Powerboat & Day Skipper Illustrated

Look Inside the Book

Every page has one big drawing and a box with the rules and numbers you need to know:

Port is left and red, starboard is right and green, always facing the bow.

Rule 8: avoiding action is early, large and readily apparent; slowing down counts too.

Rule 35 signals and Rule 19: what to sound and how to act in fog.

Port: red can, red light. Starboard: green cone, green light. Never Fl(2+1).

50°47'.5N 001°06'.2W: latitude off the side scale, longitude off the top

Springs: biggest range near new and full moon · Neaps: smallest range at the quarters · cycle about 14–15 days

Force 4 = 11–16 knots · Force 6 = 22–27 knots · Force 8 = 34–40 knots

Two red, red-white-red, three red: NUC, RAM and draught side by side

Swipe to see more →

These are real pages from the book. The table of contents is the full one: 8 parts and 64 topics.

The Problem Isn't You. It's How It Was Explained to You.

You're heading back in after dark. Up ahead you see a white masthead light and, lower down, a red sidelight. The instructor beside you asks: which way is she heading, and who gives way?

You've read Rule 21. But the manual gives you the arcs as numbers inside long paragraphs: 225, 112.5, 135. Degrees in a sentence don't turn into a picture in your head, so out on the water you end up guessing.

In the book, Rule 21 is one boat drawn from above: the white masthead light sweeping 225° forward, each sidelight covering 112.5° in red and green, the sternlight filling the 135° behind. You see which light shows from where, in one look.

The same goes for who gives way in a crossing, the four cardinals and their topmarks, the rule of twelfths and the Mayday call word by word. Each one has its own page.

So the next time a red sidelight shows on your starboard bow in a crossing, you know you're seeing her port side and you're the one who keeps clear. And if it's two all-round lights, white over red, you know it's a pilot boat on duty, not a motor cruiser.

COMPARE FOR YOURSELF

Same Topic, Two Ways to Study It

THIS

The manual: line after line
Lookout and safe speed explained only in words
You turn up to the course still unsure

Rule 5 requires that every vessel shall at all times maintain a proper look-out by sight and hearing and by all available means so as to make a full appraisal of the situation and of the risk of collision. Rule 6 provides that every vessel shall at all times proceed at a safe speed so that she can take proper and effective action to avoid collision and be stopped within a distance appropriate to the prevailing circumstances and conditions, account being taken of the state of visibility, the traffic density and the manoeuvrability of the vessel.

FOR THIS

Lookout and safe speed in one drawing
The factors for a safe speed in a box
You see it and it makes sense

CONTENTS

Take a Look at the 8 Parts and 64 Topics

Your boat and the basics, rules of the road, lights, shapes and sounds, IALA Region A buoyage, charts and navigation, tides, weather, VHF and emergencies, and revision checklists: 68 pages, all illustrated.

IYour Boat and the Basics · pp. 5-11

Bow, Stern, Port, Starboard
Which Course Is This Page For?
Displacement or Planing?
The Kill Cord: Always On
Prop Walk and Turning Pivot
Knots You Actually Use
Fuel: The Rule of Thirds

IIRules of the Road · pp. 12-21

Lookout and Safe Speed (Rules 5 and 6)
Is There a Risk of Collision? (Rule 7)
How to Take Avoiding Action (Rule 8)
Head-On: Both Turn to Starboard (Rule 14)
Crossing: Who Gives Way? (Rule 15)
Overtaking: You Keep Clear (Rule 13)
Give-Way and Stand-On (Rules 16 and 17)
The Pecking Order (Rule 18)
Sail Meets Sail (Rule 12)
Narrow Channels and Traffic Schemes (Rules 9 and 10)

IIILights, Shapes and Sounds · pp. 22-30

The Four Basic Lights and Their Arcs
Power-Driven Vessels at Night
Sailing Vessels at Night
What Am I Looking At? Reading the Aspect
Not Under Command, Restricted, Constrained
Fishing, Pilots, Anchored, Aground
Towing Lights and Shapes
Manoeuvring Sound Signals
Fog Signals (Rules 19 and 35)

IVIALA Region A Buoyage · pp. 31-38

Direction of Buoyage
Port and Starboard Lateral Marks
Preferred Channel Marks
The Four Cardinals: Shapes and Colours
Cardinal Lights: The Clock Face
Which Side Do I Pass?
Isolated Danger and Safe Water
Special Marks and New Wrecks

