Next theory courses

Intensive weekend course

Internal Theory Saturday

See theory Saturday and Sunday

February 28th and 29th, 2026 at 10:00 AM
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April 11th and 12th, 2026 at 10:00 AM
May 9th and 10th, 2026 at 10 a.m.

English Theory course SBF Binnen

21st and 22nd March 2026 10:30-15:30

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

We also schedule our appointments individually with the participants. If you can't find a suitable date right now, just get in touch with us!

Individual one-on-one theory lessons or spontaneous courses for groups of 2 or more people are possible.

Theory courses for recreational boating licenses

SBF training theory

All practical training requires theoretical background knowledge. Our boating school focuses on practical training, as the English saying goes, "learning by doing." Educators have found that new things are best remembered by doing them, rather than just hearing about them. Nevertheless, theory is essential; not everything is visible in our training area, and some dangerous situations can't be easily recreated. That's why we offer theory courses to optimally prepare you for the theory test of the recreational boating license (SBF) exam.

Here again, we place particular emphasis on the fact that every person is different and learning is a very individual matter. Some people learn best by reading a good textbook. They can hardly retain anything from listening in traditional lectures, often fall asleep, and need everything in written and visual form – in other words, something visual, like a book, video, or live presentation.

Others, even with the best books, only get to page 2 and prefer someone to explain everything in person and ask questions. Others prefer modern learning methods like videos and enjoy browsing websites and apps. Still others don't want to stare at screens all the time.

We want to address these diverse needs. Therefore, we offer various ways to learn the theory. We recommend the relevant textbooks, and you can purchase them from us if needed. The SBF-Binnen (German inland waterways license) theory, in particular, can be learned effectively through self-study if you're not a fan of lectures and group classes. Alternatively, the theory courses are offered traditionally as individual or group lessons in classrooms.

We generally respect the wishes of those who prefer to learn the theory through self-study or who have already found their own learning platform. Therefore, we offer purely practical courses without theory, as well as complete packages including theory lessons.

Theory course SBF Inland (For sailing and motor)

The recreational boating license valid for inland waterways is an official license required to operate recreational craft with an engine power exceeding 11.03 kW (15 hp) on federal inland waterways. It is valid for recreational craft less than 20 meters in length.

For sailing vessels with a sail area exceeding 6 m², a boating license (SBF-Binnen Segel) is required on federal inland waterways within the state of Berlin (excluding Zeuthener See and Dämeritzsee). This license requirement also applies to the sections of the Lower Havel Waterway located in the state of Brandenburg, from the northern tip of Peacock Island to river kilometer 16.4, and to the Havel-Oder Waterway from km 6.4 to km 10.2, including Nieder Neuendorfer See.

In the official SBF theory exam, you will receive between 25 and 37 questions from the official question catalog (300 questions), which is available free of charge on Elwis. This question catalog and the topics it covers constitute the course content.

The content we cover includes, among other things, legal frameworks, rules of the road, navigation lights, signage, buoys, meteorology for water sports enthusiasts, safety equipment and behavior in dangerous situations, sound and distress signals, boat engine knowledge such as drive types, basics of maintenance, advantages and disadvantages of different ship types, prop walk, etc.

Theory course SBF-Binnen: €150 Individual course (for individuals or small groups with their own preferred date)

This theory course is also included in the package deals.

The price includes three sessions, each lasting 2.5 hours. (Evening course)

Theory book

SBF See theory course (For sea and coast)

The recreational boating license valid for maritime waterways is an official license required to operate recreational craft with an engine exceeding 15 hp (11.03 kW) on maritime waterways (North Sea and Baltic Sea coasts). It is valid without length restrictions.

The official SBF (Sportbootführerschein See) theory exam consists of 39 questions from the official 300-question question catalog, which is available free of charge on Elwis. This question catalog and the topics it covers form the basis of the course content. Unlike the inland waterways license, the SBF-See also includes a navigation exercise on a chart, consisting of nine sub-tasks. It is highly recommended to have someone demonstrate how to work with nautical charts; self-study alone is not advisable.

Our content includes, among other things, legal frameworks, collision avoidance rules (COLREGs), navigation lights, signage, buoys, meteorology for water sports enthusiasts, safety equipment and behavior in dangerous situations, sound and distress signals, boat engine knowledge such as drive types, basics of maintenance, advantages and disadvantages of different ship types, prop walk, and navigation with nautical charts.

SBF-See theory course: €200 Individual course (for individuals or small groups with their own preferred date)

This theory course is also included in the package deals.

The price includes three 2.5-hour sessions and two 2.5-hour "Navigation" sessions. (Evening course)

Theory book
Practice cards
Navigation tools

Theory SBF Combined Course (Inland and Sea)

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The theory for the inland and coastal boating licenses can also be taken together in a combined course. However, you should carefully consider whether you want and need to obtain the license for both areas at once!

It's a lot of theory to learn all at once! There are different lights, buoys, signage, and legal regulations between inland and coastal waters. That's why there are two different sets of questions on Elwis. For inland waters, you only have to answer multiple-choice questions, while for coastal waters, you also have to complete a navigation exercise!

Experience from recent years shows that those who take the SBF Inland and SBF Coastal exams together risk a high failure rate in the theory test. This is simply because they get confused between the two areas and don't dedicate enough time to studying! Therefore, anyone who has little time to learn the SBF theory, or who generally finds learning theory difficult (slow learner), should ideally take the SBF Inland first and then the SBF Coastal later. Or, better yet, plan plenty of time for studying! Trying to learn both the SBF Inland and SBF Coastal in just two weeks before the exam is very ambitious!

Theory course SBF Kombi (coastal inland): €250 Individual course (for individuals or small groups with their own preferred date)

This theory course is also included in the package deals.

The price includes 5 sessions of approximately 2.5 hours each and 2 "Navigation" sessions of 2.5 hours each (evening course).