Good morning all,

I have been watching a few youtube channels about boat life and sailing of which most are living on their boat and sailing various countries... 3 of the channels have stated that don't have a boat licence however have registered their boat in their name (30-32ft yachts)... I do know two channels the sailers are of Australian background and I believe the other channel is Canadian...

It got me questions whether a boat licence is really needed? I understand that this is probably preferable for a lot of countries but Im sure there are others sailing around Australia and or the world who don't have a boating licence... One of the Australian channels has already sailed up FNQ onto Solomon PNG and now in Indonesia and again stated he has no boat licence just registration...

Is this a common practice and is it more common then people realise? Love to hear peoples thoughts on this or if they know others who have a small yacht yet only registered.

Cheers!

Benjie.

Have a look at the relevant maritime authority for your state and see what the requirements are for your state. Some states require you to have a licence if you have more than a certain horsepower engine while other states require a licence if travelling in excess of a certain speed.

This from the NSW maritime site ...

General boat driving licence

The speed you drive a boat determines whether you need a licence. If you drive a powered vessel for recreational purposes on NSW waters, at a speed of 10 knots (18.5 Kilometres per hour) or more, you must have a boat driving licence.

This licence permits people aged 12 years and over to drive any vessel (except a PWC) at 10 knots or more. This is the speed at which most accelerating boats will start to plane (rise up and skim on top of the water, instead of ploughing through it).

Select to expand quote

LooseChange said..
Have a look at the relevant maritime authority for your state and see what the requirements are for your state. Some states require you to have a licence if you have more than a certain horsepower engine while other states require a licence if travelling in excess of a certain speed.

This from the NSW maritime site ...

General boat driving licence

The speed you drive a boat determines whether you need a licence. If you drive a powered vessel for recreational purposes on NSW waters, at a speed of 10 knots (18.5 Kilometres per hour) or more, you must have a boat driving licence.

This licence permits people aged 12 years and over to drive any vessel (except a PWC) at 10 knots or more. This is the speed at which most accelerating boats will start to plane (rise up and skim on top of the water, instead of ploughing through it).

Thanks for that...

So just confirming it is the knots and not the size of motor or such... How is the 10 knots determined by the bodying agency? Is that the cursing speed of a boat? I know most 30 - 32ft yacht's cruise around the 4-7 knots and ofcourse can possibly go upto 10 knots depending on wind conditions and all however I'm just wondering how NSW maritime determine this...


Benjie.

Select to expand quote

Bennjo_1 said..

LooseChange said..
Have a look at the relevant maritime authority for your state and see what the requirements are for your state. Some states require you to have a licence if you have more than a certain horsepower engine while other states require a licence if travelling in excess of a certain speed.

This from the NSW maritime site ...

General boat driving licence

The speed you drive a boat determines whether you need a licence. If you drive a powered vessel for recreational purposes on NSW waters, at a speed of 10 knots (18.5 Kilometres per hour) or more, you must have a boat driving licence.

This licence permits people aged 12 years and over to drive any vessel (except a PWC) at 10 knots or more. This is the speed at which most accelerating boats will start to plane (rise up and skim on top of the water, instead of ploughing through it).

Thanks for that...

So just confirming it is the knots and not the size of motor or such... How is the 10 knots determined by the bodying agency? Is that the cursing speed of a boat? I know most 30 - 32ft yacht's cruise around the 4-7 knots and ofcourse can possibly go upto 10 knots depending on wind conditions and all however I'm just wondering how NSW maritime determine this...


Benjie.

Displacement yachts aren't fast, a 50ft waterline length displacement yacht will have a hull speed around 10kts if the engines are powerful enough. So, unless you have a fast catamaran with powerful engines or a planing yacht, in NSW you don't need a licence for a sail boat. Many owners do but they aren't necessary.
Which helps to explain why some of them have no idea of the rules of the road.

Select to expand quote

MorningBird said..

Bennjo_1 said..

LooseChange said..
Have a look at the relevant maritime authority for your state and see what the requirements are for your state. Some states require you to have a licence if you have more than a certain horsepower engine while other states require a licence if travelling in excess of a certain speed.

This from the NSW maritime site ...

General boat driving licence

The speed you drive a boat determines whether you need a licence. If you drive a powered vessel for recreational purposes on NSW waters, at a speed of 10 knots (18.5 Kilometres per hour) or more, you must have a boat driving licence.

This licence permits people aged 12 years and over to drive any vessel (except a PWC) at 10 knots or more. This is the speed at which most accelerating boats will start to plane (rise up and skim on top of the water, instead of ploughing through it).

Thanks for that...

So just confirming it is the knots and not the size of motor or such... How is the 10 knots determined by the bodying agency? Is that the cursing speed of a boat? I know most 30 - 32ft yacht's cruise around the 4-7 knots and ofcourse can possibly go upto 10 knots depending on wind conditions and all however I'm just wondering how NSW maritime determine this...


Benjie.

Displacement yachts aren't fast, a 50ft waterline length displacement yacht will have a hull speed around 10kts if the engines are powerful enough. So, unless you have a fast catamaran with powerful engines or a planing yacht, in NSW you don't need a licence for a sail boat. Many owners do but they aren't necessary.
Which helps to explain why some of them have no idea of the rules of the road.

Ok great thanks for clarifying that... Yeah the boats I'm looking at 30-32ft have maybe max 20hp engine which only gets unto 6kts if lucky and cruise unto 7kts average...

I do know of one bloke who had no experience sailing yet jumped in his yacht and off he sailed from Syd to Townsville... not a day of sailing and did it solo to bet. And yes he did make it and survived to tell the story haha.

I'd also check if your insurer requires that someone on the boat is licensed, or that the owner/insurer is licensed. It'd be a good reason not to pay out 'as the person in control of the vessel was not licensed'. Also keep in. Ind what is required to get a boat license. The theory is mostly about safety and the identification of marker buoys. If you don't have that knowledge, I wouldn't go bragging about not having/needing a license...

Its not that hard or expensive to get a boat licence.
My 9ft rubber ducky with 5hp does over 10kn with just me and with my wife if not packed up with gear.

it varies from state to state.
down here in Victoria it's a definite requirement, if you have a motor.
other states seem to have power limits.

www.huntsmarine.com.au/blogs/latest-boating-news/what-size-boat-can-i-drive-without-a-license

The licence itself is pretty straight forward. Multi-choice questions covering stuff that you really want to know anyway. Give-way rules, knowing various markers indicating hazards and the long like.

Yeh in NSW you can operate any rec vessel without a licence as long as you're doing less than 10knts, not what the vessel is capable of, ****** nuts

Select to expand quote

MorningBird said..
Which helps to explain why some of them have no idea of the rules of the road.

Unfortunately that's not exclusive to those without a license.