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SBF Binnen:

Your route to the SBF Binnen

The Sportbootführerschein Binnen (SBF Binnen) is the official German boating licence for inland waters – i.e. for rivers, lakes and canals within Germany. It is required as soon as you wish to operate a motorised boat with more than 15 PS (11.03 kW) engine power on inland waterways. This includes most major waterways, from the Rhine and Elbe to extensive lakes and canals. Unlike the coastal licence SBF See, which applies to sea coasts, the SBF Binnen covers the inland waters and is limited to craft up to 20 metres in length restricted.

Important to know: the SBF Binnen applies to both motorboats and sailing boats on inland waters. This means that even if you mainly want to sail, you need the SBF Binnen on rivers or lakes as soon as there is an engine on board above the 15 hp limit (or 7.5 kW for electric motors). Pure sailing boats without an engine may be operated without a licence on most inland waters, but there are exceptions – in Berlin and Brandenburg, for instance, a SBF Binnen is compulsory for sail areas of 3 m² or more. Regardless of the legal requirements, the SBF Binnen also provides you with valuable knowledge for sailing safely and confidently on inland waters.

Requirements for the SBF Binnen

Minimum age: 16 years (for the SBF Binnen under motor; the examination is possible from the age of 14 for sailing)

Reliability: Usually evidenced by presenting your driving licence. If you do not hold a driving licence, a current certificate of good conduct from the police may be required instead. (This requirement is waived for minors.)

Medical fitness: Medical fitness certificate as evidence of adequate vision and hearing, as well as general physical suitability. An eye test and a brief check-up with your doctor will suffice.

Passport photograph and identity document: A recent photograph (35×45 mm) and a valid identity card or passport are required for examination registration. For minors, a declaration of consent from the parent or legal guardian is additionally required

Advantages of the Sportbootführerschein Binnen

Greater safety through knowledge: SBF Binnen training gives you sound nautical knowledge specifically for inland waters. You learn to assess risks on rivers and lakes correctly – from inland navigation signs to weather lore, manoeuvres and seamanship – and to act confidently in critical situations. This know-how makes you a responsible skipper and ensures that you and your crew are always safe on the water.

Legal compliance: With the SBF Binnen you meet the legal requirements to operate craft with more than 15 PS on inland waters. You avoid fines and navigate legally on rivers, canals and lakes. In short: the licence gives you the freedom to explore inland waters throughout Germany independently and without legal concerns.

Officially recognised certificate: The Sportbootführerschein Binnen is recognised throughout Germany as an official certificate of competence and can be issued in international format as an ICC (International Certificate of Competence) issued. In many European countries it therefore serves as suitable proof of your competence, so you can also charter and operate a boat on inland waters abroad without difficulty – from Dutch canals to alpine lakes (subject to local regulations).

More hire and charter options: Even on inland waters, many boat hire companies require a licence, even if none is formally required for smaller boats. With the Sportbootführerschein Binnen in your pocket, you can hire a wide range of boats without worrying – whether a motorboat on the Spree or a houseboat on the Mecklenburgische Seenplatte. The SBF Binnen serves hire companies as proof of your competence and opens up far more opportunities for you to explore new waters under your own steam.

Foundation for further licences: Leisure skippers value the SBF Binnen as a solid introduction to watersports. Building on this inland licence you can later obtain the SBF See if needed, to venture onto coastal waters as well. Many ambitious skippers take both licencesto be able to cruise unrestricted on all sailing areas – inland and coastal. In addition, the SBF Binnen provides a good foundation for completing further sailing or powerboat certificates and deepening your knowledge.

SBF See course: training and examination

The Training for the Sportbootführerschein Binnen combines theoretical knowledge with practical exercises on the water. Through specialised boat and sailing schools you can attend an SBF Binnen course nationwide – depending on your preference as an evening course, weekend course or intensive compact course. Many schools also offer online courses for the theory, so you can learn flexibly. What matters is that you master all examination-relevant content confidently. This includes, among other things:

Navigation & waterway knowledge: You learn to read inland waterway charts, plan routes and orient yourself on rivers or lakes. Inland buoys and navigation marks, water levels and current conditions also become familiar to you.

Traffic rules & seamanship: Here the focus is on right-of-way and give-way rules on inland waterways, sound signals and the correct manoeuvres. You familiarise yourself with the inland navigation regulations – for example rules for locks or bridges – and practise basic seaman's knots and safe handling of equipment on board.

Weather & environment: A good skipper knows the most important weather signs inland as well. In the course you learn how to recognise changing weather (for example summer thunderstorms) early on and how to behave in storm or fog conditions. You are also taught how to cruise in an environmentally conscious way – for example minimising wash and respecting nature reserves.

