Our Story

With more than forty years' experience of boating and the British inland waterways, it had  been a long term dream to run a skippered boat trip business and share the magic of the historic, beautiful waterways with as many people as possible. 

 

Button Boating began as a skippered narrowboat trip and narrowboat experience provider in spring 2022 and we had two successful years providing many guests with happy memories and wonderful days out.

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Our google page received many 5 star reviews.

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Unfortunately, ever rising costs and various family plans have meant that we can no longer offer our skippered trips services, so we are now concentrating on offering bespoke skills and knowledge sharing sessions for new boaters, on their own boats.

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We offer informal narrowboat training / boat handling for owners of cruisers and narrowboats alike.

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If you have a UK inland waterways narrow-beam craft in the Midlands area, on non-tidal waters, we can book a day to come and meet you at your boat and share a structured, information packed day but on an informal basis, to help you improve confidence and knowledge and get the best out of your boating.

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Ours is a friendly, tailored informal approach, sharing skills and knowledge.  There is no test and no certificate at the end, but you will receive a wealth of advice, information and, more importantly, practical useful methods appropriate to your particular boat and boating/crew set-up.  Boats of different shapes and sizes need different considerations - we will help you to understand this.

  

If, on the other hand, you are looking for an actual helmsman certificate then we would refer you to an RYA training centre who can provide you with (usually a two day) course, test and certificate.

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Having spent a large part of my life involved with the waterways local to the Soar Valley in particular, as well as across the span of the main network, I have operated a wide range of vessels from dinghies to canal cruisers, short medium and full length narrowboats including an ex-working boat trimmed to around 33 tonnes. 

 

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"experienced and RYA qualified skipper"

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An experienced and RYA qualified skipper, I can visit you and bring a wealth of knowledge and skills for you to learn as you operate your boat for the day, build your confidence and learn appropriate ways of dealing with mooring, locking, river and canal rules, and much more.

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"do get in touch"

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Please do get in touch via the "Contact Us" form if you'd like to explore making a booking.  You can also contact us via the Facebook page, Instagram or Whatsapp and Messenger.

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Thanks for taking a look at us, we look forward to seeing you out on the water!

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