The coastal boat licence
The coastal option pleasure craft licence is mandatory to operate a pleasure craft with a power output of more than 4.5 kilowatts (more than 6 horsepower), at a distance of up to 6 miles from a shelter and whether on a closed water body, a lake or at sea.
To pass it, several conditions must be met: the yachtsman must be at least 16 years old and medically fit and the training centre must have been approved and its trainer must hold an authorisation issued by the administration.
As a reminder, a permit is not required to ski a sailboat.
Register for the exam
Applicants for a pleasure licence must complete a registration form consisting of the following cerfa n° 14681 application form, a colour passport photo, a 38 euro tax stamp (examination registration fee) and a 70 euro tax stamp (permit issued), a photocopy of the identity document and finally a certificate of physical fitness, form cerfa No. 14673 less than 6 months old.
Preparing for the exam
The pleasure licence has a theoretical and a practical part. This must take place in an approved training centre with trainers holding a teaching certificate issued by the administration.
Upon registration, the boater receives an apprenticeship booklet with a personal identification number, which integrates the training objectives and the certificate of success. This serves as a provisional title valid for 1 month, pending the final permit.
The theoretical classroom training takes place in the presence of the trainer and lasts at least 5 hours. Practical training is common to both options (coastal and inland waters) and can start before obtaining the theoretical part. The practical skills are certified by the training centre after an individual apprenticeship of at least 3 hours 30 minutes, including 2 hours at the helm.
The training program
The purpose of the coastal pleasure licence is to learn how to drive a boat (start the engine, follow a trajectory, navigate safely, stop, reverse, choose an anchorage area, anchor...), to know the responsibilities of the boat owner (means of distress, obligation of the boat's captain...) and to learn to master all the equipment and elements related to navigation. It will be necessary to know beacons, signals, ship lights, sound signals, navigation rules, nautical charts...
The objective is to ensure personal and collective safety on board but also to understand the importance of the means of communication. The yachtsman will also be able to detect the times of exit at sea according to the weather and recognize the markings.
The examination
The coastal option yachting licence is divided into two parts, one theoretical and one practical. For the theoretical part, the yachtsman will have to answer a questionnaire of 30 multiple-choice questions. He must not make more than 5 mistakes to get his theoretical part. Once obtained, it is valid for 18 months (before obtaining the practical part).
The practical part is common to both options: coastal and inland waters. The programme is detailed in the learning booklet and the test takes place over a minimum duration of 3 hours and 30 minutes. It must be validated by the training institution.
The permit can be obtained from the prefect of the department in which the instructing service of the permit application at its headquarters, on presentation of supporting documents.
