Should I Do The NSW Boat Licence Course?
No
Boat
Licence
Adult
Licence Holder
Drive A Boat Of Any Length
Motor Size 6hp Or More
Slow Speed Below 10 Knots
Fast Speed Above 10 Knots
Tow A Person Above 10 Knots
Covered By Boat Insurance
Be Confident On The Water
Drive At Full Speed
* Most Boat Insurers require the Driver to be Fully Licenced for claim eligibility
Boat Licence Course; No Logbook
Your day starts aboard one of our comfortable, modern vessels, where we’ll cover everything you need to know for the Licence in this on-water training session.
It’s a fun experience that takes a couple hours, and as we’re a ATP (Authorised Training Provider), this means you won’t have to fill out a practical logbook from Service NSW.
The boating practical is typically the favourite section of the day, it’s a ton of fun!
Trip Prep
Learn the best practice in safe departure, and follow the pre-start checks before you set off.
Taking your family or friends out on the boat? We’ll help you know the correct type of lifejacket to put on them!
Navigation
See how it all works in person – we’ll point out the difference between channel marks and submerged danger marks.
Can’t tell your port from your starboard? Let us show you!
Boat Handling
Low Speed Manoeuvres
You’ll drive forward and backward
Man Over-Board Drills
With “Bob”, the trained and certified safety buoy
High Speed Manoeuvres
Full throttle forwards and figure eights
Anchoring, Beaching, & Berthing
We demonstrate how to do it right
Gold Standard Boat Licence Theory
With so many confusing rules and regulations it can feel like you’ve been sent up the creek!
Let us guide you through it all with pre-study, and a thorough classroom session.
ABC Pre-Study Guide & Practice Test
Start at home or on the go with our boating guide, which gets you a solid foundation of knowledge.
It only takes about 45 minutes to read before your course, and it primes you on all the words you’ll need to know like port, starboard, draft, and more.
Then there’s 15 minutes of a Practice Boat Test, written to be just like the real one.
In-Person Presentation
Join us in the classroom to learn the waterway rules with the aid of safety equipment demos, videos, animations, and images.
We make learning fun, useful, and effective!
Upstream, Downstream, and Channel Marks
Drive on the correct side of the river
Lifejackets and Boating Safety
When to wear them and what else to bring
Avoiding Collisions With Other Boats
Right of way and which way to turn
Distances Off Objects
Boats? People? Whales? Learn them all
Sit The NSW Boat Licence Test with ABC
Once you’ve been primed with all the boating info you could need, it’s time for the NSW Boat Test.
You’ll sit the multiple choice exam on a touchscreen tablet in our closed-book classroom environment, with our supportive trainers nearby.
50 Questions, 2 Sections
Section A has 20 questions, and a passing mark is an exacting 20/20. That’s right – no incorrect answers allowed!
Section B has 30 questions, and is a little more lenient at 24/30 – but the questions are more complex.
The ABC “Fair Go” Policy
We truly believe in the quality of our training (and our incredibly high pass rate), but even the best student can need a helping hand on an off day.
No worries though – you’re covered by the Australian Boating College Fair Go Policy:
We’ll give you 2 attempts at the NSW Boat Licence Test on the day of your course.
If you don’t pass, you can come back another day for 2 more tries at no extra cost.
Lodge Your Form at Service NSW
Now you’ve completed your full-day course with ABC, just take your completed Boat Licence Application Form to any Service NSW branch, no appointments needed.
Simply enter the branch, select “Maritime” on the touchscreen for a numbered ticket, give them your form when called, pay the licence fee, and get your licence on the spot.
Get Out On The Water
You’re now qualified and equipped to take your vessel out on the water, congratulations!
Next Steps in Your Boating Journey:
If you want to hone your boating skills or learn any advanced boating techniques, check out our other training courses:
Jetski/PWC Licence
Want to ride a Jetski? Complete the full combined course, or add it on as an upgrade later
Personalised Boating Lessons
Loved our training? Get advanced tips and learn to use your own boat in a 1-on-1 session
Marine Radio Licence
A Marine Radio Licence is needed if your boat is fitted with a Radio, and it’s great for safety