Reedleyboating Reviews 

The confidence and knowledge I learnt from doing this course with Roy and Amy was just what I needed.
Learning with them made all tasks to do with the Narrowboat and the Canal , understandable and relatable AND it was great fun too!

Fantastic training! The instructor, Amy, is highly knowledgable, friendly, great sense of humour and made me feel at ease. I can highly recommend the “Helmsman” training at Reedleyboating! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Wifey and myself have just completed 2 days of training with Amy, although we have had our own narrowboat for several months and were hirers previously. The 'training' provided by hire companies is no way comparable to the training we received from Amy, although we were competent, we both learnt so much over the 2 days and feel we have really benefitted from the knowledge and guidance Amy shared.
We are looking forward to the reopening of the locks, as we will then be able to complete the training, gaining further advice and guidance.
Fantastic 2 days, excellent training, good selection of food and drinks provided, well worth attending.

We went for training on a narrowboat with Reedley boating, last weekend. It was amazing. 5 star service, Amy is very knowledgeable and extremely helpful and showed us different techniques used to Manoeuvre and moor a boat. These skills will be invaluable when we purchase our narrow boat in the near future. Highly recommended and looking forward to more boat training with them in the future.
Steven Parker & Anne Lomax

As a follow up to my RYA course I couldn’t think of a better team to ask support my boat move from Mercia Marina to Aqueduct Marina in Cheshire - a challenging few days with nearly 70 locks and the Harecastle Tunnel. Amy duly stepped on board my boat and helped speed us towards our goal with can do positivity, tremendous skill and great conversation along the way - mission was accomplished with the perfect mooring at Aqueduct. A1 boat moving and coaching experience thank you.

Just returned from our second days tuition with the lovely Amy. We are both ‘getting on a bit’ and my partner had just purchased a Narrowboat. I had zero NB experience and my partner had limited experience a few decades ago. We had both become more risk aware as we aged. In short we both needed confidence building and tips on handling a NB. Amy provided the initial training on our own boat, followed up by training on their own school boat. Not only did the training build enough confidence in our ability to ‘go it alone’, it also covered some very useful tips and tricks to enhance our boating experiences. We had a fabulous last day with Amy and I’m sure that I will be hearing her voice in my mind as we set off on ourselves. Thank you Amy and your shipmate Freya. I suspect that we will be back for the RYA Helmsman’s course.

Lovely day with a very kind person and a beautiful doggie 🐶. Amy puts you through your paces and makes sure you understand everything . Would highly recommend . Fabulous day was had. Definitely going to do further training with her and lovely Freya dog 😊

Amy is an excellent teacher. For five hours we had nonstop learning, confidence building and fun
Highly recommend going on one of Reedley Boating courses. Also excellent value ..

Roy and Amy were just the best. I can't thank them enough for all their help on the course and even afterwards. They have given us so much advice when buying our first boat and Roy even did us the honour of mooring us up to the jetty we now call home, on the same marina we did our course on. We can't even begin to say how much we owe them.

My son and I recently took the two day Helmsman training course with Amy at Reedley Boating with the main aim of increasing our confidence as the two less experienced crew members on our own narrowboat. Amy is not only a very clear and patient teacher, but also excellent company for two days, We gained so much local knowledge, wildlife information and canal history in addition to the course ‘syllabus’.

Due to issues with water levels on the canal, we had had to do some negotiating and altering of our original plans and both Roy & Amy were immensely helpful in making sure we were able to get the training we wanted.

I waited to write this review until after we had successfully transferred our new skills onto our own boat, so after doing our own engine checks & manoeuvring out of the marina and onto the cut, I can confirm that we’ve more than met our target of becoming more confident & competent boaters! And we know that if we need further help, Roy & Amy will be there to assist!

Son would also like to give an honourable mention to the excellent biscuit selection. 😉

A fantastic experience and highly recommended for anyone who is new to boating or would like to brush up on their skills. Roy and Amy are brilliant instructors with so much knowledge and passion for the waterways, and will tailor their tuition to your needs.

Roy and Amy his fantastic staff member delivered a first class course which was throughly enjoyed and extremely informative, lots of very useful information passed on in a very relaxed no pressure way. Would not hesitate to recommend.

Just finished the 2 day RYA inland waterways helmsman course with Reedleyboating and can honestly say it was two amazing days. Packed with learning and fun and two great instructors in Amy and Roy. I was really nervous beforehand having never set foot on a canal boat before, let alone tried to manage one, but right from the start, even before we arrived, we were given clear instruction and guidance that made the two days and learning such a pleasure. Did the course with an old friend and we both loved every minute. Perhaps the best recommendation I can give is that I was genuinely sad when it ended. We both now feel confident enough to try some canal adventures on our own, but have the feeling that we'll both always wish that Amy or Roy were on the boat too. Thank you Amy and Reedleyboating for an amazing experience!!!!!!!!

