Professional diploma800 h · Online · 8 modules

Professional Diploma in Leisure Boat Operation and Maintenance

This professional diploma gives you the essential skills to operate a leisure boat safely and keep it in top condition. You will study boat types, paperwork and registration, inboard and outboard engines, onboard electrical systems, water, fuel and bilge systems, boat handling, hull and deck maintenance, winterising and maintenance planning, and safety and the skipper's responsibilities, ending with an operation and maintenance plan for a real boat.

Duration800 h
ModeOnline
Start1 December
Modules8
Program diagnosis

Prior knowledge check

These are the skills this program gives you. Tick the ones you already master and we will tell you which part of the syllabus is for you.

Your diagnosis
6of 6 to cover

You are starting from scratch in this subject. The program is designed precisely for that.

About the program

What is the Professional Diploma in Leisure Boat Operation and Maintenance?

This professional diploma prepares owners, skippers and technicians to run and look after motor boats, sailing boats and inflatables with confidence. You will learn the parts, design categories, registration and mandatory documents of a leisure boat, how petrol and diesel engines, cooling, exhaust, impellers and anodes work and which faults are most common, how batteries, chargers, 12 and 24 V circuits, shore power, lithium batteries and solar panels are installed and diagnosed, how fresh water, fuel, bilge, gray and black water systems and seacocks are maintained, how to prepare a trip, maneuver in port, anchor, navigate along the coast, at night and in bad weather and keep the logbook, how to care for the hull, antifouling, gelcoat, teak, rigging, sails and ropes, and how to winterise the boat, plan an annual maintenance budget and handle breakdowns at sea.

What sets this professional diploma apart: a practical view that combines operating the boat with maintaining it; coverage of motor boats, sailing boats and inflatables alike; detailed attention to the systems that fail most often, such as impellers, filters, batteries, bilge pumps and marine toilets; up-to-date content on lithium batteries and solar panels; a planning approach to maintenance with calendars, records and annual budgets; and a final project in which you draw up the operation and maintenance plan for a specific boat.

Program typeProfessional diploma
ModeOnline
Duration800 hours
Modules8
Start1 December

Program highlights

  • Operation and maintenance together: running the boat and keeping it in good order.
  • Engines: petrol and diesel, cooling, impellers, oil changes, filters and anodes.
  • Electrics: batteries, 12/24 V circuits, shore power, lithium batteries and solar panels.
  • Onboard systems: fresh water, fuel, bilge, gray and black water and seacocks.
  • Planning: winterising, maintenance calendar, records and annual budget.
  • Final project: operation and maintenance plan for a specific boat.
Syllabus

Syllabus of the Professional Diploma in Leisure Boat Operation and Maintenance

8 modules. Select a module to see its content.

Module 1

The leisure boat

  • 1.1. Boat types: motor, sail and inflatable
  • 1.2. Parts of the boat
  • 1.3. Registration and clearance rules
  • 1.4. Mandatory documents
  • 1.5. Safety equipment
  • 1.6. Clearance and navigation requirements
  • 1.7. Design categories
  • 1.8. Boat registration
At this stage
100 hestimated workload
8 wkweeks at your pace
Module 2

Inboard and outboard engines

  • 2.1. How petrol and diesel engines work
  • 2.2. Cooling and exhaust systems
  • 2.3. Starting and stopping
  • 2.4. Checks before going out
  • 2.5. Common faults
  • 2.6. Changing oil and filters
  • 2.7. Impellers and water pumps
  • 2.8. Engine anodes
At this stage
100 hestimated workload
8 wkweeks at your pace
Module 3

Onboard electrical systems

  • 3.1. Batteries and chargers
  • 3.2. 12 and 24 V circuits
  • 3.3. Switchboard and protection devices
  • 3.4. Shore power connection in port
  • 3.5. Basic diagnosis
  • 3.6. Installing electronic equipment
  • 3.7. Lithium batteries
  • 3.8. Solar panels
At this stage
100 hestimated workload
8 wkweeks at your pace
Module 4

Water, fuel and bilge systems

  • 4.1. Fresh water circuits
  • 4.2. Fuel tanks and filters
  • 4.3. Bilge pumps
  • 4.4. Black and gray water
  • 4.5. Leak prevention
  • 4.6. Pressure pumps and water heaters
  • 4.7. Seacocks
  • 4.8. Marine toilet maintenance
At this stage
100 hestimated workload
8 wkweeks at your pace
Module 5

Operation and boat handling

  • 5.1. Preparing to go out
  • 5.2. Maneuvers in port
  • 5.3. Coastal navigation
  • 5.4. Anchoring
  • 5.5. Returning and mooring
  • 5.6. Basic night navigation
  • 5.7. Navigating in bad weather
  • 5.8. Logbook
At this stage
100 hestimated workload
8 wkweeks at your pace
Module 6

Hull and deck maintenance

  • 6.1. Cleaning and inspecting the hull
  • 6.2. Antifouling and haul-out
  • 6.3. Gelcoat and small repairs
  • 6.4. Deck fittings and hardware
  • 6.5. Protecting woodwork
  • 6.6. Teak deck maintenance
  • 6.7. Rigging inspection
  • 6.8. Sails and ropes
At this stage
100 hestimated workload
8 wkweeks at your pace
Module 7

Winterising and maintenance planning

  • 7.1. Preparing for winter
  • 7.2. Protecting the engine
  • 7.3. Maintenance calendar
  • 7.4. Records and logbook
  • 7.5. Annual budget
  • 7.6. Recommissioning after winter
  • 7.7. Dry storage
  • 7.8. Annual safety check
At this stage
100 hestimated workload
8 wkweeks at your pace
Module 8

Safety and responsibility

  • 8.1. Lifesaving equipment
  • 8.2. Emergency procedures
  • 8.3. Mandatory insurance
  • 8.4. Respect for the environment
  • 8.5. Responsibilities of the skipper
  • 8.6. Handling breakdowns at sea
  • 8.7. Assistance in port
  • 8.8. Final project: operation and maintenance plan for a boat
At this stage
100 hestimated workload
8 wkweeks at your pace
Plan your pace

Duration and format of the Professional Diploma in Leisure Boat Operation and Maintenance

It is 800 hours. Tell us how many you can study each week and we will tell you when you will really finish.

