Boat Fitting 2

March232024
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Debdale Wharf Marina
Debdale Lane
Kibworth, Leicestershire LE8 0XA United Kingdom
March 23 - March 24

Boat Electrical Systems Design and Installation

March282024
Detail
Debdale Wharf Marina
Debdale Lane
Kibworth, Leicestershire LE8 0XA United Kingdom
March 28 - March 29

Updated RYA Diesel Engine and Boat Maintenance Course

April012024
Detail
Debdale Wharf Marina
Debdale Lane
Kibworth, Leicestershire LE8 0XA United Kingdom
April 1 - April 2

Boat Electrical Systems Design and Installation

April112024
Detail
Debdale Wharf Marina
Debdale Lane
Kibworth, Leicestershire LE8 0XA United Kingdom
April 11 - April 12

RYA Helmsman’s Course 15/04/2024

April152024
Detail
Debdale Wharf Marina
Debdale Lane
Kibworth, Leicestershire LE8 0XA United Kingdom
April 15 - April 16

Updated RYA Diesel Engine and Boat Maintenance Course

April152024
Detail
Debdale Wharf Marina
Debdale Lane
Kibworth, Leicestershire LE8 0XA United Kingdom
April 15 - April 16

New Diesel Engine and Boat Maintenance Courses added in April and May

Book direct from our Course Calendar

Why choose the Narrowboat Skills Centre:

Narrowboat Skills Centre Courses Montage

Since its formation the Narrowboat Skills Centre has built a great reputation for delivering high quality narrowboating and helmsman courses.

Our friendly, approachable and experienced team, partnered with the ideal location and great facilities make us one of the premier inland waterways training centres in the UK.

At a recent annual review the RYA inspector described the Narrowboat Skills Centre (NBSC) as: “A first class training centre with an excellent training vessel”

Narrowboat Skills Centre - Who do we work with:

At the Narrowboat Skills Centre our typical customers come in a number of guises. No matter what level you are at, we have a course to suit your requirements.

First-time Narrowboaters, New Buyers:

Our Own Dedicated Training Vessel

If you are new to the world of narrowboating an Experience Day is a great way of getting a taste of what its all about. Learn to steer, moor, turn around and navigate through locks during a relaxed, pressure-free day aboard our dedicated training boat, Gwendoline May.

Want to take things further? then come back for an RYA Helmsman’s course and obtain your IWH certificate at a later date.

You've hired a boat or bought your own and want to use it safely:

Courses for all levels of experience

Whether you are worried you may have fallen into bad habits or if being properly qualified is your goal, then our RYA recognised courses should fit the bill.

Choice of Courses

Choose from a two day Inland Waterways Helmsman course or, for more experienced boaters, a one day Assessment course, both held aboard our dedicated training vessel, Gwendoline May or, by request, aboard your own boat.

Debdale Wharf, the perfect learning location

Ideal Central Location

We are a great choice of training provider because we offer so much all in one easy to reach location.  Close to the M1 & A14 we are perfectly situated in the heart of the country. NBSC is also fortunate in being able to offer one of the widest ranges of narrowboating experiences to be found in the UK.

Unique Location, Experiential Training

Our helmsman courses typically take in swing bridges, road bridges, an aqueduct, wide locks, a tunnel, winding holes and occasionally the renowned Foxton staircase of narrow locks – just 20 minutes from our home mooring. Few, if any, other training centres can offer such variety in order for you to learn or enhance your boating skills.

Great Classroom Training too

Choice of Courses, Expert Instructors

As well as on-the-water training, Narrowboat Skills Centre offer especially great shore-based courses in our own dedicated classroom. Our instructors come from a wide range of backgrounds and have all been selected for their in-depth subject knowledge. Starting with an expanded RYA Diesel Engine & Boat Maintenance course, we also offer courses on First Aid, Boat Electrical Systems, Boat Plumbing and Heating and our increasingly popular Boat Fitting 1 and Boat Fitting 2 courses.

