Learning to Drive a Canal Narrowboat On A Helmsman Course

How do you drive a narrowboat on the UK canals? In preparation for the launch of our Narrowboat One Day More, we spent 2 days on the RYA Narrowboat Helmsman Course learning all of the skills we would need, including steering, how to use locks, passing other boats, mooring and knots, turning around and going through tunnels.

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[shirleygreaves]

Good idea to take a course, you see so many novice boaters who don’t know what they are doing. Thanks for reminding us that there is a course available to learn properly. Take care. X

[annhay]

Besides the great narrowboat training, the video and photos were super. Thank you.

[zzydny]

Greetings from Mississippi. What a wonderful adventure you have begun! Somehow this reminds me of how my parents (who had a sailboat for many years) always used to quote Kenneth Grahame: “Believe me, my young friend, there is nothing - absolutely nothing - half so much worth doing as simply messing about in boats.” I'm not a boater myself but it's lovely watching others being happy on the water.

[garyneilson]

I did the same course last month, well done on passing

[orangecookie.]

We’ll be taking a course at the end of April this year, and then hiring a narrowboat for a few days (if all is safe to travel). Greetings from western Massachusetts!

[bethiakittify]

Useful overview of the content of a boat handling course. I'm looking forward to following your "journey" from Texas to life on the cut. Bon voyage!

[gwenmassey]

Wonderful. Will you be putting up regular videos about your time on the cut? Hope so. 💐💐

[NorthernNarrowboaters]

I’ve thought of doing this myself. I can only steer left handed 😂😂😂😂😂

[RichardReilly-tzkd]

We are going in May 2025 first timers from New Hampshire USA I wish I could have taken a course first …gulp 😮

[malcolmmarks]

Well. How do you drive a narrowboat. What was your experience. That was the title but not a word said. Pointless vlog. Sorry.