Reviews – What our students say . . .

It was a really good and insightful course. The instructor had extensive in depth knowledge and answered all questions and queries well. I would highly  recommend the course to anyone wishing to learn about 12/24/240v systems on a boat or caravan

Lewis, July 2024

Excellent two-day course which has been extremely valuable. Hopefully helps me fault-find electrical problems on my own boat and install new systems.

John, August 2025

Really enjoyed the course and John was a great instructor who was very patient and answered every question we had. Have left feeling a lot more confident and equipped for our own adventures.

Lauren, September 2024

Great course, with all aspects covered.

Brian, April 2026

Alistair was a very good instructor who explained, demonstrated and allowed us to practice. He was very patient and positive.

Matthew, September 2024

Course was very informative ad went from basics to more advanced in good time.

Mike, August 2025

Steve’s amazing knowledge is phenomenal and his supply of anecdotes to illustrate a point made what could be very daunting knowledge attainable and enjoyable. Thank you Steve.

Fiona, April 2024

Friendly atmosphere. Mo pressure apart from the mental arithmetic! 😊 Reassurance if it goes wrong don’t worry it can be fixed. Overall a great week!

Stuart, February 2025

Fab training on tools we’re not completely familiar with. Workspace also gave us ideas on organising things in a smaller space! Steve was fabulous instructor and we had a most enjoyable week & a nice drawer set too! 😊

Collette, February 2025

Wonderful experience overall, loved all the hands-on experience to build confidence at the tiller.

Tyler, August 2025

Very informative and took a lot of the fear out of carrying out maintenance on your boat. Really liked the amount of knowledge Steve has and how he could answer any question.

Chris, October 2024

Thoroughly enjoyed – return home enthused and with a list of jobs to complete.

Sue, June 2024

Put simply, the course has changed my mindset from seeing my boat from a slightly intimidating object to just a big Meccano set!

Brian, October 2025

Steve Dennison was fantastic at communicating. I would highly recommend this course. My confidence is now sky high.

Andrew, February 2024

John is a very thorough and patient instructor. All manoeuvres were covered in detail with plenty of practice as were lock procedures.

Sue, August 2024

Steve provided and informative and safe environment for us to learn how to fit out a boat, from lining to cabinet making. He was really adaptive to our particular queries and demonstrated multiple ways of getting things done. I really loved the course and had a really amazing week. Couldn’t recommend Steve and NBSC highly enough.

Kathryn-Boat Fitting Week-8/24

Great course, very well thought out and thanks to Alistair for his patience and good humour. The routes were great, taking in a lot of things not available on others.

Clive, April 2024

It was an excellent few days and very enjoyable. The whole course was brilliantly presented. Thank you

Gabriella, April 2026

Excellent instructor, very calm and informative. Lots of great tips. Gave me so much more confidence in handling the boat.

Nicola, September 2025

The course was more than I expected. Steve is an excellent communicator/instructor. The classroom is clean and tidy. Overall, a very good experience.

Daniel, January 2026

It was lovely, really everything I was looking for. Would and will be taking more classes in the future.

Tyler, March 2024

John was 10/10 Clear and informative. I would recommend!

Kay, October 2025

All -in-all an excellent couple of learning days. Full marks to John!

Ken, March 2026

As novice boaters the course has greatly boosted our confidence.

Martin, April 2026

A brilliant instructor who knows so much about boats and how they operate. His knowledge and enthusiasm made learning about engines and maintenance much more interesting.

Stuart, May 2026

Loved every minute. Fantastic balance of practical, helpful, safe boating skills and fun. Incredibly patient, kind and skilful instructor. Many thanks.

Sue, April 2026

I was actually quite apprehensive before the course. Rob is an excellent communicator and such an enthusiastic person to teach the different parts of narrowboating.

Paul, July 2025

Rob was an excellent instructor. The day has been hugely informative, enjoyable and fun. Great day, thank you.

Robynne, June 2025

Great Course. Steve with all his experience was invaluable.