Can We Help You?

We’ve made it as easy as possible to book all our courses directly from our web site and in almost all cases this would be the preferred route. However, if you are unable to find the course you are looking for, or a day to suit your needs, please do ring us on 0116 442 2326 and we will do all we can to accommodate your requirements. Be patient when ringing though, as we don’t have a manned switchboard and calls are put through to a hunting group to be answered by the first available instructor. Don’t hang up – your call will be answered eventually!

Latest News:

NBSC features in Channel 4’s My Floating Home

As Alan & Val prepare for the delivery of their brand new narrowboat, watch as they complete helmsman training with the Narrowboat Skills Centre: Series 4 Episode 2

Additional Diesel Engine and Boat Maintenance Courses added

Due to exceptional demand this year, with all of our scheduled courses fully booked by mid July, we have scheduled two additional Diesel Engine and Boat Maintenance Courses. These will […]

Crick Boat Show 2023

We’re on stand WW30 in the main marquee at Crick this year. We look forward to seeing you.

John Barnard Painting Courses Resume

Perhaps not surprisingly, we’re continually getting enquiries regarding John Barnard’s boat painting courses. For various reasons John hasn’t been able to run these for a year or two and we […]

Student Reviews

I have just finished the two day Diesel Engine and Boat Maintenance course run by the Narrowboat Skills Centre and I have to say it was one of the best courses I have been on. I say that as someone who has been in education and training for over 40 years. Most of the participants in the group knew very little about narrowboat engines (two of us had only looked at one). I was sceptical that I would learn much in two days knowing nothing at all about engines. However, Steve the instructor was so knowledgeable he managed to make the whole thing accessible, informative and practical. I would recommend this course to anyone who was new or newish to diesel narrowboat engines but who wanted to do basic maintenance and servicing. All four of us in the group had a different engine but Steve knew all about each one and related each section of the course to each of our practical needs. I can change my filters, change my oil in engine and gearbox, adjust and change alternator belt, adjust tappets (I had no idea even what they were!), grease and pack my stern gland, test my coolant. In addition I can do minor paint repairs, winterise my boat if I need to, treat my water tank, clean my bilges, change gear and throttle cables and have a better understanding of the electrical system. I am indeed a new man! The venue and facilities are excellent. I am now signing up for the Electrical course!!
Peter – Diesel Engine & Boat Maintenance
I recently renewed my first aid certificate with NBSC. The instructor, Nick, was both engaging and patient, promoting learning while having fun. The classroom was very well equipped for all courses run by NBSC and, having met some of the other instructors, I'm quite sure that all courses will be delivered to equally high standards. Catering was excellent. Highly recommended.
Randy – First Aid
Myself and my wife Lynnie recently enrolled ourselves on a helmsman course with NBSC Ltd, we started our two day training on Saturday and thanks to our instructor John we are now confident enough to safely take our narrow boat out on the inland waterways, I would recommend NBSC to anyone who needs narrow boat training.
Nigel – RYA Helmsman’s
Absolutely fantastic....not only am I now a certified helmsmans on Britain's inland waterways I had a great time doing the two day course. Alistair was an excellent tutor. I am now confident I can handle any boat on the canal....ahoy matey!!!!!
Greg – RYA Helmsman’s
I've enjoyed two courses already at NBSC, the Helmsman's Course and (just recently) the Engine & Boat Maintenance Course. Both courses were absolutely fantastic and I've gained so much from both of them that I can honestly say they are well worth the money, and so much more. The experience and wealth of knowledge that the instructors have is invaluable. I can heartily recommend these folks. I've already booked myself on the next course (Boat Electrical Systems) and am looking forward to it immensely.
