Dragonfly Narrowboat Training
Inland Waterways Helmsman Course
We are now taking bookings for training in 2012
Due to the shorter day lengths over the winter we are unable to complete the one day course, therefore courses will resume mid March.
Introduction
We are a family run company, based on the Llangollen Canal near Hurleston junction, offering individual tuition on canal boat training courses, covering all aspects of narrowboat handling and safety. We take a maximum of three trainees for each RYA Inland Waterways Helmsman Certificate (IWHC) course, enabling our instructor to give individual attention, whilst at the same time the trainees are learning from each other, and all done in a relaxed training environment.
Training Route
Your training session is based at Swanley Bridge Marina on the Llangollen Canal and the training route includes a wide variety of canal features and experiences including a flight of locks, winding holes, busy junctions, narrow canals, wide canals, moored boats (on both sides), bridges and many more.
Your Instructor
At all times you will be expertly guided through by your instructor, Steve, who has a wealth of experience on the local canals - from canoeing on the Llangollen as a youngster, to hire boat handovers and single-handing his own boat. Just look at some of the genuine comments from last year's students at the bottom of this page.
The benefits of taking the IWHC course
The IWHC course has been developed jointly by the Royal Yachting Association and British Waterways to provide the practical knowledge and skills required for the safe and proficient navigation of our inland waterways. The course assumes no prior knowledge or experience of boats and so is ideal for the first timer, however the course is also designed to enhance the knowledge of experienced boaters, who will learn tips and tricks of the trade, making their boating safer and more enjoyable. On successful completion of the course we are authorised to award the RYA Inland Waterways Helmsman Certificate. This can then be used to achieve the International Certificate of Competence (ICC), essential if you intend to navigate the inland waterways of Europe.
Who takes the IWHC course?
The course is taken by many different people for many different reasons; whether you are looking to improve your boat handling skills for your own boat, before a canal boating holiday on a hire boat, as a first step to boating on the inland waterways of Europe or as a special activity present, the RYA IWHC course is an enjoyable way to improve your skills, give you confidence and make any holiday on the inland waterways a safer and more enjoyable experience.
Crossing aqueducts - why does the boat slow down?
How can I float the boat in one spot?
Navigating tunnels - what are the safety issues, and what if we break down?
Where should the boat be in a lock and should I use ropes?
Why does the boat sometimes become 'attracted' to the bank and it just bumps along the side?
All of these questions and many more are answered during the course.
Course Details
One-day Course
The one-day intensive course covers the whole syllabus; the duration of the course is from 9.00am to 5.30pm.*
Two-day Course
The two-day course is more relaxed, allows more time to practice new skills and is recommended for those with no prior knowledge or experience. Local accommodation details are available on request for the overnight stay on the 2 day course.
Why not stay in the area for a short break and visit some of the canal attractions, such as the Anderton Lift, Chester staircase locks, Grindley Brook staircase locks or even the Pontcysyllte Aqueduct.
All courses include the detailed RYA course handbook, all tuition, tea and coffee and the RYA certificate on successful completion.
The course is very 'hands-on' and under the expert guidance of our instructor, students learn boat handling by doing the practical elements of the course for themselves.
We will always cover all topics in the RYA Inland Waterways Helmsman Certificate syllabus, however we treat all of our clients as individuals and your course will be tailored to your specific needs.
* Times may vary during winter months due to shorter day length.
Syllabus
Deckwork
Common nautical terms.
Handling lines and fenders.
Throwing a coiled rope.
Knots, including boatman’s hitch, bowline and clove hitch.
Securing to bollards, rings, cleats and mooring stakes.
Helmsmanship and Boat Handling
Loading and weight distribution.
Steering in a canal or river and control of speed.
Interaction, canal effect, bank effect.
Turning (winding) and reversing.
Berthing and unberthing alongside.
Recovery of man overboard.
Anchoring.
Personal Safety
Identification of risks-including Cold Shock.
Use of life jackets and buoyancy aids.
