Using a systems checklist, jobs for your crew, line handling, leaving the dock, maneuvering in marinas and near obstacles, compensating for wind and current, single or twin engine turning, use of thrusters, effective use of power, using a simple three-step docking procedure. Reducing or eliminating anxiety. Enjoying your skills!
Emergency Preparedness
Overview of safety equipment aboard your vessel, recommended changes or updates to equipment, flare practice, man-overboard training, fire prevention and suppression (including realistic simulated fire scenario), dealing with engine, steering, and other system failures while underway, detecting and fixing leaks, effective problem diagnosis, reporting an emergency, lifeboat/dinghy launching, evacuating your vessel..
Charts and Navigation
Chart structure and nomenclature, depth conventions, tides and currents, compass directions, corrections, and use, ded reckoning, buoy conventions, local knowledge, plotting a course, following a course, use of GPS and other navigation systems.
Radio Communication
Use of your VHF radio system, hailing other boats, emergency procedures, local traffic control system, radio etiquette and language protocol, standard channel usage, communication with marinas and other facilities..
Anchoring
Your anchoring system, windlass systems, calculating necessary rode length, setting your anchor, releasing a fouled anchor, raising and stowing your anchor, safely leaving your anchored position.
Your Boat's Systems
Understanding your boat's specific systems, effective use of each system element, diagnosing system failures, making simple repairs that can save your cruise, designing a maintenance schedule.
Rules and Regulations
Understanding a applying the marine "rules of the road" -- speed and wake limits, overtaking another boat, being overtaken, right-of-way, use of lights, recognition of lights, dealing with commercial vessel traffic, buoys and beacons, horn signals, radio licensing and legal use, equipment requirements.
Training Tuned for You and Your Boat
Whether you are an experienced boater seeking to update or advance your knowledge, or whether you are new to boating and want to start with the very basics, Bob Meng will work with you to design a course that is guaranteed to be both effective and enjoyable. With this flexibility in mind, here are some of the topic areas that can be covered.
Boat Handling, Close Quarters Maneuvering, and Docking
Radar and Night Training
Understanding your radar system, calibrating your system, reading distances, closure rates, recognizing collision courses, understanding and recognizing ship light configurations, recognizing tow-and-tug danger potential, dealing with fog, use of bells.
Heavy Seas and Coastal Training
Forecasting offshore weather, using weather information services, boat handling in heavy seas.
Going Through the Locks
Understanding rules, equipment requirements, and conventions necessary for navigating the Hiram Chittenden Locks (Ballard Locks), how to prepare your crew, what to expect from the lock operators, rules for line handling, general lock etiquette, and actually locking through in your own boat without fear!
Navigation Software
On-Water Training has teamed up with Jeppesen Marine to provide a highly effective and unique approach to training on the Nobeltec line of electronic charting and navigation software products. Bob Meng works one-on-one with clients, aboard their boats, to train them in the use of their Nobeltec software. Bob customizes this training to the needs of the individual boat owner and works from the conceptual level down to the details of operation, ensuring thorough understanding and confident use.
