Frédéric prepared me excellently for the motorboat exam and stood out for his professionalism, high level of expertise, and very patient and supportive manner. It was a pleasure learning with him – thank you very much, Frédéric!
Lilly S.
Boat License Zurich:
Your Boat Driving License in 5 simple steps
- Registration
Complete the official application form from the Shipping Office (Schifffahrtsamt)
An eye test is not required if you already hold a Swiss learner’s permit or driving license.
You’ll need a passport photo and proof of residence.
- Boat License Theory Exam
Begin your boat license theory preparation as early as possible. You can choose from different learning options:
Bootsprüfung24.ch app (German)
Boatdriver motorboat learning kit (German / French / Italian / English)
The theory exam consists of 60 multiple-choice questions.
You may make up to 14 mistakes and still pass.
Once you’re ready, take the exam at the Zurich Road Traffic Office (Strassenverkehrsamt Zürich).
Don’t forget to bring your authorization card from the Shipping Office.
- Boating School Zurich
You can start your practical boat training at AQUA SKILLS Boat School Zurich even before passing the theory exam. During hands-on motorboat lessons on Lake Zurich, you’ll learn all exam‑relevant maneuvers plus valuable practical boating knowledge.
On average, most students need 15 to 18 lessons to be ready for the practical boat license exam.
- Praktische Ausbildung
In den Bootsfahrstunden auf dem Zürichsee lernst Du alle wichtigen Manöver sowie die korrekten Fachausdrücke, die für die Bootsprüfung relevant sind. Du bekommst ein Gespür für das Boot, den See und fühlst Dich schnell richtig wohl auf dem Wasser. Die Bootsfahrstunden finden auf Deutsch oder Englisch statt. Ich freu mich auf Dich!
- Practical Boat License Training – Lake Zurich
Once you have passed the theory exam and feel confident handling the boat, we’ll schedule your practical boat exam on Lake Zurich. Before the exam, you’ll complete a relaxed warm‑up round. Then, you’ll meet the official examiner from the Zurich Shipping Office.
The exam starts at the Harbor Authority in Zurich‑Tiefenbrunnen and takes place in familiar waters and harbours on Lake Zurich.
The practical boat exam lasts approx. 50–60 minutes and is conducted exclusively in German.
No Worries – you’ll be fully prepared: during your lessons, we practice all maneuvers in both German and English. This way, you’ll clearly understand every instruction during the exam and know exactly what is expected.
Practical Motorboat Exam – Lake Zurich
You’ll complete your practical boat exam on an AQUA SKILLS training boat, together with an official examiner, on Lake Zurich. During the exam, all required maneuvers are requested step by step. You perform them independently, confidently, and safely.
Please Note: The practical boat exam will not take place if there is a risk of ice, visibility is below 300 meters, or an official storm warning is in effect.
With Frédéric, experienced boat instructor at AQUA SKILLS Boat School Zurich, you’ll be perfectly prepared for your practical boat exam. Thanks to individually tailored lessons, hands‑on training, and valuable exam tips, you’ll gain the confidence and skills needed to pass your boat license exam successfully.
Required Maneuvers for the practical exam
- Boat Controls & Operation
- Onboard Safety & Boat Preparation
- Entering and Exiting Harbors
- Sideways docking and undocking at the pier, forwards, 45° / 90° (starboard and port)
- Bow landing (bow‑to docking)
- Turning through the bow
- Reverse docking at the pier (starboard and port)
- Stern anchoring maneuver
- Bow anchoring maneuver
- Docking in box berths, forwards and reverse
- Manoeuvring in confined spaces
- Man overboard maneuver (person overboard)
- Kompass – Navigation
- Operating a Motorboat on Different Courses
- Securing the Boat
- Knowledge of Nautical Knots
Theory section of the practical exam
- Weather knowledge
- Boat knowledge
- Engine fire
- Electrical fire
- Engine or steering failure
- Towing
- Emergency anchoring
- Water ingress
- Running aground – casualty
- Local knowledge
- Loss of maneuverability and emergency on board
TRAINING AREAS AND HARBORS
The training area on Lake Zurich covers the stretch from Zurich-Wollishofen and Tiefenbrunnen to Oberrieden and Feldmeilen. We are happy to pick you up at a harbor near you.
PRICING
The costs for obtaining a boat license in Zurich consist of fees for the boat driving school as well as the navigation authority. In addition to the cost of the driving lessons, there are also expenses for insurance and examination fees.
THE TRAINING BOAT
Our cabin boat is weatherproof, heated, and in operation all year round.
Model: Bella 572 C outboard engine, 80 HP
Hydraulic steering electronic gear control
onboard computer digital engine data GPS chart plotter.
YOUR POWERBOAT INSTRUCTOR
I am Frédéric and have been a boat instructor on Lake Zurich since 2022. My career began at a boat driving school on Lake Zurich, where I gained a lot of experience while also developing my own teaching style.
Feedback from my students
I took my boating lessons with Frederic and couldn’t have wished for a better instructor. With his calm and professional manner, he made me feel confident and at ease from the very beginning. I felt comfortable and well supported in every lesson. Frederic explains maneuvers clearly and understandably, adapts to each student’s needs, and creates a positive learning atmosphere. The lessons with him were also genuinely fun.
Valdita S.
I recently passed my motorboat licence exam successfully thanks to the professionel preparation with my instructor Frédéric. He prepared me very well for the exaam in a structured, patient, and thorough way. The scheduling of the lessons and the exam was very flexible and straightforward, making it easy to fit everything into my daily routine. Overall, it was a very positive and smooth experience, and I would like to take this opportunity to say thank you once again.
Andi
Frédéric was a fantastic instructor! Everything was very well structured, and the lessons were always a lot of fun.
Fabian
Frédéric is an outstanding instructor—highly motivating, patient, and with a great sense of humor. I can highly recommend taking lessons with him. It was incredibly fun and the perfect preparation for the boating exam. Simply excellent! Many thanks for everything!
Werner K.
These reviews are from students of my former employer, Luna Sailing.
Ahoy! I look forward to hearing from you
Would you like to book boat lessons on Lake Zurich or find out more about the motorboat licence in Zurich? Feel free to message me on WhatsApp, send me an email or give me a call.
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