Small or large vessel — and when do you need a licence?
The BPR categories are confusing. Here it is step by step, with examples.
When do you need a licence?
You need a (small) boating licence as soon as your pleasure craft meets one of these two conditions:
Applies to pleasure craft up to 25 metres. The Small Boating Licence covers pleasure craft up to (just under) 25 metres; from 25 metres you need the Large Boating Licence.
From what age may you sail?
These are the BPR rules (most inland waters). On the Rhine and its branches the RPR applies, with partly different age and licence rules.
Small vessel or large vessel?
Main rule by length: under 20 m = small vessel · from 20 m = large vessel.
But length isn't everything. Some vessels are always a large vessel, regardless of length:
- Commercial shipping (cargo/working vessels)
- A fishing vessel that is fishing
- A ferry — even if it is only 3 metres
- A tug towing a large vessel
- A passenger vessel (may carry more than 12 passengers)
⚠️ Note: the licence says nothing about the category
A 17-metre vessel is a small vessel (< 20 m), but because it is longer than 15 metres you do need a licence for it.
A 24.95-metre pleasure yacht is officially a large vessel (≥ 20 m), yet you may still drive it with your Small Boating Licence. The word ‘small’ refers to your paperwork, not to the vessel's category.
Special categories
A small vessel that can go faster than 20 km/h. That same 20 km/h is also the speed above which you need a licence.
A large vessel that can go faster than 40 km/h. Think of a hydrofoil or a hovercraft.
A vessel allowed to carry more than 12 passengers. Even under 20 metres it then counts as a ‘large vessel’ — and by day it shows a yellow rhombus.