2. Knows, understands and is able to recognize cardinal marks and other navigational marks (safe water

mark, isolated danger mark) at day time
3. Is able to use the list of marks and symbols used on charts (eg. Chart 5011)
4. Is able to apply navigational publications when planning a port’s entry (pilot books, almanachs,

navigational plans)
5. Knows and can recognize light characteristics of Lighthouses/navigational marks

Terrestrial navigation

1. Knows and understands the basic terms from geography:
a. Latitude
b. Longitude
c. Magnetic pole
d. Gegraphic pole
e. Earth’s magnetic field
2. Knows the basic types of sea charts, their construction and application:
a. Mercator’s projection chart (how is it constructed, spreading of parallels, construction parallel)
b. Passage charts, coastal charts, plans
3. Can read elementary information from a chart that is crucial for safe sailing:
a. Depths
b. Distance
c. Navigational obstacles
d. Navigational marks
4. Can read charts/ plot latitude and longitude
5. Knows and understands the phenomenon of Earth’s magnetism, variation and deviation
6. Can use a compass
7. Can calculate, set, read and plot courses on a chart with respect of variation, deviation and

leeway
8. Can plot yacht’s position using bearing lines
9. Can plot yacht’s position using the maintained course, distance ran and estimated leeway
10. Can make use of various bearing lines
11. Has general information about tides and tide-related dangers

Eletronic-based navigation

1. Knows how the GPS system works.
2. Can enable and check the elementary settings of GPS and plotter.
3. Can set and read adequate course on GPS.
4. Can plot a position on a chart taken from a GPS.
5. Knows what is AIS, ARPA, VTS.

Meteorology

1. Knows the Beaufort scale and its meaning for small craft.
2. Knows sources of meteo information and how to use them.
3. Has the basic knowledge about high, low pressure areas, fronts.
4. Can recognize cumulonimbus clouds.
5. Understands meteo messages (including those broadcast by radio coastal stations).
6. Can take meteo factors into consideration when planning a passage in a coastal zone.
7. Has the habit not to leave harbour without valid weather forecast.

Other

1. Environmental friendly approach and respect to other yachtsmen.
2. Knows and applies basic pro-environmental rules.
3. Knows and applies social friendly approach at sea and in harbour.

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