Avon Boat Courses Courses on Offer

Avon Boat Courses... Instruction on Offer

Avon Boat Courses has been offering Professional Inland Waterway Instruction to both boatyards and leisure personnel alike, over a number of years.

While the core of our instruction is based on the skills required to be a competent Inland Waterways Helmsman, we can tailor our services to meet your individual needs. We are equally happy to conduct our tuition on your own craft or at our premises.
Full details can be found in our Paperwork & Prices section under title "Courses Available - Full List". This can serve as an excellent guide to the preparation required for those wishing to take RYA qualifications.

General Boat Handling Courses

Our General Boat Handling Courses are designed to cover the range from beginner to advanced in easily assimilated steps. All Avon Boat Courses conducted from our base share the same facilities and high standards of tuition.

Our Courses are as equally applicable to the novice as to those with prior boating experience. They assume no previous knowledge and the content is largely practical, which gives a better understanding of the theories involved. Our courses are only suitable for displacement or semi-displacement craft as used on our canals and rivers.

Beginners with little or no knowledge or experience of boat handling you may wish to build confidence with one of our popular General Boat Handling Courses.
In any event, the Course will be both informative and fun.

These more general boat handling courses can be tailored to the needs of boating enthusiasts of all ages and experience. However, we expect you be fit enough to complete the course and be over the age of 8 years. Courses range from a minimum of one hour and are limited to three people at a time.

Our courses are designed to give you the maximum learning experience while still embracing the fun of boating on the river. General Courses can be expected to cover all or some of the following subjects.

•	Basic boat-handling techniques
•	Steering and mooring
•	Basic ropework, mooring lines and use of ‘springs’
•	Simple knots and when to use them
•	Understanding locks and using them
•	Basic engine and safety checks
•	Awareness of effects of wind and currents and how to react to them
•	‘Man-Overboard’ techniques and safety equipment (Life Jackets)

Safety is always our highest priority. Life jackets and buoyancy aids are provided and it is a rule that non-swimmers of any age must wear them. It is strongly advised that all course members wear them regardless of swimming ability.

Course members are responsible for providing their own suitable footwear and clothing suitable for the weather conditions.

Please see Paperwork & Prices for more information.