SYDNEY's Favourite

Group Boat Licence Course

Ahoy there, ladies & gentlemen!

Say goodbye to boring classrooms and hello to learning on the water.

Boat Wise Mentor and Captain Tristian High Fiving a Family

Learn to drive a boat like a pro on Sydney Harbour!

Our fun and engaging boat licence course gives you the skills and confidence you need to hit the water and start exploring.

With hands-on experience and personalised attention on our comfortable training vessel, you’ll be cruising around Sydney Harbour in no time.

Our boat licence course is designed to be both informative and enjoyable. Our experienced and knowledgeable instructors will guide you through the course, ensuring that you have a solid understanding of the theory and practical skills required to operate a vessel safely and confidently. With our hands-on approach, you’ll get the opportunity to practice your newly acquired skills on the water, giving you the confidence you need to become a skilled and competent skipper.

Unsure what you need?

Group Boat Licence Course

5.0
Based on 328 Reviews
hong eric
February 1, 2025

did private lesson - thoroughly enjoyable

Kathleen Mitchell
January 31, 2025

We could not have wished for a better experience for our son to obtain his boat licence. Thank you Tristian for your professionalism in making the process so smooth and Captain Dave for the invaluable knowledge you passed on to our son, he was thrilled! We would recommend Boatwise to anyone - 5 🌟

Emi H
January 31, 2025

Private lesson was excellent and well structured!

Robert Hughes
January 22, 2025

I couldn't recommend Tristan more highly. He is very professional and personable which made the whole experience positive and informative. Tristan was very patient which really helped build confidence. I'll be definitely booking in again for more classes. Thanks again Tristan!!

DAVID WILDMAN
January 14, 2025

I highly recommend Tristian and BoatWise for anyone looking to obtain their boat license or enhance their boating skills. My experience with Tristian was exceptional from the very start. After studying the boating handbook—an excellent guidebook provided by BoatWise—and completing practice tests on the NSW Transport website, I felt well-prepared for my lessons. During a full 6-hour day on the water in Pittwater, Tristian expertly guided me through the essentials of safe boat preparation, startup procedures, and all the necessary basics. His testing included the rules of the water and navigating various markers and hazards. Thanks to his thorough instruction, I successfully passed my practical assessment and received my certificate, followed by my NSW Boat License the next day! A week later, I enjoyed another full day on the water with Tristian, where I learned to handle the boat in more challenging situations. We practiced various techniques with the engines and reviewed the basics, such as anchoring, mooring, and docking smoothly. By the end of the second day, I felt confident in my understanding of boating theory, navigation rules, and safe operation under different conditions. If you’re considering getting your boat license, seeking a refresher, or wanting more complex training, look no further than Tristian at BoatWise!

fergs 64
January 12, 2025

Went today with my wife for out boat licence, I was really nervous at the start within a min Tristan the instructor made me fell 100x better and the rest of the day was soo much fun as well as learning everything I need to successfully go about the harbour . Definitely recommend this course 👌. Thanks for a awsome day out Tristan.

Course Details

Course Price

$495 (incl. GST)

Location

Gladesville Bridge Marina

Runtime: 5-6hrs

9:00am - 3:00pm

Dates

Weekends

Why choose Boat Wise?

Two parts:

1. Online Theory

Complete OUR Pre-Study consisting of the Boat Wise Handbook

Take the boating knowledge practice quiz
Service NSW

(optional)

2. Practical

Practical on Water, assessment and training.

Then you’ll receive your Registered Boat Licence after the course

You will learn:

Safety and preparation

(kill cord, life jackets, communications, crew position and safety)

High-speed handling

(trim, stability, driving position, crew safety, waves, quick stop)

Low-speed handling

(close quarters, standing off, wind and tide)

Rules of the water

(etiquette, signs, managing busy traffic)

Boating skills

(anchoring, berthing, handling lines, mooring buoys)

Emergency situations

(types of emergency, man overboard recovery, marine radio distress calls)

Personal equipment

(clothing, lifejackets etc)

Parts of the boat

(basic terminology)

Types of craft

(hull types, engines, fuel)

Basic weather

(forecasts, sea state, effect of wind and tide)

Buoyage, basic collision regulations

(IRPCS)

Onboard safety

Legal responsibilities and obligations

The course is continually assessed, so there is no written examination. Your instructor will assess your skills and knowledge throughout the day.

The Pre-Study takes a 1-2 hours to complete at home at your own pace, and the practical component takes about 4-5 hours on Sydney Harbour with our highly experienced instructors.

Once you have successfully passed the course, you will receive an electronic certificate via email. You will need to print this out in a PDF format and take it to Service NSW or Maritime head office in Rozelle to pay the government fees and obtain your official boat licence.

Sign up for our Boat Licence Course today and start your next adventure!

5.0
Based on 328 Reviews
hong eric
February 1, 2025

did private lesson - thoroughly enjoyable

Kathleen Mitchell
January 31, 2025

We could not have wished for a better experience for our son to obtain his boat licence. Thank you Tristian for your professionalism in making the process so smooth and Captain Dave for the invaluable knowledge you passed on to our son, he was thrilled! We would recommend Boatwise to anyone - 5 🌟

Emi H
January 31, 2025

Private lesson was excellent and well structured!

Robert Hughes
January 22, 2025

I couldn't recommend Tristan more highly. He is very professional and personable which made the whole experience positive and informative. Tristan was very patient which really helped build confidence. I'll be definitely booking in again for more classes. Thanks again Tristan!!

DAVID WILDMAN
January 14, 2025

I highly recommend Tristian and BoatWise for anyone looking to obtain their boat license or enhance their boating skills. My experience with Tristian was exceptional from the very start. After studying the boating handbook—an excellent guidebook provided by BoatWise—and completing practice tests on the NSW Transport website, I felt well-prepared for my lessons. During a full 6-hour day on the water in Pittwater, Tristian expertly guided me through the essentials of safe boat preparation, startup procedures, and all the necessary basics. His testing included the rules of the water and navigating various markers and hazards. Thanks to his thorough instruction, I successfully passed my practical assessment and received my certificate, followed by my NSW Boat License the next day! A week later, I enjoyed another full day on the water with Tristian, where I learned to handle the boat in more challenging situations. We practiced various techniques with the engines and reviewed the basics, such as anchoring, mooring, and docking smoothly. By the end of the second day, I felt confident in my understanding of boating theory, navigation rules, and safe operation under different conditions. If you’re considering getting your boat license, seeking a refresher, or wanting more complex training, look no further than Tristian at BoatWise!

fergs 64
January 12, 2025

Went today with my wife for out boat licence, I was really nervous at the start within a min Tristan the instructor made me fell 100x better and the rest of the day was soo much fun as well as learning everything I need to successfully go about the harbour . Definitely recommend this course 👌. Thanks for a awsome day out Tristan.