1st December 2012
Power Boating with Noelle Doran - At Rosmoney
There was no wind today, the water was practically flat calm and it was beautiful clear blue skies for the whole day.
A real winters day. :)
- Today my aim was to grasp the basics of power boating.
- Be able to perform the tasks that Noelle asked me to do.
Today when we arrived at Rosmoney pier, Noelle showed us how to launch the RIB.
First she reversed the trailer on the back of the van down the pier until the trailers wheels were half covered by the water. She then came down and showed us how to get the RIB off the trailor. You have to release the strap on the front and slowly push it off. This trailer made life much easier because it was a roller trailer, this means that the boat can just roll off at ease.
Once the boat was launched, we went down the steps and got on board. Noelle went through everything that you have to check before you can turn on the engine. We then had to go through all of the checks, individually so that she knew we understood. I managed to leave out the small issue of lowering the engine down into the water! It was only because I was nervous in front of Jarlath and Louise though!
We then headed out, we had to first drive the boat forward, neutral and then reverse to show we knew how to get the boat in gear. Then we had to do 'U' turns at speed, (25knots) followed by figures of 8 also at speed.
I found it hard to remember to keep one hand on the throttle and one hand on the wheel at all times because when you are driving a car you have to do the opposite. The difference with a RIB is that you have the control of the speed in the throttle in your right hand, not on a pedal on the floor. This is why you shouldn't lose contact with either the steering wheel or the throttle at any stage while helming.
After this Noelle could hear a problem in the engine. There was a clicking noise every time we tried to change gear. So she drove it slowly in to one of the pier and called a man that she knew to come and look at it. But as soon as she started to explain it to him on the phone, it stopped making the noise. Typical! I was really glad it was ok again because Noelle said if it was broken, she would have to do the course a different weekend, which would have been annoying.
Once the RIB had decided to work again, we went and learnt how to come along side back at Rosmoney pier. We came along side 3 times each at the pier. I found it much easier than I thought I would, it just takes patience and you have to take it really slow, coming into neutral when you need to slow down and let the tide carry you.
We then came along side a smaller boat with a tiller motor on it. We had to show Noelle that we could use a small tiller motor just so she could tick us off for that.
We had to do a figure of 8 around the buoys forwards and then do the same thing only backwards. Then we had to come along side at the pier and that was all we had to do in the tiller boat then.
We then got back in the power boat and Jarlath helmed the boat over to another island where we moored up next to a fishing boat.
Aparently there are only 3 people living on the island! Noelle introduced us to 2 lovely old ladies who invited us into their house for tea. They had a roaring fire inside and told us all to sit up infront of it and get warm. They then made us tea while Noelle went through some knots with us. It was so nice and warm in the house and we really appreciated it because our feet were freezing from standing on the plastic of the boat all morning.
After lunch, we went back out on the RIB and Noelle did some control in confined spaces skills with us. To do this she chose 4 buoys that we had to stay in the middle of. We had to go into reverse and then forward turning the wheel to port & then starboard, over and over again, just making sure we stayed in the box.
We then went back to Rosmoney pier for lunch. After an hour we went back out and did a bit of work on picking up a mooring and a bit more work on coming along side another boat. This is different to coming along side the pier because a boat can move in the swell and the wind, whereas a pier stays still.
We finished up as it was getting dark.
Noelle said to bring a lunch in a dry bag for tomorrow because we would be going on a trip to Westport.
I feel I did well today, there was a lot of information to take in, but I think I'll remember most of it. I'll definitely remember to put the engine down if anything anyway! How embarrassing! I really enjoyed helming the RIB and feel I did well on the controls.
I need to work at keeping one hand on the throttle and one hand on the wheel at all times, especially at high speeds. I really hope I remember enough and do well at everything I have learnt today tomorrow because I really want to pass my 'national power boat certificate'.
Environmental interest of the day...
Today when we were out on the power boat, there was an otter in the water near us. He kept popping up in different places. They are meticulously clean, after eating they wash themselves in the ocean, cleaning their fur with their teeth and paws. It is good that they mind their coats because it keeps them warm and insulated in the cold water.
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