Dean, June 2024

From start to finish, the course was excellent. Huge thank you.

Chris, March 2025

The course was excellent from start to finish. John was very patient and calm, which gave me the confidence to deal with any situation we encountered.

Lee, August 2025

Steve was fantastic. His knowledge was huge. Relly like the ability to have access to the NBSC library.

Mike, October 2024

Very educational. John was very informative. Knows his stuff! Very calm and explained everything clearly.

Denise, May 2026

As someone who knows little about engines the course has given me the confidence to perform basic tasks and the ability to undertake a service. Lots of good tips and advice.

Sue, September 2024

I really enjoyed all of it. I learnt so much. Steve is so knowledgeable and a really good teacher. The variety of gear is amazing, it’s so good to see all the possibilities.

Alice, August 2024

We had a great day and covered everything I wanted. Good company too!

Andrew, August 2025

Great course. Rob was brilliant. Gave us plenty of good advice and put us completely at ease.

Chris, March 2026

Very informative. Improved my knowledge and confidence. Very good fun too. Enjoyed it!

Amy, July 2025

Great day. Lots learnt in a very enjoyable and relaxed atmosphere. Money well spent!

Pete, October 2025

I found the course really helpful and Steve’s presentation was fantastic. Really knowledgeable and helpful when questions asked.

Oliver, November 2025

Very informative. Covered a lot of useful information relating to modify and maintain my existing setup.

Martin, August 2024

It was lovely to work as a small group and have time to understand the information.

Stephanie, September 2025

Good course with knowledgeable, engaging, but relaxed instructor.

Matt, July 2025

Completely enjoyable – I learnt so much. A truly positive experience.

Debra, July 2025

Course was great. Whilst information can be picked up on the internet, there is no replacement for hands-on experience with a knowledgeable instructor who can answer questions.

Tim, March 2025

Great delivery of course from Steve. Found being in a small group very beneficial. Clear and concise explanations of topics lots of practical working. Steve has a wealth of knowledge 😊

Ann, June 2024

Good fun – small numbers meant lots of time to do practical and ask questions. Very well structured course and well delivered.

Sara, January 2024

Perfectly pitched for beginners and has been instrumental to giving me the confidence to carry out maintenance tasks. Just as important has been the chance to ask all the questions I needed answering for ages. Trainer is knowledgeable and approachable. Excellent course!

Mark, April 2024

Such a great day. Learned so much more than I expected. Thank you.

Sioban, September 2025

Definitely worth coming on the course. Learned lots of useful things. Pitched at a great level and in an understandable way. Practical sessions were the best part.

Hazel, January -2024

Never been on a Narrowboat before, now looking to get one. Thoroughly enjoyed it and the course was an excellent introduction. Thank you.

Derek, October 2024

The vessel & the instructor, John, were very good. John is an excellent instructor . I very much enjoyed and learnt a lot. Many Thanks.

Gary, August 2024

Very informative and Rob has the perfect approach on everything. I particularly appreciated his manner as I am a very nervous client. So glad we did this course. Exceeded our expectation.

Tracy, April 2026

I loved the course. I found the lecture part incredibly useful. Also, I’m very impressed by the amount of time, consideration and care that went into putting it all together, especially the drawings and presentation. Guidance throughout was phenomenal. I would say this course is a MUST for anyone attempting a fitout.

Sofiia, February 2025

I was extremely apprehensive about attending the course as I am not mechanical in any way. I needn’t have worried. Steve was brilliant, very patient and calm. Everything was clearly explained.  My confidence in boat maintenance has gone up 100%. Thank you Steve.

Dave, April 2025

Really enjoyed the course – lots of information but not overbearing. A good amount of practical parts as well.

Freya, May 2024

Loved the course. Had some experience of narrowboats from holidays but now feel much more confident in handling and manoeuvring the boat. Some absolute gems that I’ll use in everyday boating. Thanks.

