Boat Captain's Licence (Getting/Converting)

Daily Life, Swiss News and General Topics
1
Anyone know where to go to obtain a boat captain's licence on lake Zurich ?

2
this might help you choose:

http://www.search.ch/search.html?q=b...Cfung&loc=c-ZH

3
Thanks Lob.

But I am really looking for something in English - or maybe a recommendation from someone who has already followed the path.

4
Gottogo

I'm also looking to do my motorboat licence this summer and I've done a bit of research.

Licences are obtained from the STVA and to get one you need to pass a theory test and a practical test.

http://www.stva.zh.ch/internet/ds/st...o_lfpruef.html

For the theory test, you have to register for the test and wait for a test date, then go along and answer a multiple choice paper (also available in English). The test centres seem to be in Oberrieden and Tiefenbrunnen.

In order to revise for the theory test there are a few places you can get a study at home course, eg:

http://www.boatdriver.ch/?gclid=CO3l...FRy4PgodHyVQjw

For the practical test you need to make an appointment for a test and turn up at the specified place and time with a boat. I guess the best way to do it is get some lessons and practice fom a motorboat school and use their boat for the test so that you are using a boat you are familiar with.

I've found a number of boat school sites so far:

http://www.aquarius-atlantis.ch/seg-zh.htm

http://www.wentsch.ch/

http://www.wini.ch/Main.html

http://www.motorboot-fahrschule.ch/

http://www.sail.ch/hauptseiten/schul...tschulung.html

http://www.bootsschule.ch/gehri/fschein.htm

Due to travel and work commitments I haven't had time to arrange everything for myself yet, so please let me know how you get on.

Thanks

Neil

5
What I'm about to say is completely unqualified information, so please don't rely on it...

From what I've heard the process is very long and very expensive in CH. Best option is to do outside the country and then have your licence converted. But there's a catch - you have to have been away for more than 12 months to get away with it. They obviously want to stop people going away for a holiday and doing it. I believe the same kind of rules apply to getting a driver's licence outside of CH.

6
Thanks Neil.

Do you know if the Swiss licence is valid outside of CH - i.e. is it valid in Ireland or Spain ?

7
I believe a pal has done his licence here, cost about 2 grand. He speaks German, though. Valid abroad? Yep.

8
I am an English teacher and have just started a school to help people get their sailing licence. I did this here last summer through English with an instructor whose was so so. I am hoping to appeal both to native English speaker who want to learn to sail, and locals who want a more interesting way to practise their engish. I will post my web page in the commercial section later, but in the mean time contact me to see what we can arrange.

9
whose english that is...

10
Hi John

I'm interested in taking any chance there is in getting back into sailing again and would appreciate the oppportunity to 'help out' if you need assistance in any way.

Or if you just need crew

Have found the opportunities to sail here rather limited unless you're involved with the scene or have access to a boat. I have neither - so please consider this as an offer of 'Hands'.

Cheers and good luck with your project!

11
Max,

It is really not that difficult to pass the boating theory test, which is needed for both motor or sail boats, with no German whatsoever. I did it last summer.

With a licence boat rental is normally about 40chf an hour from Geneva to Constance. There is also a club you can join for a deposit of 400chf and then use boats within the club all over Switzerland. You do not have to own a boat to join, again, it's the licence that is needed.

I am tempted to post a link to my web page, but will wait for another few days then post it in the commercial section. Until then anybody who wishes to learn how I can help with both the theory and practical sailing test please email me directly.

John

12
Hi John, good to see someone actually following the commercial posting rules

Hint: Fill in your profile a little more, and include your web address in your profile. Then people can find extra info without you even having to say anything

13
Hi, my wife and I are about to move to either France or Switzerland and I read somewhere that a licence is required to drive a speed boat on Leman. I read Mark's post saying that he believes that a qualification outside Switzerland is valid or can be converted. I have full commercial qualification as a 20 mile offshore skipper which includes Advanced Powerboat and Dayskipper theory. I have looked all over the WWW for English info on using a boat on the lake but can't find many links. Does anyone have any please? Does anyone have any idea, how can I find out if my quals are valid there?

14

These guys will have all the details . I'd get in touch with them if I were you.

15
Apply to the authority that issued your ticket for a HOCC, Helmsman's Oversees Certificate of Competency. It should be valid everywhere.

16
Thanks guys

I am checking these out.

17
I received the following message privately from here which may help people.

Hi, I am trying to get my boat license on Lake Geneva but I am going to try a slightly easier way first, a friend of mine got an ICC (International Certificate of Competence) from the UK, it's about a half day course (you can just ask for one from the uk if you have done a powerboat level 2 or better), and did the CEVNI Exam at the same time (international inland waterway exam for europe) - you have to get 11 out of 14 questions right, but get the RYA CEVNI book (40 pages and you'll learn it all in about a week......then he exchanged these certificates for a swiss license.

I checked this out as I have an Advanced PB cCertificate and all I have to do is take the test and get the certificate from the RYA and then take it to the authority there and get it converted.

18
I'm wondering what I'll have to do. I had a Red Cross sailing card from years ago. It really wasn't much use. Later I joined the student yacht club at the University of Washington and had to do all of their exams.

I've still got my ratings card from them, but that probably wouldn't be of any use. However, it's as close as you can get to having a boating license from the US. All you need to sail a boat in the states is a boat. No age limit either. I remember a friend's son skippering his first 70ft yacht at the age of four. :-)

BTW, if anyone is looking for someone to crew in the greater Zurich area, I'd certainly enjoy getting back out on the water. I've done mostly dinghy/hobie cat sailing and still have both a wetsuit and a drysuit, but I'd also be interested in keelboats as well. I noticed a crewing website in German, but it wants you to post your email addy publicly.

19
Hi John,

Any personal help/info you can give me would be much appreciated.

I want to take the sail boat certificate, as I am ken to buy a boat, perhaps

late this year, or next, and sail on The Bodensee.

I'm lucky in that I live right on the water, so the opportunity is irresistable!

Hope to hear from you.

best regards bodidris / Robert

20
Hi John

The sailing sounds good fun - why don't you do a trial session for all us english forumers (?) one weekend - I'd like to try it - also be a good excuse for everyone to meet and I'm sure we can be forced to have a drink or two lakeside afterwards

Sharon