VCharts and Navigation · pp. 39-46

Latitude and Longitude
Measuring Distance: Use the Side
Chart Symbols You Must Know
True, Magnetic, Compass
Speed, Time, Distance
Fixing Your Position
DR and EP: Where You Should Be
Course to Steer Across a Tide

VITides · pp. 47-54

Why Tides Happen: Springs and Neaps
Chart Datum and Height of Tide
Reading a Tide Table
The Rule of Twelfths
Rule of Twelfths: A Worked Example
Secondary Ports
Tidal Streams: Atlas and Diamonds
Under-Keel Clearance and Wind Against Tide

VIIWeather, VHF and Emergencies · pp. 55-63

The Beaufort Scale for Small Boats
Getting the Forecast
VHF: Channels and Licences
The Mayday Call, Word by Word
DSC Distress Button and Pan-Pan, Sécurité
Man Overboard: The First Ten Seconds
Man Overboard: Approach and Recovery
Lifejackets, Flares and Safety Kit
Anchoring: Scope and Holding

VIIIRevision and Checklists · pp. 64-68

Lights at a Glance
Buoyage at a Glance
The Mix-Ups People Make Most Often
Pre-Departure Checklist
Your Last Look Before the Course or Test

One Page, One Topic, All Clear

Think of it this way:

It's a grey Saturday on the Solent and a yellow-and-black buoy appears off the bow. You have a few seconds to decide which side to pass.

You don't open a book now: you've already seen the cardinal marks page, the four buoys drawn round a danger, north, east, south and west, each with its two black cones and its colours. You pass on the side the name tells you.

The night before you go out, you flick through the lights pages once more: fishing, pilot, towing, anchored. Ten minutes, and they're back in place.

Powerboat & Day Skipper Illustrated is 8 parts and 64 topics on 68 illustrated pages, with lights and buoyage at a glance, the most frequent mix-ups and a pre-departure checklist at the end.

What you see drawn, you don't have to memorize.

What's Inside Powerboat & Day Skipper Illustrated:

Ipp. 5-11

Your Boat and the Basics

Bow, stern, port and starboard, which course each page is for, displacement or planing, the kill cord, prop walk, the knots you actually use and the rule of thirds for fuel.

IIpp. 12-21

Rules of the Road

Lookout and safe speed, risk of collision, avoiding action, head-on, crossing and overtaking, give-way and stand-on, the pecking order, sail meets sail, narrow channels and traffic schemes.

IIIpp. 22-30

Lights, Shapes and Sounds

The four basic lights and their arcs, power and sail at night, reading the aspect, NUC, RAM and constrained by draught, fishing, pilots, anchored, aground, towing, sound and fog signals.

IVpp. 31-38

IALA Region A Buoyage

Direction of buoyage, port and starboard lateral marks, preferred channel marks, the four cardinals and their lights, which side to pass, isolated danger, safe water and special marks.

Vpp. 39-46

Charts and Navigation

Latitude and longitude, measuring distance, chart symbols, true, magnetic and compass, speed, time and distance, fixing your position, DR and EP, and a course to steer across a tide.

VIpp. 47-54

Tides

Springs and neaps, chart datum and height of tide, reading a tide table, the rule of twelfths with a worked example, secondary ports, tidal streams, under-keel clearance and wind against tide.

VIIpp. 55-63

Weather, VHF and Emergencies

The Beaufort scale, getting the forecast, VHF channels and licences, the Mayday call word by word, DSC, Pan-Pan and Sécurité, man overboard, lifejackets and flares, and anchoring.

VIIIpp. 64-68

Revision and Checklists

Lights at a glance, buoyage at a glance, the mix-ups people make most often, a pre-departure checklist and your last look before the course or test.

At the end of the book: Lights and buoyage at a glance, the most frequent mix-ups and a pre-departure checklist.

SHOW ME WHAT'S INSIDE

Plus: 2 Free Books

BONUS 1: «Exam-Style Questions with Answers»

Value on its own: US$ 17.90

Test yourself on rules of the road, lights, buoyage and tides, and see why each answer is right, so you walk into your course or test knowing where you stand.

BONUS 2: «Common Mistakes & Quick-Reference Cards»

Value on its own: US$ 14.90

The most frequent mix-ups (port and starboard marks, cardinal topmarks, light sequences, sound signals) on cards you can print and keep on board.