Elaine, June 2024

This was first time experience on a narrowboat. Rob took me from complete beginner to having confidence that I can manage a week’s narrowboat holiday.

Lisa, July 2025

I found the instructions very clear and explained well. After the first hour all nerves seem to have disappeared, and it became easier.

David, July 2024

Lovely atmosphere, welcoming and conducive to learning.

Susan, May 2025

This was another outstanding course with a good balance of theory and lots of practical time.

Bridget, June 2025

As a complete novice to the world of narrowboating, I feel that this course has given me confidence, knowledge and practical skills to really be able to enjoy my forthcoming holiday. Would recommend this course to anyone wanting to go boating.

Paul, April 2026

As a new boater I found this invaluable. I now feel confident that I know where and what things are in the boat. I am confident to do most things but realise my limits! This was invaluable.

Rob, April 2024

As a new owner the course was very helpful and gave me confidence and encouragement. Excellent teacher!

Claire, October 2025

I enjoyed the course and it was very relevant to my needs. The course was well paced, practical and not too technical

Mark, December 2025

I loved the course. I’m really impressed by the amount of time, consideration and care that went on to putting it together. I would say this course is a must for anyone attempting a fitout.

Sofiia, February 2025

Wonderful! I learned so much. I wish this course had been on offer when we bought the boat. It would have saved us thousands of pounds spent on the result of bad advice and cock-ups that had to be resolved

Cheryl, April 2025

Excellent course for someone new to narrowboat ownership – highly recommended.

Matt, July 2025

A pleasant informative two day course with lots of different elements and a calm instructor – who was great!

Peter, May 2026

Rob was an excellent instructor, making the course enjoyable and very informative. I would highly recommend this course to anyone who wants to feel safe and confident on the inland waterways.

Stephen, August 2025

Alistair was great – knew his stuff!

Sarah, October 2025

Great mixture of practical and lesson based learning. Lots of information and topics covered. Steve is a great instructor and listens carefully. Layout clear and concise.

Alex, March 2024

It was great (all of it). I though Alistair was a positive, informative and knowledgeable instructor.

Simon, August 2025

Felt like I’d known John for years! I felt more confident about cruising. I’m so excited to get going. John really made me feel like I can do this. Would be lost without his guidance.

Olivia, March 2026

Absolutely brilliant – every aspect spot on! And had a great instructor and fellow trainees. All made for a really instructive and fun course.

Arlaine, May 2026

Great course, well presented from a knowledgeable tutor.

Stephen, February 2025

All very good, Informative and supportive. Alistair is very helpful and knowledgeable.

Harry, July 2024

Really relevant things studied. A great pace to understand it. Didn’t blind you with unnecessary technical terms. Completely Brilliant.

Phillipa, May 2025

The course covered everything I wanted in good detail at a pace that was easy to absorb. I always felt safe and was given confidence from Alistair’s very clear instruction.

Mark, September 2025

Steve D was very informative. I’m about to have a sailaway started and he looked at my offer and was able to advise some options to ask for and some not to bother with.

Allan, August 2024

Loved it. Can’t wait to book on to installation courses!

James, June 2025

Friendly atmosphere. No pressure (apart from my mental arithmetic!) Reassurance if it goes wrong – don’t worry, it can be fixed. Overall, a great week!

Really well thought out course, delivered at a pace that covers huge amounts in two days but can be absorbed & understood. Has made me feel confident to learn more and tackle some basics myself.

Nadime, August 2024

This course exceeded my expectations in almost every area.

Jeff, September 2025

A really useful and wide ranging course which will have paid for itself in weeks. Thank You.

Neil, October 2024

Actually really inspiring as well as helpful. I have been on lots of courses. I have also trained for a living so I really rated what was delivered and how delivered.

John, April 2024

John is an excellent instructor. Everything I needed to know was covered very well (and lots I never thought about before). Seriously, first rate. I now feel confident to take my boat out solo.

Fiona, May 2024

Really enjoyed the course. Lots of useful tips from Alistair which I will put into practice.

