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Beginner's Boating Courses 2025

To be held at three locations around the country - Staffordshire, Essex and Northamptonshire - this one-day intensive course will be presented by Mark Langley, Waterways World  Technical Editor

ml600.jpgMark is a self-confessed boating geek (we prefer the word ‘expert’), has written for Waterways World for 20 years, been a boatowner for 28 years and designed the Aintree Boats ‘Beetle’ model of small narrowboats. A highly-experienced speaker, he’s the perfect host for your course.

Each course features six presentations from Mark as well as extended, guided tours over a wide variety of boats for sale at each host marina.

 
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3rd February 2025

Barton Marina, Staffordshire, DE13 8DZ 

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7th April 2025

Roydon Marina Village, Essex, CM19 5EJ

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23rd May 2025

Crick Boat Show, Northamptonshire, NN6 7SQ

Presentations

Introduction

  • What are the main issues you need to think about (location, type of mooring, type of boat, costs of ownership)?
  • Why do you want to buy a boat?
  • Have you any experience?
  • How much will you use the boat?
  • What are the key factors to consider?

New Boat or Old?

  • What are the advantages and disadvantages of buying a new boat against a previously-owned boat?
  • What factors do you need to consider whether new or old (layout etc)?

Design Considerations

  • What do you need to consider when looking at the layout of your new boat (number of bedrooms, cooking facilities, laundry, entertaining, workspace)?

Essential Maintenance

  • What maintenance will be needed each year and at what cost?

Practicalities & Top Tips

  • Getting supplies to your boat (fuel, food etc), waste disposal, how do you receive post, what are the broadband options?
  • Alternatives like shared ownership
  • Where to cruise

Choosing a Marina

  • Where would you like your 'home' mooring to be located?
  • Are there options other than a marina?
  • What to consider when choosing a marina

Course Participants will enjoy

  • Complimentary tea and coffee
  • Lunch included
  • A guided tour of the marina and facilities**
  • A guided tour of Crick Boat Show***
  • Free Crick Boat Show Trade & Preview Day entry***
  • Free 6-month Waterways World Print + Digital subscription*
  • 50% discount on Crick Boat Show tickets, camping and boat handling sessions (Saturday 24 – Monday 26 May, subject to availability)

*One subscription per individual/couple. **At our Lakeland courses only. *** At our Crick Boat Show course only.

Each course is limted to just 30 participants. Book now to secure your place

Just £189 per person or £328 per couple (saving £50)

 

  Book 3 Feb - BARTON »     Book 7 Apr - ROYDON »     Book 23 May - CRICK »  

 

Our Course Sponsors can help you to get afloat and look after your boat

Haven Knox Johnston

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Haven Knox-Johnston, part of the Howden Group, is an award-winning canal boat insurance provider, catering to the often unique needs of canal boat owners across the UK since 1992. Their friendly crew pride themselves on delivering the highest levels of customer service, making all stages of the boat insurance journey a straightforward process. Whether you’re a seasoned cruiser or a new boat owner, Haven Knox-Johnston ensures your boat is protected with comprehensive and tailored insurance solutions.

HavenKJ.com

Kingsground Narrowboats

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Kingsground have been building boats since 1995. With over 120 boats built in the following 30 years, they have a reputation for outstanding workmanship as evidenced by winning Favourite Boat in Show at Crick Boat Show 3 times since 2000 – including for Highgrove presented by Lakeland Leisure Estates at the 2024 Show.Based at Enslow Marina on the South Oxford Canal,  Kingsground also offer a full range of boat maintenance and repair services.

Promarine Finance

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Finance specialists for Inland boats, providing a fast and personal finance solution for boat ownership. We are boating enthusiasts helping like–minded people to buy the boats they really want. We offer a personal, tailored solution, and are flexible around our customers’ circumstances and requirements.

marine-finance.org