22nd January 2026
River Canal Rescue still has places on its two-day diesel engine and boat maintenance courses, running at its Stafford HQ on 18/19 February, plus 4/5 and 18/19 March.
The course covers how to maintain diesel engines and the systems within a narrowboat, such as propulsion, cooling, engine servicing and fault finding, and will be led by RCR’s Kerry Horton and Dave Bull, both long-standing RCR employees with a wealth of knowledge and experience.
Costing £300 (including course notes), there’s an additional charge of £15 for a RYA certificate or the Narrow Boat Engine Maintenance and Repair book – a practical guide detailing how to keep engines operational and boats moving.
No experience is required – just a willingness to learn.
Tailored courses can be booked by groups and clubs, with discounts for boat clubs, and one-to-one tuition is also available, where an engineer/qualified trainer will visit the boat and advise on how to undertake a basic service and help with engine familiarisation.
Instruction includes how to change the engine oil and filter, gearbox oil, air and fuel filters and water traps, check the alternator belt, raw-water pump impeller and stern gland, and top-up and test batteries, alternator performance, coolant and anti-freeze strength.
Dates for RCR’s monthly £340 electrical sessions, run by Kerry and senior engineers/electrical specialists, and covering fault-finding, repairs and Boat Safety Scheme/legislative requirements, are yet to be confirmed.
Sessions for marina and boat yard staff are available upon request and will focus on fault-finding and developing skills for electrical work, stripping and rebuilding gearboxes, understanding internal engine and gearbox components, and exposure to injection systems.
To ensure owners get the most from this experience, attendance on a maintenance course, prior to booking, is essential.
To find out more, call 01785 785680, email enquiries@rivercanalrescue.co.uk or visit https://www.rivercanalrescue.co.uk/courses/
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