Deciding which RYA motor cruising course is right for you can feel a little overwhelming. At Ardent Training, an RYA-recognised teaching centre, we regularly help students choose the right next step based on their experience and goals. This guide is designed to make that decision much easier.

I Want a Taster of Motor Cruising

If you are completely new to boating, or simply curious to see whether motor cruising is for you, the RYA Start Motor Cruising course is the ideal introduction.

This is a one-day practical course designed for complete beginners. You will learn some basic boat handling skills, safety awareness, and what life onboard a motorboat is really like. For many people, it is the course that sparks the enthusiasm to continue learning.

If you decide you want to progress further after this course, we strongly recommend completing the RYA Essential Navigation and Seamanship Theory course before your next practical step. This short theory course introduces the fundamentals of navigation, tides, weather, and safety. It can be completed in the classroom over two days, or online in your own time.

Completing this theory course first will allow you to get much more out of your next practical course and progress more quickly on the water.

I Want to Learn How to Motor Cruise

If you are keen to jump straight in and feel that a one-day course will not be enough, the RYA Helmsman Course is the best place to start.

This is a four-day practical course that teaches you how to become a competent and useful crew member, while building confidence in boat handling and life onboard a motor vessel. It is ideal for those who want a solid practical foundation.

Although not essential, completing the RYA Essential Navigation and Seamanship Theory course beforehand is highly recommended. Many students find that arriving with some theoretical knowledge allows them to focus more on practical skills during the course itself.

I’d Like to Charter a Motor Cruising Vessel

If your goal is to charter a motorboat and skipper it yourself, the qualification you need is the RYA Day Skipper Practical.

Before taking the practical course, you should first complete the RYA Day Skipper Theory course. This covers essential topics such as navigation, tidal planning, meteorology, pilotage, and safety. You can complete this course online with Ardent Training at your own pace.

The RYA Day Skipper Practical typically runs over four or five days and can be taken anywhere in the world. Many people choose to combine it with a holiday. A recommended level of experience before starting is around 100 nautical miles, five days at sea, and at least four hours of night sailing.

On successful completion, you will receive a certificate that allows you to charter a motor vessel and skipper friends or family on holiday.

Do I Need a Licence to Use My Own Boat?

In the UK, you do not legally need a licence or qualification to use your own motorboat for private, non-commercial use. This often comes as a surprise, but it’s an important distinction to understand.

That said, just because a licence is not legally required does not mean training is unnecessary. Operating a motor vessel safely requires a solid understanding of navigation, collision regulations, weather, tides, and boat handling. This becomes even more important as boats get larger, faster, or are used in tidal waters.

RYA courses are designed to provide a recognised standard of competence, rather than acting as a legal licence. They are widely respected by insurers, marinas, charter companies, and harbour authorities, and they give you the confidence to operate your boat safely and responsibly.

If you plan to:

• Cruise in tidal waters

• Navigate at night or offshore

• Take friends or family out regularly

• Insure a larger or faster vessel

Then completing appropriate RYA training is strongly recommended, even if it is not legally required.

I’ve Completed RYA Day Skipper. What’s Next?

If you have already completed your RYA Day Skipper, congratulations. Many people happily stop here and enjoy skippering charter boats or their own vessels.

If you would like to improve your knowledge and confidence further, the next recommended step is the RYA Coastal Skipper and Yachtmaster Theory course. Even if you are unsure about taking another practical course, this theory course significantly deepens your understanding of navigation, passage planning, meteorology, and safety.

It builds directly on Day Skipper knowledge and is an excellent way to become a more confident and well-rounded skipper. This course is available online with Ardent Training.

I’d Like to Motor Cruise Offshore

If you want to extend your cruising range and operate out of sight of land, the RYA Coastal Skipper Practical course is the natural next step.

This five-day practical course focuses on offshore navigation, passage planning, and more advanced boat handling in unfamiliar waters. It is designed to prepare you for longer and more challenging passages.

Before taking the practical course, you should have completed the RYA Coastal Skipper and Yachtmaster Theory course. A suggested level of experience is 15 days at sea, 300 nautical miles, eight night hours, and at least two days as skipper.

We recommend speaking to the training centre before booking to ensure the course area and level are right for you.

I’d Like to Work Commercially on a Motor Vessel

If you want to work professionally on motor vessels, you will need either RYA Yachtmaster Coastal or RYA Yachtmaster Offshore, along with a commercial endorsement.

Which qualification you need depends on the vessel and the work you intend to do. If you are already experienced, the first essential step is completing the RYA Coastal Skipper and Yachtmaster Theory course.

For Yachtmaster Coastal, within the last 10 years you must have:

• 800 nautical miles

• 30 days at sea

• 2 days as skipper

• 12 night hours

• A valid GMDSS VHF certificate

• An RYA-approved First Aid certificate

For Yachtmaster Offshore, within the last 10 years you must have:

• 2,500 nautical miles

• 50 days at sea

• 5 days as skipper

• 5 passages over 60 nautical miles (2 as skipper)

• A GMDSS VHF certificate

• An RYA-approved First Aid certificate

Most candidates also complete a Yachtmaster Preparation Week before taking the exam. During the exam, an independent examiner will assess your skills through practical exercises and passages. You can learn more about the Coastal exam here and the Offshore exam here.

To work commercially, you will also need a Sea Survival certificate, First Aid certificate, PPR certificate and a valid medical. Once endorsed, your Yachtmaster certificate can be used professionally.

I’d Like to Cruise Around the World

If your ambitions extend to ocean crossings, the final step is RYA Yachtmaster Ocean.

This consists of two parts: the RYA Yachtmaster Ocean Theory course and the RYA Yachtmaster Ocean Oral. You must already hold Yachtmaster Offshore to take the exam, but anyone can complete the theory course.

To be eligible for the exam, you must have completed an ocean passage of over 600 nautical miles lasting more than four days, acting as skipper, mate, or watch leader, and demonstrating the use of astro navigation.

On passing, your Yachtmaster Offshore certificate is upgraded to Yachtmaster Ocean, allowing you to skipper vessels worldwide.

Talk to Us Before Booking

If you are unsure which course is right for you, please get in touch before booking. A short conversation can save you time, money, and frustration.

We regularly speak to students who:

• Are more experienced than they realise and could start at a higher level

• Are about to book a course that won’t quite meet their goals

• Are unsure whether theory or practical training should come first

Because everyone’s background, confidence, and ambitions are different, there is no single “correct” route through the RYA scheme. Our role is to help you choose the course that genuinely suits you, not simply the next one on a list.

You can contact us by email, phone, or live chat, and we are always happy to talk things through in plain English. There is no pressure to book, and no such thing as a silly question.

Getting the right advice at the start makes the whole learning journey far more enjoyable.

instructor@ardent-training.com