What is the minimum age for a boating licence?
Learning to sail is not only fun for adults, but also for children. Besides, everyone knows the saying "young learned is old done. The sooner you learn to sail, the longer you can enjoy it. Before you can take your (motor) boat out on the water, you have to get your boating license. A distinction is made between Sailing License 1 and Sailing License 2. Often you start with permit 1 and get permit 2 later. Many children or young people want to experience for themselves what it is like to drive a boat, but what is actually the minimum age for a boating license? You can read it on Alpina.nl.
Minimum age of boat driving licence examination
There is a minimum age for driving licences. This is different for the sailing licence. There is no minimum age for taking the Limited Watercraft Licence exam. You do not have to be 18 years old to take the exam. You may also take the sailing licence exam when you are 12 years old. However, you do not receive your sailing licence until you are 18, and from that moment on you may only drive a boat for which a sailing licence is required. If you pass the Limited Watercraft Licence exam before the age of 18, you will receive a result letter. This does not yet entitle you to drive a boat, as the result letter is not yet the actual sailing licence. You can exchange this letter for a sailing licence when you turn 18. Until then, you may not drive a boat or sail in an area where a sailing licence is required.
What is the minimum age for sailing?
The minimum age for sailing depends on the type of boat you want to sail. You are not allowed to drive a boat for which you need a sailing licence before you are 18 years old. Whether you need a licence for a boat depends on the maximum speed and the length of the boat. Your age also plays a role in determining which boats you are allowed to sail. For sailing and rowing boats shorter than 7 metres, there is no minimum age requirement. For motorboats, sailing boats and large ships, there is a minimum age.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which boat can you sail when you are 12?
If you are 12 years old, you may also sail in an open motorboat shorter than 7 metres, at a maximum speed of 13 km/h. You do not need a licence for this. You do not need a licence for this.
Which boat can you sail when you are 16?
If you are 16 years old, you may also sail with a motorboat, large ship or sailing boat longer than 7 metres, at a maximum speed of 20 km/h. You do not need a licence for this. You do not need a licence for this.
Which boats can I use if I am under 18?
If you are not yet 18 years old you may sail with:
- Sailing and rowing boats shorter than 7 metres (no minimum age)
- An open motorboat, shorter than 7 metres, max. 13 km/h (minimum age 12 years)
- A motorboat, large ship or sailing boat longer than 7 metres, max. 20 km/h (minimum age 16 years(
Get your sailing licence already
Are you younger than 18? Even though you are not yet allowed to sail after obtaining your sailing licence, it may be wise to take the exam anyway. There are a number of advantages to taking the sailing licence exam early. For example, you only need to take a theory exam now, not a practical exam. If you change in the future, this will no longer matter. This is because a sailing licence is valid for life and does not need to be renewed. So there is no chance that you will always have to take a practical exam later on. The theory exam also becomes more comprehensive every year, which means the questions become more difficult. If you get your sailing licence now, you will not have to worry about this later. Moreover, at a young age you often have more time to study.
Calculate the premium of your boat insurance directly!
We can be reached via Chat, Whatsapp, phone or email
Please feel free to contact us if you would like to know more.
We are here today until 18:00