DJ Adams – Multiple Courses
Great course, great pace, knowledge of Steve x2 was brilliant. Thank you both
Rob – Electrics and Plumbing
Would love to come on the engine maintenance course ASAP
Cate – Electrics and Plumbing
Enjoyable course would do another one.
Sharron – Electrics and Plumbing
Good balance of theory and practical. Practical's were really helpful
Kate – Electrics and Plumbing
Thoroughly enjoyed the course. Well Done
Richard – Electrics and Plumbing
Thoroughly enjoyed it, really got me going on the right track
Rebekah – Electrics and Plumbing
Great instruction. I look forward to seeing you for another course in the future.
Bones – Electrics and Plumbing
All round good course
Kris – Electrics and Plumbing
I enjoyed all of the course. Steve is very knowledgeable and knows his stuff. Thanks Steve
Ian – Diesel Engine Maintenance
First class. We were fortunate to have two instructors!
Derek – Diesel Engine Maintenance
Very enjoyable weekend. Brilliant
Richard – Diesel Engine Maintenance
Whole course informative and instructor very knowledgeable making course enjoyable
David – Diesel Engine Maintenance
Friendly and knowledgeable trainer, happy now to tackle all maintenance jobs on my boat
Jonathon – Diesel Engine Maintenance
A really useful, fun and informative course. Thank You
Wendy – RYA Helmsmans
The course was really good value for money and I thoroughly enjoyed it.
Andrew – RYA Helmsmans
Good all-round course, Instruction clear allowing the student time to understand any problems
Barry – RYA Helmsmans
Excellent facilities, superb training. Would recommend to anyone wishing to improve their knowledge of boat handling.
Nick – RYA Helmsmans
The course was help on our own boat on the Mon and Brec canal. A great two days.
Ben – RYA Helmsmans
Steve was a great instructor, patient, professional, extremely knowledgeable
Dennis – RYA Helmsmans
A lot to learn in 2 days but a fantastic basic course to give one confidence to go out and practice to gain further experience
Anne – RYA Helmsmans
Excellent course & very good instructions throughout the full course. Excellent introduction to using a boat safely and correctly on the network
Gary – RYA Helmsmans
Well thought out and informative
John – RYA Helmsmans
Would be hard to improve on such an amazing training activity which is so well organised
Alan – RYA Helmsmans
We have very much enjoyed the course. Steve was very helpful and informative and has given us some much needed guidance and confidence.
Margaret – RYA Helmsmans
Thank you much confidence has been gained.
Rachel – RYA Helmsmans
Nick was a great instructor. No complaints, all areas covered, great venue, could not have been better
Daniel – RYA Helmsmans
Really enjoyed the 2 days, will recommend to others. The guidance will remain with me always
Rosalie – RYA Helmsmans
Thoroughly enjoyed our time here. Learnt new skills and improved old ones. Nick was a great instructor and made the course great fun as well as a great learning experience
Derek – RYA Helmsmans
We have some experience of narrowboating and were looking for tips and guidance on how to improve. The course provided everything I was looking for. Also great fun.
Andrew – RYA Helmsmans
Helpful instructor, was very patient & lots of time to practice.
Priya – RYA Helmsmans
Nick was a very informative instructor who didn’t just teach the basics he also taught us the etiquette and answered all the questions we had. Was a great 2 days
Chris – RYA Helmsmans
Fab course.Nick was lovely, engaging & professional over both days
Chaaya – RYA Helmsmans
Best bits – Steve's patience, good humour, and ability to explain in different ways the same thing so that I understood. Tunnel, locks, mooring – all the things I had been scared of. Intense, all necessary  and so many tips that a whole new world of boating is opened up.
Hilary – RYA Helmsmans
We had a fabulous 2 days and so looking forward to driving my own boat. Thank you Steve
Dee – RYA Helmsmans
Best bits – learning ways of tying up & manoeuvring slowly especially when mooring up & moving off but difficult to choose because all good.
Karen – RYA Helmsmans

The Narrowboat Skills Centre is a recognised RYA Training Centre