NavCal River Rides

NavCal Marine Services LLC

COMING SOON TOWBOAT PILOT TRAINING IN

1/4 SCALE MANNED MODEL

NavCal Marine Services is offering inexpensive Towboat Pilot Training aboard a 1/4 scale model Towboat with two 1/4 scale barges. Contact us if you are interested in this quick way to get "THE FEEL" of operating a towboat/barge combination before you go further with your training.

There is a growing realization about the costs, and efficiencies of simulator training for towboat pilots. While simulators are becoming more and more sophisticated there is a limit to the true "feel" of operating a simulator. For these reasons we firmly believe that a combination of inexpensive manned model training plus simulator and actual hands-on experience is the fastest and most economical way to train a towboat pilot.

Prior experience as a deckhand or functioning in a similar position can certainly give you a significant head start toward becoming a towboat pilot. As with most occupations there is a LARGE amount of terminology that MUST be thoroughly mastered in order to function aboard a towboat and barge combination. If you do not already have this experience some of it is available in printed form in our Intro to Towboating. Experience is much better but lacking that our book can help in this area.

Manned models, like the one offered here, can get you valuable initial training on towboat handling. Through careful lesson planning it can expose you to many situations in a short period of time. Daily vessel operation is generally "hours and hours on sheer boredom punctuated with moments of absolute terror".This model training will expose you to the following varied situations in a limited and practical amount of time:

• Review of terminology, equipment, and lights
• Light boat maneuvering
• Radar and GPS chartplotter use
• Facing up and rigging type review
• Handling loaded barges
• Handling empties in wind
• Tripping and operating in rain/fog

Simulator training can provide training on handling specific local conditions around bridges, narrows, and locks without the danger of vessel damage. Based on 30 years of experience with simulated training, one must be very careful to not treat the simulator as a game. You must treat it as a valuable resource in the learning process. There are limitations in the area of how faithfully real life can be simulated but this training can be very beneficial. It can assist in compressing the time needed for training in various situations.

Hands-on experience is obviously the best form on training available. It is time consuming, requires a good instructor, and mistakes can cause equipment damage and damage to bridges, etc. Hands-on training requires a willingness to be very observant and the commitment to the long amount of time needed to become fully proficient in all areas that you may be expected to be capable of operating.

The proper combination of the above training types can provide the necessary training in the shortest amount of time at the least cost to get you up and going as a towboat pilot so you can become a productive employee in America's growing inland water transportation industry.