Upcoming Theory Courses

Intensive Weekend Course

Inland Theory Course Saturday

SBF Sea Theory Saturday and Sunday     

• 10.+11.10.2026 at 10:00 am
• Sign Up Now!
• 13.+14.06.2026 at 10 am
• 11.+12.05.2026 at 10 am
• 15.+16.08.2026 at 10 am
• 05 & 06 September 2026 at 10 am
• 19.+20.09.2026 at 10 am
• 10.+11.10.2026 at 10 am

English theory course for SBF Binnen

October and November

English theory courses available for SBF Binnen (inshore) and See (coastal).

We also arrange dates to suit participants. If you can’t find a date that works for you, just get in touch!

One-to-one theory lessons or a last-minute course for a group of 2 or more people are available.

Theory Courses for the Recreational Boat Licence

Practical training also requires theoretical knowledge. Our boating school focuses on practical training—“learning by doing,” as the English phrase goes. Educators have found that people remember new things best by putting them into practice rather than just hearing about them. Still, theory is essential: not everything can be seen in our training area, and some dangerous situations can’t easily be recreated. That’s why we offer theory courses to help you prepare as well as possible for the theory test in the Sportbootführerschein (SBF) exam.

Here, too, we pay special attention to the fact that everyone is different and that learning is highly individual. Some people learn best by reading a good textbook. They can barely remember anything from traditional classroom lectures, often doze off, and need everything written down and shown in pictures—in other words, they learn visually, from a book, video or live demonstration.

Even with the best books, some people only get as far as page 2 and would rather have someone explain everything to them in person—and are happy to ask questions. Others prefer a modern approach, learning with videos and browsing websites and apps. And some don’t want to spend all their time staring at screens.

We want to cater to these different needs. That’s why you can choose from several ways to learn the theory here. We recommend the relevant textbooks, which you can also buy from us if you wish.

Instead of books, our course includes the Pro version of the learning app from bootspruefung.de , which replaces a book for both the SBF Binnen and SBF. You can practise all the theory questions there. It also includes learning videos for the SBF Sea navigation exercises and printable charts.

We understand that some people prefer to study the theory on their own or have already found their own learning platform. That’s why we offer practical courses without theory, as well as complete packages that include theory lessons.

SBF Inland Theory Course (For Sailing and Motor)

The Sportbootführerschein (SBF) for inland waterways is an official licence required to operate recreational boats with engines producing more than 11.03 kW (15 hp) on federal inland waterways. It applies to recreational vessels under 20 m in length.

A licence (SBF Binnen Sailing) is required to operate sailing vessels with a sail area of more than 6 m² on federal inland waterways in the state of Berlin (except Zeuthener See and Dämeritzsee). This licence requirement also applies to the sections of the Untere Havel-Wasserstraße in the state of Brandenburg from the northern tip of Pfaueninsel to river kilometre 16.4, and to the Havel-Oder-Wasserstraße from km 6.4 to km 10.2, including Nieder Neuendorfer See.

The official SBF theory exam consists of 25 to 37 questions from the official question bank (300 questions), which is available free of charge on Elwis. The question bank and the topics it covers form the basis of the course.

Topics include legal requirements, right-of-way rules, navigation lights, signs, buoys, weather for water sports, safety equipment and what to do in emergencies, sound and distress signals, boat engines—including types of propulsion and basic maintenance—as well as the advantages and disadvantages of different types of boats, propeller walk, etc.

SBF Inland Theory Course: €150 Individual course (for individuals or small groups with a preferred date of their own)

This theory course is also included in the package deals.

The price includes 3 sessions of 2.5 hours each. (Evening course)

• With the learning app from bootspruefung.de

SBF Sea Theory Course (For the Sea and Coast)

The Sportbootführerschein (SBF) for sea waterways is an official licence required to operate powered recreational boats with engines over 15 hp (11.03 kW) on sea waterways (the North Sea and Baltic Sea coasts). There is no length restriction.

The official SBF Sea theory exam consists of 39 questions from the official Sea question catalogue (300 questions), which is available free of charge on Elwis. The course covers this question catalogue and the topics it addresses. Unlike the Inland exam, the SBF Sea exam also includes a chartwork navigation exercise with 9 parts. It’s a good idea to get some instruction in working with nautical charts; self-study alone is not recommended.

• Topics include legal requirements, the International Regulations for Preventing Collisions at Sea (COLREGs), navigation lights, signs, buoys, weather for water sports, safety equipment and what to do in emergencies, sound and distress signals, boat engines—including types of propulsion and basic maintenance—as well as the advantages and disadvantages of different types of boats, propeller walk, and navigation with charts.

SBF Sea Theory Course: €200 Individual course (for individuals or small groups with a preferred date of their own)

This theory course is also included in the package deals.

The price includes 3 sessions of 2.5 hours each and 2 "Navigation" sessions of 2.5 hours each. (Evening course)

• With the learning app from bootspruefung.de
• Practice Charts
• Navigation Tools