Powerboat & Day Skipper Illustrated with 2 Free Books

Powerboat & Day Skipper Illustrated: 68 illustrated pagesUS$ 63
BONUS 1: Exam-Style Questions with AnswersUS$ 17.90
BONUS 2: Common Mistakes & Quick-Reference CardsUS$ 14.90
High-resolution PDF to printIncluded

~~Total value US$ 95.80~~

YOUR PRICE:

US$ 27

You save US$ 68.80

YES, I WANT POWERBOAT & DAY SKIPPER ILLUSTRATED FOR US$ 27

📄 This is a digital PDF book sent to your email: nothing is printed or shipped.

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PDF by email: We email you Powerboat & Day Skipper Illustrated as a PDF, together with the two free books. It's a single payment: no installments, no extra charges.

Who This Book Is For

You're studying for Powerboat Level 2 or Day Skipper theory

Each topic of the course on its own page, drawn, so the winter evenings of study are still there when you get on the water in spring.

Your course or ICC test is coming up

Lights at a glance, buoyage at a glance and the most frequent mix-ups, to go over the night before and arrive knowing where you stand.

You've had a boat for years

The rules you follow by instinct, finally drawn: who gives way, what each light means and why, to print and keep on board.

Everything You Get Today

Powerboat & Day Skipper Illustrated: 68 illustrated pages in 8 parts, from Bow, Stern, Port and Starboard to Your Last Look Before the Course or Test
Lights and buoyage at a glance, the most frequent mix-ups and a pre-departure checklist
Bonus 1: “Exam-Style Questions with Answers” (worth US$ 17.90)
Bonus 2: “Common Mistakes & Quick-Reference Cards” (worth US$ 14.90)
It arrives by email: open it on your phone or print it at home
30-day guarantee

~~US$ 95.80~~US$ 27

YES, I WANT POWERBOAT & DAY SKIPPER ILLUSTRATED FOR US$ 27

📄 This is a digital PDF book sent to your email: nothing is printed or shipped.

30DAYS
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30-Day Guarantee

Try Powerboat & Day Skipper Illustrated for 30 days, bonus books included.

We refund everything if the file won't open, if the book isn't what you see here, if you were charged twice or if the email doesn't arrive. Just email us.

You pay once. No subscriptions.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is it for my course: Powerboat Level 2, Day Skipper theory or the ICC?

It covers the theory those courses share: who gives way, lights, shapes and sounds, IALA Region A buoyage, charts, tides, weather and VHF. For the ICC it covers the coastal theory; it doesn't cover CEVNI, which you only need for European inland waterways. It starts from port and starboard, so it works whether you're new to it or have had a boat for years.

Where does the content come from?

From the COLREGs 1972, as applied in the UK by the Merchant Shipping (Distress Signals and Prevention of Collisions) Regulations 1996 and MCA guidance, and from the IALA Maritime Buoyage System, Region A.

Is it official material?

No. It's an independent study aid. It is not RYA material and is not affiliated with or endorsed by the RYA, the MCA or any awarding body.

Does it replace the course?

No. It's for studying alongside your course or practical training, not instead of it. Handling a boat is learnt on the water with an instructor. If you need an ICC with an inland waterways endorsement, you'll also need the CEVNI test, which this book doesn't cover.

Are the practice questions the ones from the test?

No. They're written for this book to help you check what you know. They aren't official questions from any course, exam or assessment.

When and how does it arrive?

The book and the 2 free books arrive as PDFs by email, to the address you give at checkout.

Do I have to pay every month?

No. It's a one-off payment, with no subscription.

Can I have it on paper?

Yes. It's a PDF you can print at home or at a print shop, and keep the quick-reference pages on board.

How does the refund work?

You have 30 days. We refund everything if the file won't open, if the book isn't what you see on this page, if you were charged twice or if the email doesn't arrive: just email us.

Before You Close This Page

No more rereading without it sinking in.

Lights, cardinals and who gives way: you see them drawn, and that's that.

You turn up to your course or test knowing where everything is.

Drawings make studying faster.

The book is right below.

One-time payment: US$ 27 · Guarantee: 30 days · PDF by email

YES, I WANT POWERBOAT & DAY SKIPPER ILLUSTRATED FOR US$ 27

📄 This is a digital PDF book sent to your email: nothing is printed or shipped.