RYA Powerboat Level 2 Southampton: 8 Schools and Prices
Southampton and the Solent are packed with RYA Powerboat Level 2 schools. That's good news if you need the ticket, but it makes choosing harder. Below are eight schools in Southampton, Hamble, Hythe, Cowes and Portsmouth, with the price each one publishes on its own site, plus which ones make sense if you're heading for yacht work.
If you're still working out what PB2 is, what the syllabus covers and how the commercial endorsement works, start with our main guide to RYA Powerboat Level 2. This post is the local picture.
Where can you do RYA Powerboat Level 2 in Southampton?
At least ten centres around Southampton and the Solent run RYA Powerboat Level 2, in the city itself and in Hamble, Hythe, Cowes and Portsmouth. The course takes two days and costs £280 to £425. The eight below publish their details online (Cowes is a 28-minute Red Jet ride from Southampton). Prices are from each school's own site, checked 9 November 2026:
| School | Base | Price | Days / format | Dates and availability | Source (checked 9 Nov 2026) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ocean Sports Tuition | Saxon Wharf Marina, Southampton (River Itchen) | £295 weekdays, £315 weekends, incl. VAT | 2 days, 09:30–17:00 | Weekday pairs (Mon–Tue or Thu–Fri) or weekends | oceansportstuition.co.uk |
| Hamble School of Yachting | Mercury Yacht Harbour, Hamble | £280 (VAT not stated) | 2 days, 09:00–17:00 | Weekends only, 13–14 Mar to 9–10 Oct 2027; no winter 2026 dates listed | hamble.co.uk |
| Hamble River Sailing Club | Ferry Hard, Hamble | £295 non-members, £240 members | 2 days; 1-day direct assessment £160 | Via the club's booking link | hrsc.org.uk |
| Fire Aid Academy | Hardley, Hythe (Southampton Water) | £300 incl. VAT | 2 days | Ask; can be booked back to back with STCW | fireaid.com |
| Associated Marine Training | Hamble Point Marina, Hamble | from £345 (VAT not stated) | 2 days | Year-round on request | associatedmarinetraining.com |
| Flying Fish | High Street, Cowes, Isle of Wight | £340 | 2 days | Starts 14, 17, 19, 21, 28 Nov and 1, 3, 5, 12 Dec 2026; Jan 2027 onwards | flyingfishonline.com |
| Portsmouth & Chichester Marine Training | Port Solent Marina, Portsmouth | £425 incl. VAT | 2 days, max 3 students | Ask | portsmouthmarinetraining.co.uk |
| Chieftain Training | Southampton Water Activities Centre, Southampton | Ask (not published) | 2 days, 09:15–16:45, 3 students per instructor | Runs regularly year-round | chieftain.training |
Two more big names, UKSA in Cowes (£290 course-only up to 24 January 2027) and University of Southampton Sport (£249, or £199 for members, with a 28–29 November 2026 course), are covered in our main PB2 guide. For any other power boat school, the RYA's course page links to a search of every recognised centre.
The River Hamble, just east of Southampton: tight, busy marinas like these are where PB2 students practise coming alongside. Photo: Tim Sheerman-Chase, CC BY 4.0.
How much does Powerboat Level 2 cost in Southampton?
A Powerboat Level 2 course in Southampton costs £280 to £425 for the two days, and most schools charge £295–£345. The cheapest published prices are Hamble School of Yachting (£280), then Ocean Sports Tuition's weekday course and Hamble River Sailing Club (£295 each). Join HRSC and its member rate drops to £240.
Check what's included before you compare:
- VAT. Ocean Sports Tuition, Fire Aid and Portsmouth & Chichester quote prices including VAT. Hamble School of Yachting, Associated Marine Training and Flying Fish don't say either way, so ask.
- Kit. Ocean Sports Tuition, Hamble School of Yachting and Flying Fish include waterproofs. Chieftain hires them at £5 a day.
- Extras. Ocean Sports Tuition includes a free ICC assessment and the RYA Start Powerboating book. Flying Fish includes publications, fuel and berthing.
- Group size. Portsmouth & Chichester is the most expensive, but caps the boat at three students, so you get more time on the helm.
Ocean Sports Tuition charges £20 more at weekends, so if you can do a weekday pair, that's the easy saving.
Ocean Village marina on the River Itchen, a short walk from Southampton city centre. Photo: Bill Boaden, CC BY-SA 2.0.
