Mark
“We had a fantastic weekend—learned so much in a fun, welcoming atmosphere. The instructors were truly first-class, patient, and supportive throughout. Highly recommended!”
We partner with Rewilding Britain to help protect our natural spaces for future adventures.
All centres are vetted for safety and quality. Your adventure is in good hands with adventuro.
“We had a fantastic weekend—learned so much in a fun, welcoming atmosphere. The instructors were truly first-class, patient, and supportive throughout. Highly recommended!”
The course was fantastic and very enjoyable, worth every penny, intend to book other useful courses for myself in the new year.
Great staff and facilities for the course. Arrived and everything was set and ready to go. Very competent course teachers - would highly recommend
Operated by Nautical Training, a partner of adventuro.
Our RYA Powerboat Level 1 course is a practical and enjoyable introduction to powerboat handling and safety. Ideal for beginners, this one-day course teaches essential skills, such as launching and recovering a boat, everyday boat handling, and the correct use of safety equipment. The course is suitable for all, with no prior experience required. Upon completion, your certificate will be endorsed with the type of boat used during training.
You will gain hands-on experience in boat handling and safety procedures. Our instructors will guide you through launching and recovering a boat from a road trailer, preparing the boat and crew, and basic handling techniques. You’ll also learn how to pick up and secure a mooring buoy, come alongside a dock, and cover the theory of man overboard procedures. For younger participants (8–11 years old), launch and recovery will be observational only. By the end of the course, you will be able to drive a powerboat under supervision.
Training takes place on the scenic stretch of water between Hazleford Lock and Newark Nether Lock, offering a safe and controlled environment for learning powerboating skills.
As an official RYA-recognised training centre, we take pride in offering high-quality training in a supportive and engaging environment. Our instructors are experts in their field, ensuring you receive professional guidance throughout your course. Our well-equipped training area is perfect for learning, and we keep our class sizes small to give you the best possible hands-on experience. Plus, if you’d like to advance your skills, we offer the RYA Powerboat Level 2 course on your own boat, at a location that suits you!
Note: This course requires a minimum number of participants to run. If this number is not met, we will reschedule and either move you to another course or offer a refund.
No, this course is designed for complete beginners. You don’t need any prior knowledge of powerboating. Our instructors will guide you through the basics and ensure you gain confidence handling a powerboat.
The minimum age is 8 years old. Participants under the age of 16 will receive an endorsed certificate, allowing them to drive under supervision.
We use a Terhi 450 console steer boat with a Yamaha 30hp engine. This boat is stable, easy to handle, and ideal for learning essential powerboat skills.
You'll learn fundamental boating skills, including:
We recommend dressing appropriately for the weather. Layers are a good option as conditions can change. Wear waterproofs and shoes with good grip. Don’t forget sunscreen on sunny days.
We do not provide meals, so please bring your own lunch and refreshments. However, we offer hot drinks and biscuits in our classroom.
The course requires a minimum number of participants to go ahead. If the numbers aren't met, we will either reschedule or offer you a full refund. We can also transfer your booking to another course if that’s more convenient for you.
Upon successful completion of the course, you’ll receive the RYA Powerboat Level 1 certificate. This will be endorsed to show whether you trained in a planing or displacement boat. If you’re under 16, the certificate will be endorsed for supervised driving.
No. Powerboat Level 1 is not a prerequisite for Level 2. However, it offers good, foundational knowledge, which is built upon in PB2.
You should bring suitable clothing for the weather, a packed lunch, and any personal items you might need, such as sunscreen or medication. All safety equipment and learning materials will be provided.
Our training area is located between Hazleford Lock and Newark Nether Lock, providing a safe and calm environment perfect for learning essential powerboat skills. We will send you detailed meeting instructions upon booking.
The Practical courses are taught 80% on the water and 20% in the classroom. As a result of this, you will need to bring waterproof clothing and good footwear which you don't mind getting wet. A change of clothes and a towel are also handy just in case the waterproofs leak etc.
We will supply you with one of our lifejackets to wear, we know these have been serviced and are in good order.
Please ensure you bring a passport-sized photograph with you if doing Powerboat level 2 or Inland Waterways Helmsman. This is needed for your certificate, we will not be able to issue it without this.
Courses run 9AM to 16.30/17.00 each day.
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