Practical Tips

Studying and memorising may not be sufficient for some people. If you feel unsure about your practical, consult your PPCDL center for "refresher courses".

Know what you are tested on

The practical handling test will assess your abilities on 5 matters:

1. Overall Hull & Equipment Check
2. Unberthing
3. Man-overboard Drill
4. Berthing
5. Oral Test (You will be asked questions)

Know your environment

1. Watch the wind and current
   This is to ensure that you calculate your direction accurately to avoid hitting the jetty. Collision with jetty constitutes an immediate failure.
   You can determine the wind direction via the sea, as well as flags along the jetty.
   Wind direction also plays an important role in your Man-overboard Drill


2. Watch out for RSYC boats
   As RSYC boats are leaving, their boats may leave a wake/swell which may cause your boat to collide with the jetty if handled improperly.


3. Watch out for RSYC slipway
   As you are reversing into the sea, be careful not to hit the slipway (marked in red).


4. Plan a route
   Remember that your boat is facing land and that you have to reverse out. A potential route is marked in pink.

Remember your checks

1. 11 Items + Boat License
   This is to ensure that you calculate your direction accurately to avoid hitting the jetty. Collision with jetty constitutes an immediate failure.
   You can determine the wind direction via the sea, as well as flags along the jetty.
   Wind direction also plays an important role in your Man-overboard Drill


2. Start engine before casting off
   In event of engine failure, casting off requires you to paddle back to shore. This also adds 5 demerit points.

 

Refer to the mark-sheet

The marksheet shows exactly how demerit points are issued.
(20 demerit points cause an immediate failure)

We have taken the effort to digitize a copy for your perusal

PREPARATION TO GET UNDERWAY	Demerit
Overall hull condition check	2
Equipment check	2
Passenger check	2
Lookout appointed	2
Boat license check	3

STARTING ENGINES	Demerit
Propeller check	3
Fuel / lubrication oil check	3
Throttle position & steering check	3
Engine cooling system check	3
Start engine	3

UNBERTHING	Demerit
Surrounding check	2
Steering control	2
Engine speed control	2
Cast off before starting engine	5
Collided with jetty	20

MANEUVERING	Demerit
Look-out maintained	3
Appropriate speed	3
Steering ability	3
One-hand steering	3
Failure to give way	20

MAN-OVERBOARD	Demerit
Inappropriate immediate action	2
No follow-up action	2
Unable to take all way off before picking up	5
2nd attempt	5
Failed to retrieve "victim"	20
Collided with "victim"	20

BUOYS & LIGHTHOUSES	Demerit
Identify buoys	5
Identify lighthouses	5

BERTHING	Demerit
Short / over berthing	5
"Hard" berthing	5
Fender-off	5
Improper securing of boat	5
2nd attempt	5
Engine / Hand stopping	5
Failed to berth	20
Collided with jetty	20

COLLISION PREVENTION	Demerit
Assesing risk of collision	7
Action for head-on situation	5
Action for crossing situation	7
Action by overtaking vessel	5
Action in narrow channel / fairway	5
Responsibilities between vessels	5
Observance of good seamanship	5

RECOGNITION OF LIGHTS & SHAPES	Demerit
Navigation lights & shapes	4
Head-on situation lights	4
Crossing situation lights	4
Overtaking situation lights	4
Hampered vessel lights & shapes	4
Anchored vessel lights & shapes	4

ACTION TO BE TAKEN	Demerit
In restricted visibilities	5
To anchor the vessel	5
Sound signal	3

OTHER SEVERE IMPROPER ACTION	Demerit
Reckless action without good reasons	10
Collided with large floating objects/crafts	10

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