First class training delivers safe and enjoyable boating. We offer online training, courses afloat from competent crewing to full skipper are designed to provide trainees with the skills needed to enjoy a safe and relaxing holiday.
Whether you are a seasoned boater or taking on canal boating for the first time we will ensure you receive the training you need to ensure the boat is ready to go out and at least one of the crew has earned the title of skipper.
Why Do I need training before hiring a Bruce Boat?
Bruce accessible boats are wide beam and weigh in excess of 20 tons. They are specially designed and equipped with boarding ramps and hydraulic lifts. Our guests include people with physical disabilities and other special needs. Bruce Boats are committed to safe boating and because our boats are larger and different, in both design and in use, to most other canal boats, for self-drive hire we ask that hirers have:
- Appropriate previous boating experience OR
- Undertake training with us
We have over 30 years of expertise in boat handling and community boat management and our training team run a variety of courses over the year:
- Basic Boat Handling– for hirer skippers and crew
- Advanced Practical Training and Certification– for groups or individuals involved in community boating.
Basic boat handling: If you do not have an experienced skipper within your group, the best option for training is to attend our 2-day basic boat-handling course. These take place on our boats from Great Bedwyn, at regular intervals throughout the season, usually at a weekend. Our aim is to enable hirer skippers and crew to become fully conversant with all aspects of operating a Bruce Branch boat, both safely and enjoyably, on the Kennet and Avon Canal.
The cost for holiday hire skippers and crew is just £175, or £300 for two people from the same group, and includes all catering and accommodation on the boat. The course is suitable for the less experienced boater and complete beginners alike. One of our recent trainees said, “The training was out of this world It didn’t feel like a training weekend, it felt more like just another holiday, but we learnt so much.” And another, “I can’t imagine taking out one of these boats safely without having done the course.”
We do encourage all hirers to have training for both skipper and at least one crew.
Advanced Training and Certification: we offer the National Community Boats Association Certificate in Community Boat Management (CCBM) course to both organisations involved in community boating and private individuals seeking this qualification. We can also offer single crew training days tailored to your needs.
Please contact our booking team to discuss your needs, availability and pricing.
