NSW Boat Licence Course

Companion Article & FAQ

Course overview and background

To drive a boat over 10 knots in NSW we need licences.

There are lots of ways to get your licence - they are outlined in this article: Boat Licence Options

Our goal is to build confident and safe skippers - our course is relaxed and enjoyable. It is very hands-on (your drive the boat a lot) and we cap the student numbers at no more than 5 per course.

We offer a well priced licence course that covers everything you need to get your licence issued by ServiceNSW.

You get an online theory course to study from your place
A knowledge quiz when we meet at the boat ramp
A hands on practical session out on our boat

At the completion of the course we give you a certificate which you take to Service NSW who will issue your licence. No logbooks, no further testing. The course covers it all.

Once you get your licence, you can continue to build your confidence with our Friday Freebie skills sessions.

Course Outline

When you signup you will get an email outlining the course details.

This email also gives you access to the online course materials which you must study. It covers all the theory you need. It incudes modules on:

Terminology
Rules of the road
NSW regulations
Roadsigns - markers and lights
Planning
Handling emergencies
Practice quiz questions

We then meet at the boat ramp on your chosen date and get the knowledge quiz out of the way.

Then we head out on the boat for the practical side of things.

You will be sharing your course with up to four other students, some of who will be doing their boat licence and some their refresher. The hands on practical content is the same.

We will look at:

Boat dynamics and the effect of wind
Setting up the boat and using the boat controls (steering, gears and throttle)
Driving at slow speed forward and reverse
Picking up moorings
Driving at high speed
Scanning for traffic and planning/managing other boats
Anchoring and beaching
Docking the boat

It's a very hands on course and you will get to do each skill at the helm of the boat.

It's also a very relaxed course - we assume everyone is new to boats and we start with the basics.

By the end of the course you will have driven the boat slowly and at speed. You will have picked up a mooring and even docked the boat.

Its a great way to build your confidence and to practice your skills.

Course FAQ

Where do we meet

Most courses start and finish at the boat ramp in Davidson Park under the Roseville Bridge in Middle Harbour. Exceptions to this are private courses that we can customise (see bullet point below)

How often do courses run?

We try to run at least one weekend and one weekday course each week. Sometime we will run more based on demand.

Do I need to do a logbook?

No. We cover everything you need and at the end of the course you can just take our certificate to Service NSW and they will issue your licence. No logbook and no further testing. **beware of courses that need you to do a logbook. There are some in Sydney and they do not always make this clear when you book. Moreover their theory only course costs more than our full course!

I need to do a test at Service NSW?

No. We cover everything you need and at the end of the course you can just take our certificate to Service NSW and they will issue your licence. No logbook and no further testing.

Can kids attend this course?

Yes, but only if accompanied by a parent, adult friend or adult relative. You can see the general approach we take with kids in this article: Can My Kids do the Boat Licence Course

Can you run a private course for my family, group of friends, club or business

Yes, we do this quite frequently and can adjust meeting times or even locations to suit your needs. Give us a call or drop us an email to start this discussion.

Can you do the course on our boat

Yes, we can but it is usually more straightforward (for you and for us) to do it on our boat which is perfectly setup for the course. Some people will do the course on our boat and then do a private refresher lesson for a few hours on their new boat.

Can I change course dates

No, we find it hard to fill empty spots on courses at short notice so we ask that once you are booked you stay with the course date.

Can I change cancel my course

While we cannot force you to attend, cancelling will not result in a refund! We ask that you only book if you are ready and committed to getting your boat licence.

How do I get my licence after the course completes

We will issue you a certificate, you take this certificate along with matching ID to a Service NSW office. They will do an ID check and issue your licence. Usually people just take a NSW Car Drivers licence as ID - kids will typically take a passport. Details of acceptable ID is available on the Service NSW website