February 3, 2022

Captain Rod's training notes

Unlike private boat owners, you are part of a commercial enterprise and your employer has a legal duty of care to you and your customers. This means that in case there is an accident you must be able to show that:

  • You have considered the risks involved and have a written risk assessment,
  • You have received adequate training and
  • Any accidents or injuries are recorded.

Any dangerous (i.e. life threatening) incidents must be reported to the authorities by law.

We talked about safety precautions, how to rescue someone from the water and how to help people on and off the boat.

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Pure Boating training

I explained that most boats have a rudder behind a propeller so that the propeller jet stream passing the rudder allows you to steer even when the boat is stationary. However, in reverse the rudder has no effect until you are going backwards quite fast, so we steer the boat going forwards and reverse slowly in a straight line.

Some electric boats, like the one we used, have no rudder: instead there is a motor and propeller in a steerable pod where the rudder would be. This works like an outboard motor and steers as well in reverse as forwards.

  • Always steer first, then apply power.
  • Always go very slowly when manoeuvring in a confined space.
  • Always be aware of wind and current, strength and direction.

Red and green buoys are channel markers: when going upstream keep green (starboard) buoys on your right and red (port) buoys on your left to avoid going aground. The opposite applies when going downstream. Yellow buoys indicate underwater obstructions or shallows.

After casting off always coil the mooring lines ready for use: never let the stern line trail in the water – it will foul the propeller sooner or later.

Nautical Knot
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We are a self-drive and skippered day boat hire company on one of the most beautiful reaches of the River Thames between Reading (Berkshire) and Wallingford (Oxfordshire). Since opening Pure Boating back in 2015 our electric hire boats have silently graced the river between Wallingford and Streatley.

Our crew are passionate about the River Thames and know the boating environment intimately. They can advise not only on river safety and boat operation but also on where to picnic, good riverside restaurants, where the kingfishers fly and the Loddon lilies grow. 

Hire Locations

Boat House pub
High Street
Wallingford, Oxfordshire
OX10 0BL

The Swan at Streatley
High Street
Streatley, Berkshire
RG8 9HR

The Beetle & Wedge
Ferry Lane
Moulsford, Oxfordshire
OX10 9JF

Email: [email protected]

Phone: 07436 812508

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