Which boats can you rent without a license?

For the exact rules when you need a boating license and the difference between the two licenses, please refer to this article.

The main rules

For everything you can rent that can travel on water including canoes, suppers, jet skis, motor boats and sailboats that cannot go faster than 20km per hour and are less than 15 meters long, you do not need a license in the Netherlands according to the CBR. If you want to rent a larger boat, please contact the rental company or your Tubber advisor to discuss this.

Below we will describe in more detail the different boats you can rent without a boating license. These boats must also meet the dimensions and maximum speed mentioned earlier.

Types of boats you can rent

Sloop or whisper boat

Who doesn't know them? A very popular open motor boat. These types of boats fall under the smaller motorboats and are therefore mainly used for recreation on smaller waters or canals. In the past these boats were mainly used as an extra boat for a larger ship.

No wonder these boats are so popular nowadays because in most cases you don't need a license. Just check with the rental company. Many places now offer electric whisper boats for rent. Ideal for sailing quietly through a nature reserve without disturbing the surroundings. So you can still enjoy a nice trip in the sun with your friends or family.

Open motorboat

Besides the sloop, you can also sail on other open motor boats, such as a RIB or an inflatable lifeboat. Because these boats are so light, you can quickly go faster than 20 km per hour with a 5hp engine. What you can possibly do if your own boat is going too fast is to limit the engine at a specialist or install a lighter outboard motor.

Open sailboat

Open sailboats are ideally suited to sailing without a license, as long as you can sail, of course. In this there are two types: the keel boats and the sword boats. In which the sword boats have a keel under the boat that is retractable.

Cabin boat

The cabin boat comes in two different types.

Motor Yacht

The first type is the cabin motor yacht. Which is distinguished from an ordinary powerboat by the luxurious accommodation where you can also sleep, cook and shower. These boats are fully powered by an engine and come in many different shapes and sizes. Note here that the boat cannot go faster than 20 km per hour if you do not have a license. This does not consider the number of horsepower. So you can basically sail a fat 20-ton motor cruiser that can go a maximum of 19 km per hour in the Netherlands.

Sailing yacht

The second kind, a cabin sailing yacht also has everything you need. Like a berth and seating area where you can sit nice and dry and warm at night. Sailing yachts feature a triangular sail varying in size, shape and number. The difference is further in the propulsion. These boats can be sailed beautifully. However, this requires a bit more effort and skill than its other relatives and is therefore really for enthusiasts. Now suppose there is no wind for a while, you can also use your motor. This category includes: cruising yachts, racing yachts, daysailers, motorsailers and other beautiful classics.

Flat bottom ship

These are traditional sailing ships with, as the name suggests, a flat bottom so you can drop dry without problems. These characteristic sailing ships are characterized by their sideboards instead of a keel. A week's vacation on one of these boats will therefore not soon be forgotten.

Multihulls or Catamaran

A multihull is a boat with several hulls and often much lighter than a monohull (a boat with 1 hull).

A catamaran is rightly one of the best known multihulls, these boats have two hulls which means they have less drag and are faster and more stable to sail. Most people will know the catamaran as a sailboat but there are also boats powered by an engine. The advantage of these modern boats is that they have enormous space with everything on them. Perfect for friends or family to spend a vacation. Due to the size and often higher top speed, we do not recommend these boats to sail without a license and/or some experience.

Rent a boat on vacation

Would you like to rent a boat abroad without a license? Different rules apply here than in the Netherlands and Belgium. In Europe, the rules may vary from country to country. This has to do with the fact that in countries such as Croatia , for example, you are more likely to be at sea. To sail at sea you usually need an ICC. An International Certificate of Competence is a certificate that can be compared to the Dutch Klein Vaarbewijs II. France and Italy also make a distinction in whether you sail with your own boat or rent one.

Here you can rent boats without a license.

To make it clear what is allowed where, we have made an overview of the most popular countries. With this overview it is good to mention that these are the rules that apply at this moment and may change in the future.

Vacation countrySailboat rental without a licenseMotorboat rental without a license
Boating license is required, but some rental companies make an exception, please contact your Tubber advisor.Max. 40 
All sailboats 
Max. 6 hp on inlandwatersSpainOnly in certain areas.
< 6 m

Only in certain areas.
< 5 m
Max. 9.5 hp
PortugalOnthe coast an ICC is required, otherwise the same rules as NLOn the coast an ICC is required, otherwise the same rules as NLGermany
< 15 m on inland waters.
On the German Wadden, Kieler Kanaal and Baltic Sea also no ICC is required as long as your boat does not exceed 15 mMax. 15 hp
(Lake Constance 6 hp, the Rhine 5 hp)Turkey
Sailing license is not obligatory 
Sailing license is not compulsory British Virgin Islands
Sailing license is not required. Sailing experience must be demonstrated by a sailing CV.
Sailing license is not mandatory. Sailing experience must be demonstrated by a sailing resume.Caribbean
Sailing license is not mandatory. Sailing experience must be demonstrated by a sailing resume.
Sailing license is not mandatory. Sailing experience must be demonstrated by a sailing resume.
Same rules as in NL: 
Max. 20 km per hour
< 15 m
Same rules as in NL:
Max. 20 km per hour
< 15 All sailboatsMax. 30 hp

Exceptions

In some cases, the charter company may make an exception for Dutch or Belgian sailors because a license is not required for boats under 15 meters. It is important to discuss this in advance with the rental company or the local harbor master. For this you can always ask us for advice at [email protected] or call us on +31 (0) 50 8200 200.

For more information about the necessary boat licenses abroad you can check this article.

Safely rent a boat with skipper

Do you still have doubts about your own sailing skills? Then hire an experienced skipper with the boat for a worry-free vacation. The skipper can often tell you everything you need to know about the beautiful surroundings you are sailing past. He or she knows the hidden gems, nicest beaches and you can enjoy your drink while reading a good book.

Conclusion

So there are a lot of options and types of boats you can rent. In foreign countries there are often different rules so check before you leave if you can actually rent that boat. Still, even without a boating license, you can choose from Tubber 's versatile selection that suits your needs.