boat license, short (and hopefully quick) advice needed

hornetzoo · #1 12.04.2011, 12:46

I would like to get a boat license valid on lake zurich to drive a waterski boat. Can someone tell me if the Groupon coupon below will help me with this? And is it a good deal?

http://www.groupon.ch/deals/zuerich?...ampaign=Varies

I grew up in Michigan and was driving ski boats for most of my life, but a license was not required there. (A car driver's license suffices when you only want to drive a small boat for recreational purposes). I have a swiss car driver's license.

smoky · #2 12.04.2011, 12:57

For a boat with a motor over 8hp you need a licence.

hornetzoo · #3 12.04.2011, 13:04

Thanks, and does anyone know about the categories? Would category A cover most waterski boats?

This course seems to be 3 segments of 90 minutes each. Would that short time really prepare me to pass the exam?

Can I also study by myself and go pass the exam? Or is it a requirement to attend a course and also do driving practice before taking the exam?

#4 12.04.2011, 13:13

	Quote:	hornetzoo
	Thanks, and does anyone know about the categories? Would category A cover most waterski boats? This course seems to be 3 segments of 90 minutes each. Would that short time really prepare me to pass the exam? Can I also study by myself and go pass the exam? Or is it a requirement to attend a course and also do driving practice before taking the exam?

There is a theory test for which you can study. Then there is a practical test. Having done inshore years ago the practical test in Switzeland is madness - 10 times more difficult I'd say, and this in a place where at the slightest sign of wind all the sailing boats head for the shore

.

I'd guess you'd want 15 to 20 hours of training to cover all aspects.

TiMow · #5 12.04.2011, 13:25

It's been discussed here before.

Here's a link to the other threads which may or may not contain pertinent info.

http://www.englishforum.ch/search2.php?q=boat+licence

Captain Greybeard · #6 12.04.2011, 13:58

	Quote:	hornetzoo
	I grew up in Michigan and was driving ski boats for most of my life, but a license was not required there. (A car driver's license suffices when you only want to drive a small boat for recreational purposes). I have a swiss car driver's license.

A driver's license? Since when do 12 y.o. kids have driver's licenses? In Michigan, anybody can drive a motor boat of almost any size and power at an age of 12 years. I made my US Coast Guard license there.

toronto · #7 13.04.2011, 08:14

the test is not hard at all, most of it is parking the boat (atleast what i experienced in vaud on lake geneva) If you know how to drive a boat you will be fine. What I did, and I recomend, is just take 1 lesson to get used to the boat (assuming you will use that boat for a test) and the instructor will basically take you through a mock test so you know what to expect. again since most of it is parking, its good to be comfortable with the boat, and parking very carefully in the tight marinas.