Safety & manoeuvre training: From lifejackets and distress signals to the man-overboard manoeuvre – in practice you familiarise yourself with all important manoeuvres and safety measures. You practise casting off and mooring at the pontoon, turning manoeuvres in confined spaces, lock passages and correct behaviour in emergencies.

After the training comes the examination, which consists of a theoretical and a practical part. In the theory examination you answer multiple-choice question papers covering all the key topics: inland waterways law, traffic rules, seamanship, technology, the environment and weather. If you also take the sailing section, some sailing-specific questions are added. The examination questions come from an official question catalogue, so you can prepare for them in a targeted way.

SBF Binnen - Boat on a Lake

In the practical exam you demonstrate aboard a boat (and possibly also on a sailing boat) that you have mastered the necessary manoeuvres and knots. These include, for example, safe mooring and casting off, turning in confined spaces, a person overboard manoeuvre (rescue manoeuvre) as well as navigating according to signs and markers on the water. The most important seamanship Knoten knots are also tested – from the bowline to the clove hitch. In the sailing part includes tacking and gybing and also a person-overboard manoeuvre. Once you have successfully mastered the theory and practice, you will soon hold your Sportbootführerschein Binnen in handy credit card format.

Your course, your start: toernfinder.de helps you on your way

The sailing portal toernfinder.de is your central point of contact for finding the right SBF Binnen course – no matter where you live in Germany. Our aim is to offer you a simple, transparent and efficient way to find the right course provider and to start your SBF Binnen training stress-free.

What toernfinder.de offers you:

Overview of nationwide course offerings: You'll find course providers from all regions of Germany – from Hamburg to Munich, from Düsseldorf to Dresden.

Comparison of sailing and boat schools: All providers on our platform are presented with profiles, course formats, prices, dates and other important details.

Individual filter options: Search specifically for classroom courses, online courses or combined courses with SBF See.

User ratings & testimonials: Read what other participants say about their training – and find the providers with the best practical focus, organisation and support.

Direct contact enquiries: Contact providers quickly, directly and without obligation via the contact form

Take the first step towards your boating licence! With the right course provider at your side, you'll be guided safely through training and examination. Soon you'll be able to explore Germany's inland waters independently with your SBF Binnen in hand – legally, safely and with plenty of fun on board.

SegelSportCenter

03.10.2026

8 days from 940 €

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Frequently asked questions about the Sportbootführerschein Binnen (SBF Binnen)

Is the Sportbootführerschein Binnen also valid abroad?

Yes, the SBF Binnen is generally recognised when you are travelling on inland waters abroad – especially if you carry it as an ICC (International Certificate) carry with you. This international certificate based on the SBF Binnen is accepted in many countries (particularly in Europe). It means you can, for example, operate a boat on Dutch canals or Austrian lakes without difficulty. However, always check the exact regulations in the country concerned, as these may vary slightly.

What requirements must I meet to obtain the SBF Binnen?

To take the Sportbootführerschein Binnen, you must be at least 16 years old (for the sailing part, an age of 14 is sufficient). You also need a medical fitness certificate (including an eye test) and proof of your reliability, for example by means of a driving licence or a certificate of good conduct from the police. You must also submit a passport photograph and pass both the theoretical and practical examinations. For those under 18, no certificate of good conduct is required, but parental consent is necessary.

What does the training for the Sportbootführerschein Binnen cost?

The Costs for the SBF Binnen are usually between approximately €400 and €600, depending on region, school and course format. This generally includes the course fee for theory and practice, teaching materials as well as examination fees and the medical certificate. If you use an online course or are a member of a club, you can often save a little – then the total costs tend to be at the lower end of the scale. Note that combination offers (SBF See + Binnen together) are sometimes cheaper than two individual courses.

What topics are tested in the theoretical examination?

In the theory examination for the SBF Binnen, questions from various areas set. These mainly include traffic rules and legal regulations on inland waters (e.g. right-of-way rules, waterway signs, rights of way on rivers or lock regulations). The examination also tests your knowledge of Seamanship, Boat engineering, environmental and nature conservation as well as Meteorology inland. The questions are in multiple-choice formulated. If you do the sailing part, a number of specific sailing questions are added – for example on sail settings or give-way rules for sailing vessels.

How does the practical examination for the SBF Binnen work?

