Boat
Boat Safety and Handling
An intensive boat handling course designed for boat operators who want to learn or improve their boating skills. This comprehensive introduction to boat handling in either flat or moving water will develop the sense of confidence and necessary skills to deal with watercraft - motorized or non-motorized. For motorized courses, the curriculum can be geared to either external propellor or jetboat engines, or both if required. For non-motorized, we can tailor the course to rafts of any size, or even kayaks, canoes and rowboats. No matter the boat, the course includes basic skills for self-rescue and the rescue of others, but focuses on watercraft handling, identifying hazards, navigating whitewater and rapids, and general on-water safety. Clients are required to bring their own watercraft in which to practice. Excellent training for those working in resource management, emergency response or the outdoor industry and a globally-recognized certification to lower your risk profile.
We only offer these courses to clients who provide their own watercraft and so we do not teach public, open-enrollment boat handling courses. Contact us to set up a course for your personnel.
Details
Duration: 3 days
Format: 1 day classroom, 2 days on the river (+ optional night session)
Cost: $649 (minimum 4, maximum six participants/instructor)
Pre-requisites
- 18+ years of age (16-17 parental permission required)
- Basic swimming ability
- In good physical condition
Required Equipment
- Personal flotation device (Type III or IV)*
- Water-sports helmet*
Suggested Equipment
- Drysuit or wetsuit*
- Neoprene gloves
- Neoprene footwear with a good walking sole, wading boots, or running shoes
- Layers of wool or fleece clothing for under the drysuit/wetsuit including sweater, pants, gloves, socks
(* Rentals available - Click here for a list of rental prices and course equipment requirements.)
FAQ
More details about boat handling courses including what to expect and how to prepare. Click here for our Boat Handling FAQ.
General Objectives
- Develop a sense of confidence and the necessary skills to operate a boat in a variety of water conditions.
- Familiarize and train the student in utilization of standard water rescue gear.
Behavioural Objectives
- Have a working knowledge of standard equipment including clothing, boat preparation, rope and related equipment and some specialized gear.
- Have a good knowledge of applicable communications methods, e.g. hand and whistle signals.
- Have a working knowledge of water dynamics and hazards.
- Be able to safely navigate so as to negotiate hazards in various conditions.
- Be able to maneuver both under power and with the engine cut (motorized only).
- Self rescue from the water.
- Rescue and extricate others from the water (man overboard drills).
- Understand procedures in the event of swamping or capsizing
- Understand rescue group organization and low to high risk decision-making skills in rescue situations.
- Optional: night operations
Take Aways
- Rescue 3’s Swiftwater Boat Operators Manual
- Personalized skill sheet (training record) signed by the instructor (valuable document for risk management)
- Registration of training record in Rescue 3’s international database
- Wallet card with personal Rescue 3 registration number and date of certification
- Certificate of Completion