We recently completed the 2-day Inland Waterways Helmsman Certificate with Roy at Reedley Marina, and it was absolutely worth it. I would highly recommend Roy and Amy —they are thorough, extremely knowledgeable, and incredibly encouraging.
I personally loved the use of wooden boat models as it was especially helpful in understanding the theory behind steering, mooring, moving off, and reversing. This made the practical elements much easier to grasp and apply.
Thanks to this course, I now feel 100% confident in my ability to cruise the canals and handle any situation that may arise. If you're looking to take the helm of a narrowboat, you won’t find a better place—or better teachers—to learn.
Together, they delivered a course that was both informative and engaging. Roy’s depth of knowledge and experience is remarkable, yet he presents the material at just the right level to build confidence without overwhelming you.
From start to finish, the experience was professional, great value, and a lot of fun. Roy and Amy are a true asset to the canal community. If you're considering a course or private tuition, don’t hesitate—reach out to them. You won’t be disappointed.

Be re-assured, you will not regret taking the Helmsmans’ License with Reedley Boating. You will feel safe and confident in their hands to stretch yourself and learn, and pleased with yourself when you do. Everything you could need to skipper your own boat is covered, professionally, knowledgably, and at your own speed, and somehow it just sinks in. It’s sneaky teaching. And you learn a lot more than you think you will! Myself and two colleagues went from complete novices to capable and confident boat handlers, and inside we were smiling all the time; especially when you pull off a difficult manoeuvre. Lets be honest, the level of boating skill you see on the canals is not great, don’t you want to impress with your effortless mooring and turning skills! It’s easy when you understand the simple forces acting on the boat. We loved every minute of it, and are now part of the Reedley family. Puppy cuddles are a fabulous bonus. Thankyou Roy, Amy and Freya. Hat’s off to ya! (That’s an inside joke). David Hardman.

From arriving to a cuppa tea to leaving full of knowledge and memories from 2 days of quite intensive but well formatted instruction, this course ticked all the boxes. Roy and Amy were a wealth of knowledge both about the boat and controlling her, to the canal system and its history. You were put at ease to ask questions, learn the craft and take the tiller. It was a totally enjoyable 2 days on the water as well as filling your head with practical and informed information. Knowledge from 2 such experienced, enthusiastic and willing folk is invaluable and certainly £’s couldn’t buy better - many thanks

Everything you would hope for from a canal boat course, relaxing and challenging. a layed back but informative approach.

Friendly instructors and a sweet dog.

I was a bit nervous about this, I figured it would be a bit daunting. How wrong. The instruction style is very relaxed but very effective. No stress and it all sunk in. Came away from the course having learned a geat deal.
I cannot recomend this highly enough.

I would thoroughly recommend Reedley Boating’s Helmsman two day course to anyone thinking about buying a Narrowboat. The instruction is easy to digest and delivered in clear and simple to understand language. Amy and Roy were both lovely to be around and very welcoming. The course is hands on and you really do get to build your confidence at your own pace while taking in the wonderful sights of the canals and even get to experience navigating a tunnel which is definitely something I am glad I did with an instructor first.

Christmas 2024 saw me moving the home on which I live from the Bridgewater Canal up to a permanent mooring at Liverpool Marina. This was going to be a long trip in a relatively short timescale with several
locks and many a swing bridge to navigate. Up against the time, I reached out for assistance and that's when Amy Turner of Reedley Boating came to my aid.

Amy aside from being a joy to hang out with, was steadfast and pragmatic in her approach. I had no hesitation in handing over the helm of my 58 foot narrowboat to her, which gave me a welcome break from the first leg of my journey. Amy handled the vessel with ease and I was most impressed by her boating skills when we came across a blanket of pennywort across the navigation. Amy was unphased by this and on picking said weed up on the bow of the vessel, Amy geniously reversed the vessel off of the weed. The surge of water from the propellor washed underneath the boat towards the bow, pushing the weed to one side, allowing us to continue our journey forward without picking the weed back up.

A single handed seasoned boater myself, I know a thing or two when it comes to the handling of my vessel, yet there's always something to learn and that I most certainly did from Amy.

If you're looking to improve your boating skills, gain confidence at the helm or need someone to move a boat on your behalf, then Amy is your go to.

Her skill, expertise and professionalism are impressive and therefore her services come highly recommended.

In gratitude

Emily Ford
Nb The Glad Victor