The Narrowboat skills day is a one-day course at a total cost of £150 per person.
This course will be flexible taking into consideration your personal boating experience and it will be tailored to you, so those boaters lacking experience in certain areas can gain more confidence by having more concentrated tuition on a student’s specific area of concern, for example:
Entry level start up learning the basics of boating and crewing a vessel on the inland waterways, thus helping to build confidence.
Concentrating on lock operations and the hazards associated with them to build confidence through practice.
Intensive practicing berthing and unberthing, springing on and springing off.
If someone gained a Helmsman certificate years ago but hasn’t used it and needs a refresher in certain areas.
Any areas of boating fear that you may have that would require some understanding and demonstration with calm repetition practice, to overcome that fear.
You just let us know what you are looking for and we shall do our best to assist.
12 years (accompanied by adult)
Personal Safety
The difference between Lifejackets and buoyancy aids.
Risks involved in ending up in the water, including cold water shock.
Avoiding personal injury.
Correctly fitting your life jacket.
Locate the first aid kit.
Safety checks
Engine checks
Boat walk through
Equipment checks
Deck Work
Communications between Helmsman and Crew.
Use of mooring and pile pins.
Nautical Terms.
Attach fenders.
Coil rope & throwing a coiled rope.
Attaching a line to bollard, cleat, T stud.
Use of a boat hook.
Boat Handling
Basic rules of the waterways and use of map book.
Respecting other canal and towpath users.
Importance of communications.
Start and stop engine.
Moor/unmoor and signalling to Helmsman when lines are clear or secured.
Steering.
Speed Control.
Turning the boat around using forward and reverse gears.
Mooring using pile pins and steaks.
Keeping a look out.
Stopping the boat.
Unmoor and proceed to the lock .
Locks
Lock safety.
How locks work.
Tending lines in the lock.
Operate or assist in the operation of the lock gates and paddles.
Emergency situations
Your role in an emergency.
How to raise the alarm.
Man overboard recovery procedure.
Stop the boat in an emergency.
Environmental protection
Potential impact of boating on the environment.
Recycling.
1 Day
Nautical Training Certificate
