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.

We offer the widest range of courses for Narrowboaters you will find anywhere in the UK and are constantly updating our courses to reflect changes in the boating world.

We belive we are one of the most successful inland waterways training centres  having trained over 2000 students, issuing over 600 Helmsmans certificates and having over 550 students on our ever popular Diesel Engine and Boat Maintenance course.

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”

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.

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.

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.

Take  a two day Inland Waterways Helmsman to brush up on your skills and attain an Internationally recognised certificate,  held aboard our dedicated training vessel, Gwendoline May or, by request, aboard your own boat.

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.

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 or specialist workshop. 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 Boat Electrical Systems, Boat Plumbing and Heating and our increasingly popular Boat Fitting 1 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!