coastal license

The coastal license, officially called the "Sportbootführerschein-See," is a German certificate that allows individuals living in Switzerland to operate motorboats in coastal areas (up to 3 nautical miles/6 km from the shore). Outside of coastal waters, no license is required.
It automatically includes the International Certificate of Competence (ICC) according to UN Resolution No. 40, authorizing the operation of sport and recreational vessels in international coastal waters.

• Additional qualifications such as the German Sportküstenschifferschein (SKS) or the Swiss Hochseeschein are recommended.
• We offer training cruises and advanced certifications.

• The SBF-See application form must be completed.
• The form and its attachments must be sent to YouBoat GmbH.

The following documents are required for exam registration:

• Application form (fully completed and signed)
• Recent passport photo (35 x 45 mm, without head covering, with name and date of birth on the back)
• Medical fitness certificate (not older than one year)
• For applicants over 18 years of age: a copy of a valid driver's license (original must be presented on the exam day) or a certificate of good conduct

The complete training and examination for the coastal boating license (theory & practice) can be completed at Lake Zurich.

• Theory and practice are both tested on the same day (Sunday afternoon).
• The exam is conducted in Rapperswil-Jona.

• The theory exam lasts 60 minutes and consists of:
  30 multiple-choice questions
  1 navigation task with 9 parts, which must be completed using a chart and navigation tools.
• The exam is considered passed if at least five general questions, 18 questions on maritime law, and seven navigation sub-questions are answered correctly.
• You prepare using the original exam questions.

The practical exam usually lasts 15 minutes.
Mandatory maneuvers:

• Docking and undocking
• Man overboard (rescue maneuver)
• Steering by compass
• Position determination using cross bearings
• Demonstrating 7 out of 10 knots and explaining their purpose

Optional maneuvers:

• Stopping accurately on course
• Turning in a confined space (pivot turn)
• Navigating using maritime signs and landmarks
• Putting on a life jacket
• Performing 3 sound signals

• With the original exam questions and theory texts from the app "Bootsprüfung 24"
• Online course/app for the theory part including official exam questions
• Virtual textbook (illustrated theory texts on all exam topics, also available for download and printing)
• Navigation seminar, included in the course price

You will learn all the exam maneuvers as part of the practical training (1 or 2 lessons, depending on prior knowledge), which is included in the course price.

Yes, there is a "Take it easy" guarantee. If you fail, the exam fees for the repeat exam will be covered once.

In the practical exam, you will be asked to demonstrate 7 out of 10 knots.

The following documents are required to register for the exam:

• Application form (fully completed and signed)
• Recent passport photo (35 x 45 mm, without head covering, with name and date of birth on the back)
• Medical fitness certificate (not older than one year)
• For applicants over 18 years of age: a copy of a valid driver’s license (original must be presented on the exam day) or a certificate of good conduct

The practical maneuvers include mandatory and optional maneuvers.
Mandatory maneuvers (motorized vessel):

• Rescue maneuver (man overboard)
• Docking and undocking
• Navigating by compass
• Steering using simple or cross bearing

Optional maneuvers (motorized vessel):

• Stopping accurately on course
• Turning in a confined space (pivot turn)
• Navigating by navigation signs/landmarks
• Putting on a life jacket/safety harness
• Maneuver signals (one of three)
  

Knots:
From a selection of knots, seven must be correctly demonstrated and their use explained during the practical exam.

If the exam is not passed, it can be repeated as many times as desired. A fee of approximately 45 CHF is charged for each retake. We do not charge any fees ourselves for the repeat examination.

You will receive the coastal certificate, including the ICC (International Certificate of Competence), by mail within 8–10 days. Upon request, a provisional certificate can be issued immediately on the day of the exam.

In the navigation course, you will learn the navigation tasks that are relevant for the exam.

Minimum age: 16 years
Sufficient eyesight, if necessary with glasses
Adequate color vision
Sufficient hearing ability, if necessary with hearing aid
Medical fitness (doctor’s certificate)
Reliability (submission of a driver’s license or certificate of good conduct)

Medical fitness is determined by a doctor based on the criteria outlined in Annex 2 of the Sportbootführerschein Regulation (SpFV). An eye test and, if necessary, a hearing test are required. There are specific requirements regarding visual acuity, twilight vision, field of vision, and color differentiation. In cases of certain pre-existing conditions or limitations, fitness may be granted with conditions (e.g., visual aids, hearing aids, accompanying person, daytime operation only, restriction to a specific vessel or area).

