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Getting a Boat License
Renting a boat and cruising along the coast – that’s been our dream. Whether it’s during our next trip to Greece, on Lake Garda, or along the Danish coast: having a boating license opens up a whole new perspective when traveling. And because we wanted to find out how hard or easy it really is, we gave it a try. If you're curious too, check out our 5-minute video below – plus a discount code for your booking with Bootsschule1.
Why get a boat license at all?
The idea of sitting at the helm, sun on our faces, salty breeze in the air, and the sea beneath us – it was too tempting to resist. In Germany, you need the Sport Boat License (Binnen & See) to operate motorboats over 15 HP. That makes it perfect for many vacation spots on lakes and coastal areas. So – challenge accepted!
Our choice: Bootsschule1
We chose Bootsschule1, a smart online platform that lets you learn the theory and prepare for the practical exam from home. The concept: learn online, take your exams locally. The whole course is flexible, well-structured, and ideal for people with busy schedules – just like us.
How the learning process went
After signing up, we received a welcome kit in the mail: navigation charts, measuring tools, and a knot-tying set. From there, we jumped straight into the app, which divides everything into four core modules:
1 Theory – from traffic rules to lights, right-of-way, and weather.
2 Navigation – learning to plot courses with charts and triangles.
3 Knot tying – from bowlines to figure-eight knots and more, explained step by step.
4 Practical videos – a helpful preview of what to expect on the water.
The app is especially smart: it remembers which quiz questions you get wrong and repeats them until you nail them. With steady learning, we were ready for the exam in about three weeks.
Practical training: Time to hit the water!
Docking, casting off, turning in tight spaces, rescue maneuvers, and navigating by compass – the practical training took us about 90 minutes. The practical exam itself lasts around 10 minutes – and yes, it’s okay to make a mistake. You’re allowed two attempts.
From our experience, the examiners were super friendly and encouraging, which made all the difference.
Our final verdict
We did it – and honestly? It was 100% worth it.
The course with Bootsschule1 was well-structured, modern, and motivating. The learning content is easy to understand and manageable even for beginners. Both the practical training and the exam were absolutely doable.
If you’re excited to discover new travel horizons, check out Bootsschule1* . With the discount code for Bootsschule1 thetravellers30 you’ll get a €30 discount. And if you have any questions, feel free to reach out to us on Instagram or YouTube!
Until then – best of luck!
€30 discount code for Bootsschule1: thetravellers30
