What size boat requires a licence, and how do requirements vary by location?
I'm looking at a 6-metre motorboat with a 60 hp outboard, mainly for use in Denmark but possibly abroad on holiday. Does the boat's length decide whether I need a licence, and would the same certificate cover me elsewhere?
Answer
No single boat length determines when you need an operator's licence; the rules depend on the country, local waters, engine power, hull type and sometimes your age. In Denmark, an ordinary sailing yacht under 15 metres generally needs no skipper's certificate, while a much smaller planing motorboat can require a speedboat certificate.
Check boat and cruising area
Check the boat's documented length, total engine power in kilowatts and hull type against the maritime authority's rules for your intended waters. Length alone can mislead: a 6-metre displacement launch and a 6-metre planing sportsboat may fall into different categories.
Have these details ready:
- Boat: hull length, sailing or motor, and whether it is designed to plane.
- Engines: rated power and number of engines; 1 kW is approximately 1.34 hp.
- Operator: age, residence and existing qualifications.
- Trip: country, coastal or inland waters, private ownership or hire, and boat registration.
An operator's qualification is separate from boat registration, a navigation permit or a waterway licence. A document allowing the boat onto a canal does not necessarily qualify you to drive it.
Denmark: length, hull and power
For ordinary private recreational sailing in Denmark, a sailing yacht under 15 metres generally requires no skipper's certificate. Formal qualification requirements apply from 15 metres; check the exact certificate and manning requirements for the vessel and intended voyage.
For planing motorboats from 4 metres to under 15 metres, the usual speedboat test compares engine power in kW with the boat's length in metres squared, plus 3:
Power threshold = length × length + 3.
A 6-metre boat has a threshold of 39 kW, approximately 52 hp. A planing boat of that length with a 60 hp outboard exceeds it, so its operator needs a speedboat certificate. Travelling slowly does not remove the requirement. The boat's design and fitted power determine its classification.
Boats under 4 metres have a separate power threshold. Use the Danish Maritime Authority's calculator rather than applying this formula to every size. The minimum age for operating a speedboat that requires a certificate is 16.
Personal watercraft require the appropriate PWC certificate, including when rented. A speedboat certificate does not automatically cover them. Where a certificate is required, a guest taking the helm must also hold the appropriate qualification. Having a qualified owner aboard is insufficient.