Amanda, April 2026

A very good course, plenty of food for thought. My fear of electricity has been dispelled. Looking forward to applying it to my boat.

Jonathan, September 2024

Loved the course. The local geography, locks and tunnel were perfect. Alistair was professional, friendly and patient.

Mark, July 2024

Very informative, great communication, very hands on which was great. Great amount of subjects covered. Lots of hints and tips, overall better than expected !! Great! Thanks.

Nigel, July 2024

I would highly recommend NBSC courses as a fantastic place to start and gain confidence about how easy most tasks really are.

Seb, March 2024

The pace of the delivery was great. Steve was very approachable and good at teaching! Very much enjoyed the two days.Feel like I am ready to tackle some / all of the skills I have learned. Could have stayed longer but the days were fully packed with super information. So very glad to be a part of this!

George, May 2024

Practical exercise was really helpful – helped me feel confident understanding content and approaching plumbing

Peri, November 2025

Had a great time. Instructor was amazing!

Chris, September 2025

Perfect day!

Hugh, June 2025

The course was far better than I could have hoped. I have no hesitation recommending it to anyone new to narrowboating.

Karl, May 2026

John was an excellent teacher who showed us everything and more, very nice and helpful.

Terence, June 2025

Excellent instruction, fun and very informative. Nice group size.

Will, April 2026

Really fun day. All three of us had plenty of opportunity to helm and try all aspects.

Mike, August2025

Excellent, so pleased I’ve attended. Good location and parking. Friendly and knowledgeable instructor.

Nicola, October 2024

Enjoyable and informative.

Darren, October 2025

I had a great couple of days. I’m now looking forward to getting out on the canal. Rob has made this so much easier for me – his instruction was clear and concise. We also had fun!

Matthew, July 2025

Just excellent. It has given me confidence to take the helm of our narrowboat. Lots of great advice too. Many thanks

Toni, March 2026

Great Course, exactly what I was after. I learnt what I needed to for my next project.

Izy, April 2024

Great course which provided a good introduction to boat electrical systems.

Steve, June 2025

I was extremely nervous when I started the course, but my instructor put me at ease, and by getting me to do bite-sized tasks, built my confidence up.

Jaw, May 2025

Steve is an excellent tutor with an easy-going style that put my nerves and lack of confidence at ease, It’s a really unique learning experience.

Bridget, June 2025

The course was excellent from start to finish. John was very patient and calm which gave me the confidence to deal with any situation. Would highly recommend to anyone looking to improve their knowledge or skill level.

Lee, August 2025

It was excellent. Learned so much. Will definitely recommend. Thought it was safe, informative, practical and a lot of fun. Thank you

Sarah, May 2026

I loved the course and I found it sufficiently filled with useful info as well as entertaining!

Sofiia, August 2025

Course was excellent. Steve explained everything well and precise.

Lisa, March 2024

Fantastic day – really helped to build understanding and confidence. Thank you,

Arlaine, September 2025

Great day. Lots learnt in a very enjoyable and relaxed atmosphere. Money well spent!

Pete, October 2025

Fab training on tools we’re not completely familiar with. Steve was a fabulous instructor and we had a most enjoyable week.

Collette, February 2025

Very happy with the course and thought-provoking discussions about design options.

Ian, November 2025

Lots of practical work and lots of different tools to try! Really loved doing the practical stuff!

Emma, June 2025

The constant flow of useful information and John’s jovial nature was fantastic.

Jake, September 2024

Nice pace, warm and engaging teaching. Nice approach to encourage discussion and collaboration.

Bridget, April 2026

Steve is a really good, well informed instructor, happy to answer ‘daft’ questions. Pace of the course is really good. Instilled a level of confidence to do my own maintenance.

Ian, January 2026

Enjoyed the whole course. Was very nervous but John put us at ease and gave positive instruction for when things didn’t go to plan. Nothing felt rushed.

Rachael, March 2026