SBF Coastal Exam Questions

SBF Coastal questions –
practice including navigation

The complete official ELWIS coastal catalog – plus the navigation task with a real navigation section. Practice all 39 exam questions under real conditions.

▶ Practice questions for free
In a nutshell

The official SBF Coastal question catalog comprises 285 questions (72 basic + 213 specific coastal questions). The theory exam consists of 39 questions in 60 minutes: 30 standard questions (7 basic + 23 specific) plus 9 questions on the navigation task on the nautical chart. You pass if you get at least 5 of 7 basic questions, 18 of 23 specific questions and 7 of 9 navigation questions right. Boatpass trains the complete ELWIS catalog including a real navigation section.

The official SBF Coastal question catalog

The exam questions for the SBF Coastal come from the official question catalog (DSV/DMYV, published via ELWIS) for the maritime waterways (North and Baltic Sea). It comprises 72 basic questions and 213 specific coastal questions (285 questions in total). On top of that comes the decisive part that Inland doesn't have: the navigation task.

The theory exam comprises a total of 39 questions in 60 minutes – 30 standard questions plus 9 questions on the navigation task on the nautical chart.

Source: official question catalog (DSV/DMYV), published free of charge via elwis.de.

How the SBF Coastal theory exam is structured

Exam paper
39 questions · 60 minutes
Multiple choice + navigation
Basic questions
7 questions
at least 5 correct
Specific questions
23 questions
at least 18 correct
Navigation task
9 questions
at least 7 correct

The navigation task – the sticking point of the SBF Coastal

The navigation task is the part most candidates are wary of. On the official training chart you plot courses, determine positions and account for influences such as current, wind and tides. Of the 9 individual questions you have to solve at least 7 correctly.

The big advantage: there are only 15 official navigation tasks in total, one of which is set unchanged in the exam. Anyone who practices these 15 tasks with a real navigation section – just like in the actual exam – heads into exam day with confidence. That's exactly what the Boatpass app replicates.

Practice SBF Coastal questions effectively

Complete ELWIS coastal catalog
All questions on the coast and maritime waterways – fully covered, always up to date.
Navigation with a real navigation section
Practice the navigation task the way it is set in the real exam – courses, positions, tides.
Exam simulation: 39 questions, 60 minutes
Real exam conditions including the navigation section and passing threshold.
Mistake training
Specifically repeat your weak spots instead of learning everything from scratch.

Frequently asked questions about the SBF Coastal catalog

What is different about the SBF Coastal catalog compared to Inland?

The SBF Coastal covers the maritime waterways and additionally contains a navigation task. The theory exam consists of 30 standard questions (7 basic + 23 specific) plus 9 questions on the navigation task – 39 questions in total in 60 minutes.

How does the navigation task work?

In the navigation task you work with a nautical chart: plotting courses, determining positions, accounting for tides and current. Of the 9 questions you have to answer at least 7 correctly. Exactly this part is practiced in the Boatpass app with a real navigation section.

Where do I find the official SBF Coastal exam questions?

The official coastal question catalog is published free of charge by ELWIS. In the Boatpass app you learn the complete current catalog for the coast and maritime waterways – including exam simulation with a navigation section.

How many questions do I have to get right to pass?

You need at least 5 of 7 basic questions, 18 of 23 specific questions and 7 of 9 navigation task questions. You have 60 minutes in total.

Learn by category

The question catalog is divided into topic areas – practice in a targeted way based on your weak spots.

Maritime law
Right-of-way rules, navigation lights & collision regulations
130 questions
Navigation & charts
Chartwork, courses, tides & current
72 questions
Safety
Rescue equipment, distress signals & safety behavior
40 questions
Signals & marks
Sound, visual and sea marks
28 questions
Meteorology
Wind, weather, tide tables & forecasting
10 questions
General
General fundamentals & seamanship
5 questions

Further reading

→ Learn SBF Coastal: overview & app → Practice SBF Inland exam questions → SBF exam: how theory & practice work → What does the boating license cost? → SBF Coastal navigation tasks explained – structure & tips → The hardest SBF exam questions – and how to master them

Ready for your exam?

Download BoatPass for free and start studying with the official question catalog today.