Do I need a marine engineers licence to skipper a boat?
No, amazing as it may seem you don’t need ANY licence to skipper a leisure boat in the UK. At the end of the day if you decide to stay with the syllabus, you will be issued with a RYA Diesel Engine Course certificate, but this is not a licence, it is merely a course completion certificate. Having said that, most RNLI call outs are for easily preventable breakdowns, and can lead to a visit from the MCA, so this course is a must for boat owners, coastal/offshore workers and Coastal/Yachtmaster offshore candidates. Not only that it will pay for itself several times over in call out fees and service charges. Can the instructor teach me to service my engine? Yes he can do that, but remember there will be an extra cost covering filters, belts, impellors etc. As every engine is different the cost of a service pack can vary, but he can advise you on that before going ahead. Is there a Diesel Engine exam at the end of the course? No, there is no exam or diesel engine assessment, just a course b
