For many people the chance to go out on the water and try a boat starts with a trip on a friend's boat, most first time powerboaters come back hooked and want more. Powerboating is a fun, fast exhilarating sport and becoming a capable and safe powerboater comes from a mixture of good training, experience and common sense. Start Powerboating will help you acquire the skills and confidence to get the most from this exciting sport. It is the official course book to accompany Levels 1 and 2 of the RYA National Powerboat Scheme and is an essential guide to powerboating for those new to the sport. It goes through everything you need to know as a novice powerboater, from basics such as the boat and the equipment you need, through to heavy weather techniques and night navigation. Chapters include: • Engines and Drives • Boat Controls • Boat Handling • Turning • Coming Alongside • Leaving • Mooring Buoys • Anchoring • Man Overboard Jon Mendez developed an interest in boats at a young age with friends and family on the River Thames and has been teaching professionally for the last ten years. Jon is a RYA Yachtmaster Instructor Examiner and a Powerboat Trainer, and was the RYA Chief Powerboat Instructor. His work has taken him across the world from Scotland to New Zealand skippering yachts of up to 40m. He now runs his own marine business doing what he enjoys most working with boats, people and having fun on the water.