How long is the Powerboat Level 2 course in Southampton?
Two days at every school in the table; the ones that list hours run from about 9am to 5pm. The RYA sets no prerequisites and a minimum age of 12. Most of the time is on the water: launching and recovery, coming alongside, picking up a buoy, man overboard drills and some fast driving. The full syllabus is in our PB2 guide.
The Solent is a good place to learn because it's hard. The tides run strongly, the rivers are crowded and there's commercial shipping in Southampton Water. If you can come alongside a pontoon on the Hamble with the tide running, a Mediterranean marina won't scare you.
If you already drive boats, Hamble River Sailing Club offers a one-day direct assessment for £160 instead of the full course.
Which Solent powerboat course suits yacht crew?
For deck work, any recognised school gives you the same certificate. The difference is what else you can book alongside it. You'll also need STCW Basic Safety Training to work on a yacht at all, and a VHF/SRC radio course if you want the commercial endorsement later. Here's what the local schools offer:
- Fire Aid Academy (Hythe) sells the most obvious crew bundle: the 5-day STCW Basic Safety Training plus PB2 on consecutive days for £999. That's seven days, and you leave with both tickets.
- Flying Fish (Cowes) sells STCW Basic Safety Training (6 days, £850) and VHF (1 day, £180) as well as PB2, but shows no bundle price. PB2 is also part of its superyacht deckhand and stew programmes, and it lists PB2 starts through November and December 2026.
- Ocean Sports Tuition (Southampton) runs the RYA Tender Operator course (£345 incl. VAT, 2 days, 17+), built around the kind of tender driving you'd do on a yacht.
- Advanced Powerboat is the next step up, if a captain wants you running guests at night or in rougher water. Ocean Sports Tuition charges £350 + VAT, Associated Marine Training from £395 and Portsmouth & Chichester £425 incl. VAT.
My honest advice: a green deckhand doesn't need Advanced or Tender Operator to land a first job. STCW and an ENG1 are the minimum, and PB2 is the extra that junior deckhand jobs ask for most. Spend the extra money on getting to Antibes or Palma for the season instead. If you're aiming at the longer deck path, Day Skipper theory online is a cheap next step you can do from home.
How do you get to Solent powerboat schools?
- By train: London Waterloo to Southampton Central takes about 1 hour 13 minutes on the fastest service, with about two direct trains an hour. Hamble has its own station on the Southampton–Portsmouth line, a walk or bus ride from the village.
- To Cowes: the Red Jet foot-passenger ferry runs from Southampton's Town Quay to West Cowes in about 28 minutes, roughly hourly through the day and more often at peak times. Check redfunnel.co.uk for the current timetable.
- Across the Hamble: the little pink foot ferry links Hamble and Warsash.
A Red Jet on Southampton Water: the foot-passenger fast ferry between Southampton's Town Quay and West Cowes. Photo: Peter Trimming, CC BY-SA 2.0.
Once you've got your tickets, make yourself easy to find. Crew can sign up free on Radius, check in at their port and show up for captains looking for crew nearby.
RYA Powerboat Level 2 Southampton FAQs
What is the minimum age for Powerboat Level 2 in Southampton?
The RYA minimum is 12, and most Solent schools follow it. Fire Aid's minimum is 16 (12–16s only on a private course with a parent or guardian), Flying Fish takes 12–17s only on a private course with a parent, and under-18s at Portsmouth & Chichester need a guardian.
Can I do Powerboat Level 2 over a weekend?
Yes. Hamble School of Yachting only lists weekend courses, and Ocean Sports Tuition runs weekends for £315.
Can I do Powerboat Level 2 in Southampton in winter?
Yes, but the choice is thinner. Flying Fish lists November and December 2026 starts, and Associated Marine Training (on request) and Chieftain run year-round.
Does Powerboat Level 2 get me an ICC?
PB2 lets you apply to the RYA for an ICC for powerboats. Ocean Sports Tuition includes a free ICC assessment with its course.
Do yacht crew need Powerboat Level 2?
Deck crew usually do, because they drive the tender, and many deckhand job ads list it alongside STCW and an ENG1. Stews usually don't need it.
Is Powerboat Level 2 cheaper in Southampton than Antibes?
Usually, yes. Solent prices run £280–£425, against €550 at the Antibes school in our main guide, but add your travel and accommodation before deciding.