Learn SBF Coastal –
the smart study app
Prepare for the SBF Coastal exam with the official ELWIS question catalog. Including the navigation exam – with exam simulation and targeted mistake training.
▶ Free on the Play StoreThe SBF Coastal (German coastal boating license) is the official permit for recreational boats on the maritime waterways of the North and Baltic Sea. The theory exam covers 39 questions in 60 minutes: a paper of 30 questions (at least 5 of 7 basic and 18 of 23 specific questions correct) plus a navigation task with 9 questions (at least 7 correct). The exam draws on the official ELWIS coastal question catalog; Boatpass trains all content including navigation with exam simulation and mistake training.
What is the SBF Coastal?
The coastal boating license (SBF Coastal) permits navigation on maritime waterways – the North and Baltic Sea within the 3-nautical-mile zone. It is the prerequisite for operating recreational boats in the German coastal area and the basis for the ICC (International Certificate of Competence).
The SBF Coastal can be obtained separately or combined with the SBF Inland. The combination is possible in a single exam and is cheaper than two individual exams.
What you study here – the official source
Question & answer catalog · maritime waterways
View on ELWIS ↗The date shows when each official edition came into force – not how old the questions are. Every catalog listed here is authoritative for the 2026 exam year. When a new edition is published, we build it in automatically.
This overview as of:July 2026 · The official publication always prevails – the linked ELWIS pages always show the currently valid edition.
SBF Coastal exam: structure & passing threshold
incl. navigation
at least 5 correct
at least 7 correct
ELWIS coastal catalog
The SBF Coastal includes a navigation task – this is the most demanding part of the exam. Boatpass trains all question types in a targeted way. The official exam fee in 2026 is €148.38 (theory + practice).
Mastering chart tasks digitally – can I do it without a course?
The navigation task is considered the hardest part of the exam – but it's not a gut feeling, it's a fixed scheme: lay out the course, determine your position, factor in wind and current set as well as tides. Repetitive tasks like these are often easier to learn on your phone than in a book.
For the practical chartwork on exam day you need a training chart, dividers and a course plotter. The calculation method you bring with you confidently via Boatpass – you go into the task with routine, not hope.
Process: from registration to the practical part
You register with a recognized examination board (e.g. DMYV). First you take the theory exam incl. navigation task, then comes the practical exam on the water.
What does the SBF Coastal cost?
Only the official exam fee of €148.38 (theory + practice) is fixed. The biggest cost block is the preparation course – anyone who learns the theory themselves with the official ELWIS catalog saves exactly that item.
Where may I navigate with the SBF Coastal?
The SBF Coastal is valid on the maritime waterways: the coastal waters of the North and Baltic Sea up to three nautical miles off the mainland coast, the fairways within the twelve-nautical-mile zone, as well as the seaward estuaries of the Ems, Weser, Elbe, Trave and Warnow and the Kiel Canal. Unlike the SBF Inland, there is no limit on boat length.
SBF Coastal or Inland – what do you need?
Coastal and Inland are two separate licenses. Anyone who wants to navigate both areas can take them together more cheaply in a combined exam (around €178.61 instead of twice separately).
Frequently asked questions about the SBF Coastal
Where is the SBF Coastal valid?
How does the SBF Coastal theory exam work?
What is the navigation task?
What requirements do I have to meet?
Is it worth combining with the SBF Inland?
Learn by category
The official ELWIS question catalog comprises 420 questions across 7 topic areas (incl. 15 navigation tasks of 9 questions each) – practice in a targeted way based on your weak spots.
Source: official question catalog (DSV/DMYV) on elwis.de.