Specialist RYA powerboat training Southampton with Mendez Marine

Based on the River Hamble with direct access to the Solent, Mendez Marine is the Sea School with a difference! Yes, we are an RYA Training Centre, offering superb courses but we also specialise in family and own boat tuition.

In addition to the full RYA training syllabus for powerboats all the way up to Yachtmaster, we specialise in bespoke training. This could be as "simple" as a day's refresher on your own boat through to assisted passages anywhere in the world. Not only do we think we are good at it - so do our clients! We reguarly write for magazines, several books and DVD's, see here for the latest items.

Our clients have vessels from 8 to 80 feet and include everybody from the leisure boater to police forces, the military and other commercial operations requiring a high standard of instruction and qualification for their water based staff. No matter who you are, our courses may be demanding, but there will be a fun element as well. After all, boating is about relaxation, not stress!

Our instructors are chosen, not just for their teaching and boat handling skills but just as importantly, their sense of humour. Many of our clients build such a rapport with their instructor that they keep coming back as clients and as friends.

Whatever course you choose to do with us, be it an RYA qualification or just some basic skills either on the water or shore based, you can be assured of professional training in a fun and friendly environment and on high quality equipment.

Jon Mendez ­ Principal/Director
on’s keen interest in boats started at a young age with friends and family on the River Thames. He has been teaching professionally for the last 15 years.

He is an RYA Yachtmaster®, Instructor Examiner and a Powerboat Trainer; this work has taken him across the world from Scotland to New Zealand and all over the Mediterranean on craft up to 40 metres.

Having spent three years as the RYA Chief Motor and Powerboat Instructor, he returned to the commercial world to run his own marine business carrying on with what he enjoys most: ­ boats, people and having fun on the water.

Julie Proudfoot, Yachtmaster Instructor
Julie is only one of three female Yachtmaster Instructors in the UK and was RYA Yachtmaster Instructor of the Year in 2006. Julie's passion for boating started on her father's boat and she enjoyed it so much that she decided to make a career out of teaching people to drive big power boats and to share her enthusiasm.

Steve Tyler, Yachtmaster Instructor
Steve Tyler mendez MarineSteve lives for boating and teaching it is a passion. Not only is he a Yachtmaster Instructor he also teaches 1st Aid, VHF, Sea Survival and Personal Watercraft. He is a Powerboat and PWC Trainer.

Operating address for Powerboat / Motorcruising / Theory courses:

Mendez Marine Hamble River Boatyard, Bridge Road, Swanwick, Southampton Hants SO31 7EB

Leave M27 at Junction 8, at roundabout from the East take 1st exit, from the West take 3rd exit
Follow to the next roundabout; take 1st exit A27 sign posted Bursledon.
Follow down the hill (approx 1.2 miles), go under the railway bridge, over the River Hamble and turn immediately left into Hamble River Boatyard, there is a Fairline Showroom on the right as you drive in, we are above that and the door is just to the left of their main entrance. Call 07985 954260 if you require assistance on the day.

Nearest British Rail station is Bursledon, which is on the branch line from Southampton to Portsmouth, both of which are served by London Waterloo. Buses from Southampton are the 78 and 80. Taxi from Southampton central is about 12 minutes and from Southampton Airport is 15 minutes.