Simple question...

[Dave_P]

What's the proper term for the person on the tiller? Driver? Helmsman? Captain? Coxswain?

[Scholar Gypsy]

Steerer, for a narrow boat.

[churchward]

I assume you mean in a canal context, so I have always known it as steerer.

[GreyLady]

Captain

Edited August 21, 2015 by grumpy146

[NB Lola]

Depends, usually it's steerer but when someone passed me last week at stupid fast speed it was twat

[Delta9]

Helmsman

[Guest]

steerer in my world, though I was promoted to helmsman a couple of weeks ago. A rather posh lady who took over operations at a rather busy lock (there is always one), told my wife to "instruct your helmsman to..."

The look my wife gave her was very amusing; posh lady decided not to pursue the matter. A very wise decision, very wise indeed.

Edited August 21, 2015 by Guest

[magnetman]

Skipper or skip

Depends, usually it's steerer but when someone passed me last week at stupid fast speed it was twat

[ditchcrawler]

Pratt in the rain or if the sun is shining Wife

[Martin Megson]

Boss

[magnetman]

Pratt in the rain or if the sun is shining Wife

Cold

 

In winter on a cruiser stern

[Dave_P]

Is there an official term though? Steerer seems to be winning.

[magnetman]

I agree with steerer but helmsman or simply helm may be more modern ?

[Guest]

I agree with steerer but helmsman or simply helm may be more modern ?

I don't want to be a helmsman.

[RLWP]

Me

[GreyLady]

I don't want to be a helmsman.

What about Sailor ?

 

hello Sailor haha.

[Dave_P]

I always wanted to be a rear admiral. Never had the legs for it though.

[Ray T]

In one of the Idle Women videos I have Audrey Harper was referred to as "Steerer Harper." The ex Essy Barlow's Captain I regularly visit says he is the captain of the vessel when on land or when asked "who is in charge", but the steerer when out on the cut.

 

Skipper or skip is more common on offshore yachts, never captain. The person who happens to be on the helm at the time is the helmsman. Or I suppose in these days of PC, helmswoman.

 

In "There go the Boats" film the announcer says "Will all steerers report to the office please."

 

To confuse matters the steering assembly on a butty is described as the "Elum" derived from helm.

Edited August 21, 2015 by Ray T

[Bettie Boo]

'im at the back - works for me, unless I've got the tiller when it changes to SWMBO

[dave moore]

Steerer for me too....though in trading days I think " tug drivers" was also a recognised term. I'm at a loss to understand why nautical terminology is sometimes applied....though often use port and starboard when referring to narrowboats cabin sides...it's a funny old world!!

 

Cheers

 

Dave

[Emerald Fox]

Commander!

 

We consider ourselves to be the Commanders of our vessel.

[Emerald Fox]

ps - this topic came up half a year ago, and I mentioned that, I think it was Margaret Cornish (Troubled Waters) who said that the loudspeaker at Bull's Bridge would summon "Steerer so-and-so"

 

Signed, Commander Fox

[Laurence Hogg]

The correct terminology is:

"Captain" if you own or are the sole person in charge of the boat(s), "Steerer" if you employed or do not own the craft, "Driver" if it is proper tug you are operating, "Boatman" if you are a general hand.

 

So most of us on here will be "Captain".

[churchward]

The correct terminology is:

"Captain" if you own or are the sole person in charge of the boat(s), "Steerer" if you employed or do not own the craft, "Driver" if it is proper tug you are operating, "Boatman" if you are a general hand.

 

So most of us on here will be "Captain".

I will tell my wife I have been promoted!

[Sea Dog]

Commander!

 

We consider ourselves to be the Commanders of our vessel.

I suspect that, used in such context, Captain would be the correct term as it refers to the officer in command of the vessel, regardless of rank. In a civilian craft however, I believe you may be more appropriately titled 'Master Fox'. Has a certain ring to it methinks!