How do I get my boat licence in Western Australia?

Yes. The WA Government issues boaters with a physical licence, called a recreational skipper’s ticket, that looks quite different to your driver’s licence as it does not include any photo ID. You must always carry your licence with you out on the water.

The only powered boats where operators are exempt from needing a licence are those using outboard engines or motors producing less than 4.5kW, or around 6.0hp.

There is no digital version of the WA recreational skipper’s ticket that you can carry on a smartphone.

Once you have your boat licence you can drive any boat as long as it is registered as a recreational boat and is used recreationally. You can’t do things such as charge people to jump onboard – but asking them to chip in for fuel is okay – and you can’t catch fish and sell them to someone else.

Under WA licencing laws, someone who holds a recreational skipper’s ticket can supervise an unlicensed driver behind the wheel. The minimum age for someone who can drive a boat while supervised is 10. 

Qualifying for a WA recreational skipper’s ticket is a five-step process. Make that six if you’re aged less than 18 and need to get a letter of consent from a parent or guardian.

If you don’t already have a valid WA driver’s licence, you’ll have to get an eyesight check, as well as a medical declaration saying you have no underlying health issues such as epilepsy that will affect your ability to skipper a boat.

If you have a mild medical condition, such as high blood pressure, arthritis or type one diabetes, you’ll need to be cleared by a doctor.

You’ll then need to prove your identity. It’s as easy as showing your driver’s licence, but if you don’t have that you’ll need to show two forms of identification such as a birth certificate and a secondary document such as a Medicare card.

Then you have to do a practical assessment that includes learning how to drive a boat and then be tested on both your driving skills, split into 11 separate tasks, and your knowledge of boating rules and regulations in the state.

Once you complete all this to the WA Transport Department’s satisfaction, you have completed your application for a ticket.

In WA, the minimum age to get a marine licence is 14. However, they are restricted to 8.0 knots and daylight hours until they turn 16.

Yes. Boats drive very differently from cars, so as we pointed out earlier, WA requires anyone wanting to apply for a general boating licence to do about an hour of on-water training before being tested on how well they can handle a boat in the real world. 

You can prepare for the multiple choice part of the test by completing a series of practice tests online. The page also has the workbook you will need to read to bone up on the state’s maritime laws.

Finding an experienced skipper to help you complete the logbook requirements is the cheapest way to jump the first hurdle. If you can’t find a skipper, there are a number of accredited courses you can take that could cost more than $300 depending on how much wheel time you want on the water.

Converting your training into a recreational skipper’s ticket will cost you a one-off fee of $31.

Once you have your recreational skipper’s ticket, it never needs to be renewed.

Yes.

If your sailboat is powered only using the wind, in theory, you don’t need a recreational skipper's ticket. However, if it has an outboard or inboard engine or electric motor producing more than 4.5kW/6.0hp, you will.