In the practical exam you show the examiners that you can safely manoeuvre your boat on inland waters. You must demonstrate various compulsory manoeuvres, including casting off and mooring at the pontoon, turning in a narrow fairway and a correct man-overboard manoeuvre (rescue manoeuvres). If you are also taking the sailing certificate, the relevant sailing manoeuvres (e.g. tacking/gybing or man-overboard under sail) are examined. Typical seamanship knots are required (e.g. bowline, clove hitch, figure-of-eight, etc.). The practical examination usually lasts only a few minutes per candidate. If you have demonstrated all manoeuvres and knots confidently, the examination is considered passed.

Must the entire crew hold the SBF Binnen?

No, only the person in charge on board – usually the helmsman or skipper – must hold the Sportbootführerschein Binnen. Your crew do not need a licence.

Do you need the SBF Binnen for sailing boats as well?

It depends: Pure sailing boats without an engine you may helm on most inland waters without the SBF Binnen. However, there are exceptions on certain waters. In the federal states of Berlin and Brandenburg for example, the SBF Binnen is required for sailing boats with more than 3 m² of sail area. This means you need the certificate there even if you are only sailing (without an engine). In principle, however, it is advisable to hold the SBF Binnen as a sailor too – firstly because you can thereby demonstrate your theoretical knowledge (rules, safety, navigation), and secondly in case your sailing boat does use an engine or you charter a motorboat at some point.

On which waters is the SBF Binnen required?

The Sportbootführerschein Binnen is valid on the inland waterways of Germany, that is, on all official inland waterways such as rivers (e.g. Rhine, Main, Elbe, Danube), canals (e.g. Kiel Canal, Mittelland Canal) and larger inland lakes under federal jurisdiction. Not valid the SBF Binnen is on sea waterways – for voyages on the coast, on the North or Baltic Sea or at sea you need the SBF See. A special case is Lake Constance: For Lake Constance the SBF Binnen is sufficient alone is not sufficient; a separate Bodenseeschifferpatent is required there. For all other inland waters in Germany, however, once your motorboat has more than 15 HP, you are properly equipped with the SBF Binnen on these waters.

What is the difference between SBF Binnen and SBF See?

The biggest difference lies in the Area of operation: The SBF Binnen allows you to navigate Inland waters (rivers, canals, inland lakes), whilst the SBF See is required for coastal waters (seas and maritime shipping routes) is required. Accordingly, the training content differs somewhat – the SBF See places more emphasis on navigation and sea weather, whilst the SBF Binnen focuses on inland waterway regulations. There are also differences in the framework conditions: the SBF Binnen is restricted to boats up to 20 m in length, whereas the SBF See has no length restriction. In addition, the SBF See is always a motorboat licence (for sailing yachts with engines), whereas you can take the SBF Binnen optionally under sail, under power or in combination. Important: The two licences are not mutually valid – the SBF Binnen does not not automatically permit you to operate on the sea, and the SBF See does not licensed for inland waters. Many watersports enthusiasts therefore obtain both licences in order to be flexible on all waters.

Does the 15 hp limit for the SBF Binnen also apply to electric motors?

Yes. The licence requirement also applies to boats with electric motors, although it comes into effect at a lower power output than for combustion engines. Instead of 15 hp (≈11 kW), the limit is 7.5 kW electrical power (which corresponds to about 10 HP). That is, if your electric motor has more than 7.5 kW continuous output, you need the SBF Binnen on inland waters. This regulation ensures that even high-performance electric boats are operated only by trained helmsmen. (The background is a statutory conversion requirement laid down in the Sportbootführerscheinverordnung.)

Can I also sail on lakes with the SBF See?

Not necessarily. The SBF See SBF See only authorises you to operate motorised recreational craft on sea waterwayscoastal waters, i.e. on coastal waters such as the North Sea, Baltic Sea or Mediterranean. For operating on inland waters, i.e. rivers, canals and lakes inland, the SBF Binnen SBF Binnen is required. Even when it concerns large lakes – such as Lake Starnberg or the Müritz – you generally need the SBF Binnen there, not the SBF See. An exception only applies if the lake in question is classified as a "maritime waterway", which is extremely rare. Special regulations apply for sailing boats without engines depending on the federal state, but the SBF See does not cover these in any case.

When does it make sense to take a combined SBF Binnen/See course?

A A combined course for the SBF Binnen and SBF See is particularly worthwhile if you intend to operate both on inland waters and at sea in future – for example on lakes and rivers in Germany as well as on coastal holidays. Much of the content of the two training programmes overlaps, particularly in theory, so a combined course saves you time and often money as well. In addition, many boat schools offer combined courses as a compact all-in-one package where both exams are optimally prepared and can usually even be taken at a weekend or within a few days. So if you're planning to navigate in different waters, a combination course is an efficient and popular option.