Yacht crew: RYA Powerboat Level 2 course guide

Crew members planning on driving a superyacht tender will need to obtain an RYA Powerboat Level 2 qualification.

A quick summary of the course

The course is an essential qualification for anyone wishing to drive a powerboat or superyacht tender up to 10m. The licence takes around two days to complete and is permanent so does not require renewing. The powerboat training consists of 90% practical work with 10% theory and costs between £199 and £300.

Tender in the sea

What is powerboat level 2?

The course (sometimes referred to as the national powerboat certificate) offers an overall introduction to powerboating and superyacht tender handling. It teaches fundamental boat handling and safety skills.

The course provides all the background knowledge needed to drive a yacht tender or powerboat and is the basis for the ICC (International Certificate of Competence). It also counts as a commercial certificate for taking passengers and guests out on the water. It is applicable to all RIBs, tenders and cruisers up to 10 metres.

Why do I need to complete the course?

The course is appropriate for a wide range of people, from beginners wanting to gain skills, to those with a bit more experience looking to gain their powerboat 'license' and further their careers (the qualification is a fairly straightforward and risk-free route into a career in the marine industry).

Superyacht crew with a powerboat license are at a great advantage when looking for jobs. They are a lot more flexible and essentially able to do more responsibilities on board the yacht. Further to this, crew who drive the tender are more likely to stay in the low season due to the diversity of their abilities.

Classic tender in the sea

Crew pre requisites

Anyone can attend the powerboat course and you don’t need to have attended the RYA Level 1 course prior. This course is suitable for anyone at any level.

Minimum age of 12 years applies; certificates for under 16s are endorsed as ‘qualified under the supervision of a responsible adult’.

What to take with you to your training?

It’s useful to bring with you, paper and pencil for notes and some lunch (however some training schools include lunch).

All equipment, including wet weather gear and equipment, should be provided by any reputable trainer. However, wear sensible shoes, warm clothes and bring a change of clothes.

Furthermore, bring a passport photo with you because it is a photo certificate, and therefore it can’t be processed without your photo.


See the powerboat level 2 syllabus here. Want to discover more crew training courses? Read our articles here.

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