4 h30 h
With 12 h per week
15
months to finish
67 weeks
weeks in total

This is the pace at which most students finish. It fits well with the installment plan.

Faculty

Academic leadership and faculty

The Navalis teaching team: working professionals who teach and supervise the programs.

Dra. Marina AlcoverDr. Marina AlcoverAcademic Director and Head of Quality Assurance
Ing. Diego CifuentesEng. Diego CifuentesSenior Lecturer in Naval Welding and Non-Destructive Testing; Head of QA/QC for Welded Joints
Cap. Javier Abaroa (MCA)Capt. Javier Abaroa (MCA)Senior Lecturer in Ship Handling, Electronic Navigation (ECDIS/Radar/ARPA) and GMDSS; STCW Compliance and Bridge Resource Management Coordinator
Dr. Pau FerrerDr. Pau FerrerSenior Lecturer in Naval Architecture and Simulation; Director of the Hydrodynamics and CFD Laboratory
Dra. Nuria LlobregatDr. Nuria LlobregatSenior Lecturer in Marine Meteorology, SAR and Operational Safety; Navigation Risk Management Coordinator
Ing. Javier BañulsEng. Javier BañulsSenior Lecturer in Electrical Engineering, Automation and ETO Engineering; Electronic Integration and Engine Alarms Coordinator
Ing. Sofía MarquinaEng. Sofía MarquinaSenior Lecturer in Materials, Composites and Corrosion Protection; Coordinator of the Advanced Paints and Coatings Line
Ing. Tomás RieraEng. Tomás RieraSenior Lecturer in Propulsion, Alternative Energy and Hybrid Systems; Energy Performance and Vibration Coordinator
Objectives

Objectives of the Professional Diploma in Leisure Boat Operation and Maintenance

01Diagnose and fix common faults, identifying the root cause with flowcharts and diagnostic tools and checking the repair.
02Manage safety on board and comply with maritime rules, applying emergency procedures for fire and man overboard.
03Optimize the performance of the engine and auxiliary systems through adjustments and preventive and corrective maintenance based on manufacturers' manuals.
04Carry out preventive and corrective maintenance of leisure boats, repairing mechanical, electrical and hydraulic systems safely.
05Coordinate and supervise leisure boat operations, keeping passengers and the boat safe and planning the route.
06Apply effective navigation and communication techniques, using the right channel and standard phrases with other vessels and authorities.
Careers

Career opportunities after the Professional Diploma in Leisure Boat Operation and Maintenance

01Leisure boat maintenance technician at marinas, boatyards and service companies
02Deckhand on leisure boatshandling, mooring, cleaning and general maintenance.
03Charter fleet technician or operatorkeeping rental boats ready and safe.
04Leisure boat skipper broadening their technical knowledge (holding the license required by the maritime authority)
05Technical sales adviser for boats and nautical equipment
06Owner-operator able to manage the running and upkeep of their own boat
Frequently asked questions

Questions about the Professional Diploma in Leisure Boat Operation and Maintenance

To give you the knowledge to operate and maintain leisure boats safely and efficiently, reducing breakdowns and extending the life of the boat.

No. It focuses on leisure boats: motor boats, sailing boats and inflatables.

No. Navalis Institute teaches the subject, but recreational skipper licenses are issued by the competent maritime authority after its own exams.

Yes. You study how petrol and diesel engines work, pre-departure checks, oil and filter changes, impellers, anodes and common faults.

Yes. You learn how to prepare the boat and engine for winter, store it ashore and recommission it, with a maintenance calendar and annual budget.

You draw up the operation and maintenance plan for a specific boat, including checks, calendar, records and budget.

Fully online, through a virtual campus available 24/7, with live sessions that are recorded and tutorials with the teaching staff.

The professional diploma comprises 800 hours of study across 8 modules of about 100 hours each and ends with a final project. You can progress at your own pace within the schedule set when you enroll.

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Online admission

Admission process

No waiting for a call back. If your documents are in order, you can enroll in the same session.

Entry requirements
  • Profile: aimed at leisure boat owners, skippers who want to update their knowledge of propulsion and safety, marine mechanics and maintenance technicians, charter fleet managers and experienced boating enthusiasts. Vocational training in mechanics, electrics or electronics, or experience in boat maintenance, is recommended; a recreational skipper license is helpful but not essential.
  • Language: sufficient command of English to follow the classes and the technical documentation.
  • Technical resources: a computer with a stable internet connection, an up-to-date browser and a camera for live sessions and project presentations.
  • Admission: online application, review of your profile and a short interview with the academic team.
  1. 01
    Application
    Your details, background and documents.
  2. 02
    Instant review
    We check that everything is complete and in order.
  3. 03
    Enrollment
    Choose full payment or instalments and reserve your place.
Start my applicationFrom $380 deposit

Admission is provisional until the committee validates the documents provided. If you do not meet the requirements, the full amount is refunded.

Any questions?

Ask us before you enroll

Leave your details and admissions will write to you to answer any questions. If you are already sure, you can apply and pay in the same session.

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