One of the first questions when you decide to get the German boating license: do I need a theory course at a boating school – or is a learning app enough? The short answer: a course is not required. You can prepare entirely on your own. The longer answer depends on how you learn best and what your money is worth to you.
What do the exam regulations say?
To be admitted to the SBF exam (whether Inland or Coastal), no proof of attending a theory course is required. You register directly with the examination board (DMYV or DSV), bring the required documents and sit the exam. How you prepared is irrelevant.
This sets the SBF apart from the car driving license, where a certain number of theory hours is mandatory.
The three routes to the SBF
1. Classic in-person course at a boating school
You attend a weekend or evening course at a local boating school. The theory is explained by the instructor, and practical exercises take place on the water.
Cost: Between €300 and €650 (theory + practice + exam fee), depending on region and provider.
Pros:
- A personal contact for your questions
- Practice and theory from a single source
- A fixed timeframe – motivates you to see it through
- Knots and maneuvers are shown directly
Cons:
- Highest cost
- Fixed dates – little flexibility
- Travel required
- The pace follows the group, not you
2. Online theory course + local practical training
You learn the theory through an online platform with videos and exercises. You book the practical training separately at a boating school.
Cost: Between €200 and €450 (online course from approx. €40–100, practice from €50–150, exam fee from €131).
Pros:
- Flexible learning – whenever and wherever you want
- Videos can be replayed, in-person courses can’t
- Cheaper than a pure in-person course
- A structured curriculum
Cons:
- No personal contact (or only by email/chat)
- The practical part has to be organized separately
- The quality of online courses varies widely
3. Self-study with an app + separate practice lesson
You learn the theory exclusively with an app (like Boatpass) – directly from the official ELWIS question catalog. For the practical exam you book a single lesson at a boating school.
Cost: Between €160 and €260 (app one-time €7–12, practice lesson from €50–100, exam fee from €131).
Pros:
- By far the cheapest option
- Maximum flexibility – study in 5-minute sessions or longer blocks
- Official question catalog – you learn exactly the questions that come up in the exam
- Mistake training – the app prioritizes questions you don’t know yet
- Exam simulation under real conditions
Cons:
- Requires self-discipline
- No instructor available for comprehension questions
- The practical part has to be organized entirely yourself
- You have to work out the background knowledge (the “why”) yourself
Cost comparison at a glance
| Item | In-person course | Online course | App + self-study |
|---|---|---|---|
| Theory preparation | €250–400 | €40–100 | €7–12 |
| Practical training | included in course | €50–150 | €50–100 |
| Exam fee (Coastal) | €148 | €148 | €148 |
| Total (approx.) | €400–650 | €240–400 | €200–260 |
(Prices vary by region and provider. As of 2026.)
Which route suits whom?
In-person course recommended if:
- You have no prior experience on the water
- You need a fixed framework to stay on track
- You want to learn the practical part at the same time
- Budget is secondary
Online course recommended if:
- You like learning with videos
- You want a structured curriculum but need to be flexible time-wise
- You’re willing to organize the practical part separately
App + self-study recommended if:
- You can study independently with discipline
- You want to work through the question catalog efficiently
- You want to save money without sacrificing quality
- You already have some experience on the water (e.g. as a passenger)
What all three routes have in common
No matter how you learn the theory – the exam is always the same. The same question catalog, the same passing rules, the same examination board. There is no bonus for attending a course and no disadvantage if you learned with an app.
The practical exam is identical too. You have to demonstrate maneuvers on the water (coming alongside and casting off, turning, man overboard) and show knots. For that you need at least one practice session on the water – which you can book at any boating school as a single lesson, even without having attended their theory course.
Conclusion
A theory course is not mandatory – and for pure exam preparation it isn’t even necessary. The official question catalog is public, and an app with exam simulation and mistake training is enough to pass the theory. Anyone with little prior experience benefits from a course – but that’s a personal decision, not a requirement.