Avoidance of personal injury, including crushing of limbs when fending off.
Special risks to children.
Boat Safety
Fire hazards, particularly gas and petrol.
Use of fire extinguishers.
Watertight integrity.
Refloating after grounding.
Engine
Engine care. Checks to be carried out before starting and while running.
Routine periodic checks.
Locks
General understanding.
Operation of locks.
Tending lines in locks.
Safety in locks.
Bridges and Tunnels
Safety.
General understanding of operation of bridges and use of tunnels.
Collision Avoidance
Defensive boating techniques.
Steering and sailing rules of the International Regulations for Preventing Collisions at Sea.
Bye-laws and local regulations, including traffic signals, signs and priorities.
Awareness of other national and local regulations.
Care of the Environment
Consideration for other waterway users.
Pollution avoidance.
Avoiding damage to other boats, banks, flora and forna.
Prices
All IWHC courses include the detailed RYA course handbook, hot and cold drinks throughout the day and VAT.
One day IWHC course......................£115.00 per person inc VAT
Two day IWHC course......................£220.00 per person inc VAT
Own boat tuition for the IWHC course - for 2 people.....from £200.00 inc VAT
Single-Handing.............contact us for details and prices.
Please telephone or Email to check availability before booking.
IWHC courses can be run for single people, two is the preferred number on a course, because you learn from each other, and you will be invited to double up. For this reason we always suggest couples come together, even when one may be more experienced than the other. Three is the maximum number in a group.
Course Availability
We are now taking bookings for training in 2012.
If you require a training course on your own boat then please contact us to discuss your requirements - we usually have more available dates for this option.
These courses are always very popular - especially at this ideal location - in order to avoid disappointment please let us know early in order to secure a place or places on a course.
If you have any dates in mind please let us know.
We can be contacted through the 'Contact Us' page or by telephone in order to discuss your individual requirements and a suitable course date.
OR
Click to download a printable booking form for the IWHC.
Going Solo - Single-Handed Boating
Navigating the inland waterways on your own, or single-handing as it has become called, is becoming more popular. Some enjoy and indeed prefer to boat single-handed, for others it may occasionally become a necessity through for example injury or illness of a crew member. Different techniques are required and there are extra safety issues when navigating without crew.
We have designed a course with the single-hander in mind, showing how to prepare your boat and how to do the various tasks without the benefit of having crew.
If you have little or no previous boating experience we recommend to first take the IWHC course, then gain more boating experience before doing a further 1 day course on single-handing.
If you are already experienced then you could either take the one day single-handing course or a 2 day course with the first day on the RYA IWHC course and the second day on a single-handing course. If you would like to book this 2 day course please ask about our special rate offer.
Please telephone or Email to discuss your requirements before booking.
Customer Comments
Just a few comments from our feedback forms in 2010/11.
An excellent course which was well matched to my needs. - Ray
The course exceeded my expectations. Thank you. - Mike
Very clear patient instruction, inspired confidence. - M.P.
A very good mix of safety tips along with practical boat instruction. - M.M.
Steve, the instructor, was relaxed and confident and I found that I had learnt things with virtually no effort. He is a natural teacher who loves his subject. - Claire
Excellent course, can't wait for the week long holiday now to get more experience as this course has answered a lot of questions and put me at ease to handle a boat by myself. Thanks. - N.H.
First class instruction, quiet, friendly approach. - P.F.
Excellent course, very useful and very well delivered. Thank you! - K.B.
A very patient instructor.- S.H.
Great course, good instruction, interesting and informative. Fun and well worth the money. A must do course for anyone buying a boat. - Graham
Informative Links
Boater's DVD
An excellent DVD, especially for the novice boaters, which is on the official British Waterways website - Waterscape.
Boater's Handbook
The online copy of the Boater's Handbook.
Knots for Boating
Grog's animated knots is a superb site showing how knots are formed by animating rope!
RYA
Home page of the Royal Yachting Association.
The Considerate Boater
We fully endorse all aspects of what the considerate boater website stands for; a very good site.
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