• Visual acuity in both eyes together or in the better eye must be greater than or equal to 0.8, with or without corrective lenses.
  Monocular vision is permitted.
  Obvious double vision that cannot be corrected is not allowed. In the case of monocular vision: normal mobility of the functioning eye is required.
• Color vision is considered sufficient if the test using 24 Ishihara color plates is passed with a maximum of two errors.
  The use of filter lenses as visual aids for color differentiation is not permitted.
  Twilight vision must be tested in cases of glaucoma, retinal diseases, or media opacities (e.g., cataract).
• If there are anamnesis indications of visual field defects, it must be verified that at least one eye meets the visual acuity standard and compensates for the sector of the non-seeing eye.

• The visual acuity requirements can be met with corrective lenses (glasses or contact lenses). In this case, a restriction applies (corrective lenses must be worn).
• If twilight vision is insufficient, this may be a disqualifying factor.
• If the requirements for the field of vision are not met, this may be a disqualifying factor.
• If color differentiation is insufficient, this may be a disqualifying factor.

• The fitness decision depends on a careful clinical assessment and analysis. Individual circumstances and the nature of the health condition must be taken into account. It is important that the doctor provides a well-founded medical evaluation of the individual case.
• Risk mitigation measures and restrictions may be imposed (for example, wearing glasses may be required).

Hearing ability is considered sufficient if speech, with or without hearing aid, can be understood at normal volume from a distance of 3 meters with the ear turned toward the speaker, and from 5 meters with both ears simultaneously — or at least with the better ear, with or without hearing aid, from a distance of 5 meters.

• 01: Corrective lenses (glasses or contact lenses) required
• 02: Hearing aid required
• 03: Limb prostheses required
• 04: Accompanying person required
• 05: Daylight operation only
• 07: Restricted to a single and/or specially adapted vessel

• Infections
• Blood disorders
• Diabetes mellitus
• Overweight/abnormal body weight
• Alcohol abuse
• Drug addiction
• Psychoses
• Affective disorders
• Epilepsy
• Migraine
• Sleep apnea, narcolepsy
• Eye and ear diseases
• Heart diseases
• Bronchial asthma
• Gallbladder or kidney colic
• Malformations of limbs or partial loss of limbs

The certificate of fitness (print on both sides) will be sent to you; it must be signed by a doctor on both sides and can be found here: https://pz-bodensee-stuttgart-ausland.de/downloads/#dl-see.

• As a rule, the certificate can be signed by your general practitioner.
• A directory of all doctors with the required "Level 1" qualification in your area can be found here: https://medtraffic.ch/fahrzeuglenker/suche-fachperson-nach-ort/
• A qualified doctor can also be arranged.

For the medical examination, you will need an identification document (ID card or passport).
The doctor requires a certificate from an optician or ophthalmologist.
A hearing test can be conducted by the doctor himself.
The results are recorded on a form (medical certificate of fitness).
It is helpful to bring a printed copy of the medical fitness criteria to the appointment.

• Complete package for holders of a motorboat license Category A: CHF 880, including 1 practical lesson (2 hours)
• Complete package without prior knowledge: CHF 990, including 2 practical lessons (4 hours)
  Exam fee: CHF 145 (paid directly to the examination center)
• Medical fitness examination: approx. CHF 50–100

• Online course/app for the theory section including official exam questions
• Virtual textbook
• Exam simulation mode
• Knot-learning app
• Step-by-step video guide for solving navigation tasks
• Navigation tools (course triangle, plotting triangle, marine compass)
• Folder with official navigation tasks (including corresponding chart excerpts)
• Navigation theory course (4 hours), about one month before the exam, online participation possible
• Practical training (1 lesson of 2 hours with prior knowledge, 2 lessons of 2 hours without prior knowledge)
• Guide to the practical exam with detailed descriptions and illustrations of all maneuvers
• Optional: individual virtual coaching for navigation tasks
• Theory exam
• Practical exam ride