Practical Boating Licence Experience & Logbook
Questions and Answers

Practical Boating Experience

When will it be compulsory to comply with practical boating experience requirements?

It will be compulsory from 1 June 2009, for initial general and PWC licence applicants. The introduction of a practical boating experience requirement was announced on the 4 June 2008 as part of the major reforms to marine safety laws.

How can the compulsory boating experience be gained?

Boating experience can be gained by:

or

Will it be compulsory to gain practical experience before sitting the licence test?

From 1 June 2009 anyone getting a boating licence will have to provide evidence of having completed practical boating experience in addition to the current Boating Safety Course requirements before being permitted to sit the licence test.

How is evidence of gaining the required practical boating experience provided?

Practical boating experience evidence can be provided in one of two ways - by presenting a completed Maritime Logbook or by presenting a certificate of practical course completion issued by a Recognised Training Provider.

Is practical boating experience required to transfer from an interstate licence/commercial qualification to a NSW boat driving licence?

No. practical boating experience is required if the licence/qualification is current or has not been expired for more than 2 years.

Is practical boating experience required to upgrade to a PWC licence?

No. Upgrade applicants are only required to comply with PWC Boating Safety Course and PWC licence test requirements.

Are young adults subject to the same practical boating experience requirements as adults?

Yes.

Does a person who previously held a NSW boat licence have to undergo practical boating experience if they seek a new boating licence?

A previous boat licence holder is not required to undergo practical boating experience if their previous boat licence has not been expired for more than 2 years.

LOGBOOK

What is the Boating Licence Practical Logbook?

The Boating Licence Practical Logbook has been developed in consultation with stakeholder groups, and is based on the National Marine Safety Committee’s recreational boat operator competencies.

The Logbook provides guides and checklists for both the trainee and the experienced skipper for a range of boating experiences, as well as a log which is to be completed by both the trainee and skippers verifying on-water trips completed. The trips are a further opportunity for navigation rules to be reinforced.

The Logbook can be obtained at all Maritime operations centres, RTA Motor Registries, Government Access Centres, and can also be downloaded from Maritime’s website.

Will applicants for a boat licence be required to pay a fee to obtain the Logbook?

There is currently no charge for the Logbook.

What constitutes an experienced skipper?

An experienced skipper is a person who holds, as a minimum, a current and valid NSW or interstate Boat Driver Licence and has at any stage held a Boat Driver Licence for at least three (3) consecutive years.

Must the Boating Safety Course be completed prior to gaining practical boating experience?

No. Practical boating experience and Boating Safety Course requirements can be completed in any order.

Does practical boating experience require the applicant to successfully undergo a practical test?

There is no requirement for applicants to undergo a practical test to demonstrate their knowledge of the practical experience elements. The requirement is that the skipper and the trainee have completed the set of activities and that a minimum of three on-water trips have been undertaken by the trainee with an experienced skipper on board. 

Once the Boating Safety Course and practical boating experience have been complied with where can the licence test be undertaken?

On presentation of documents showing completion of the Boating Safety Course and practical boating experience, the licence test can be undertaken at any Maritime operations centre, RTA Motor Registry or Government Access Centre.

Are trips undertaken to gain practical experience required to be of a minimum duration?

There is no minimum time period for on-water trips undertaken as long as the recreational boating elements are covered.

Are any trips required to be undertaken at night?

There is no requirement for any on-water trip to be undertaken between sunset and sunrise, although it is recommended that at least one trip takes place at night to gain night navigation experience.

If the Logbook option to gain practical boating experience is used, must the same experienced skipper be on board for all trips?

No. Any number of experienced skippers can be used to gain practical experience however each skipper can only verify (initial) the recreational boating elements they have covered.   

Can a trainee use a Recognised Training Provider to complete the experienced skipper role when doing the on-water practical boating experience on their own vessel?

Yes. Trainees have the option of being instructed by an RTP or experienced skipper when completing the Logbook requirements

What type of vessel can be used to gain practical boating experience?

Practical boating experience can be performed in any powered vessel (including a sailing vessel under power), except a personal watercraft – commonly referred to as a jetski or PWC. Further, there is no requirement that the vessel needs to be a registered vessel, which means the experience can be gained in a small powered runabout.

At what speed can the vessel be operated by a trainee when undertaking practical boating experience?

When the vessel is being operated by the trainee it must not exceed a speed of 10 knots.

Can a personal watercraft (PWC) be used to gain practical boating experience?

No. A PWC licence is required to operate a PWC at any speed and as the trainee does not hold a PWC licence, a PWC cannot be used to gain practical boating experience.

Will practical boating experience gained prior to 1 June 2009 be recognised?

Yes. Provided trip details are recorded in the Logbook and an experienced skipper verifies trip and competency details.

Will the Logbook be audited?

Yes. Maritime will undertake random audits to verify that licence seekers have honestly completed the Logbook.

What will happen if it is found that the Logbook details are false?

The boat licence will be immediately cancelled. The Boating Safety Course, practical boating experience and the licence test will need to be satisfied again before a new licence is issued. Also, the maximum penalty for such an offence is $5,500.

How is a Logbook obtained?

An activity log is available from any Maritime operations centre, RTA Motor Registry and Government Access Centre, or it can be downloaded from Maritime’s website.

PRACTICAL BOATING COURSE

If a boating course which includes a practical boating component is completed with a Recognised Training Provider must their vessel be used for the practical component?

No. Trainees have the option of using the Recognised Training Provider’s vessel or any privately owned powered vessel (except a PWC).

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