hunter323
Well-Known Member
I am trying to determine what sort of licence if any is required to hire a motor boat of say about 8 meters in the south of france. Any replies gratefully received. It sems to me that some sort of licence is required
You need a license for anything over 6hp unless it counts as a sailing boat. ICC would probably be the easiest.I am trying to determine what sort of licence if any is required to hire a motor boat of say about 8 meters in the south of france. Any replies gratefully received. It sems to me that some sort of licence is required
For the Cottier (within 6 nm)....it is no longer an exam..but an assessment by the course instructorPermit d Mer for over 6 Hp .It comes in 2 formats ( or did waaaay back in 2005 ) .1 up to 24 within a certain distance of land .2- up to 24 m any distance “ Haute “
That s 24 m Load line length so the largest is circa 92 ft if you like . LLL is outside the remit of this thread .
There are Eng speaking Bateau ecole s .When I did it at the exam they gave Eng students a translation test paper .
Remember it’s not just GB folk , it’s Germans , Dutch or what ever seeking the French qualifications so they dual languaged it for the rest of the world .Aside like air traffic control the port language is Eng anyhow .
This route is future proof ….the Fr qualifications as it’s EU compliment.
The course is 1/2 days about a week with the exam on Friday AM at gov test centres and a very deep practical on the water fri PM assuming you pass the theory .They mark it and bin folk who fail before the PM session .
I had all my RYA stuff but for reassurance re wife + little kids on board thought it sensible to kinds “ when in Rome do as the Romans do “.
Glad I did it TBH …..RYA is , or was then micky mouse .
Canal inland boats ^ …Think “ Hoseasons Norfolk broads stuff .Playing bumper cars at the pubs jetties .
Canal boats have their own rules thanks to very effective government lobbying.
Struggling to reconcile this ^ with this Le permis plaisance - permis de conduire les bateaux de plaisance à moteurFor the Cottier (within 6 nm)....it is no longer an exam..but an assessment by the course instructor

Ok...you were right to pull me up on this...so you still have to do the multiple choice at an official exam centre....but the practical is only done by the instructor...not an official.Struggling to reconcile this ^ with this Le permis plaisance - permis de conduire les bateaux de plaisance à moteur
Talk me through it Ps .
Or rent in Italy, up to 40HP no license needed (need to be 18 yo).
Always fun to see the no-license captain doing 20 mph in the marina ... the rental berth in Portosole is way back and apparently the message "go slow" does not really get over.
How many of us here got into boating because of pictures like that? I have only had old ladies on my boat ?
Makes sense as the numbers have rocketed.On a wider note someone said 50-60;% of French employees work for the state .Ok...you were right to pull me up on this...so you still have to do the multiple choice at an official exam centre....but the practical is only done by the instructor...not an official.
So, good news for anyone with bad French because, as you say, the multiple choice can be learned by rote (although the translation is obvious and the questions aren’t gotcha types)...but if you went to an English language boat school then you don’t have the stress of doing the practical in French...(but saying that, when I did it, the government tester spoke to me in English and was very nice)...so as Porto suggests, start your vacation with the boat school (in which you will still be doing a lot boating and is very useful for revision of skills)...if you pass, you will be given a book that can be used straight away as a licence until your certificate arrives in the post. Then you have a permanent EU recognized license for holidaying anywhere...there was (and maybe still is) an option of doing the classroom part online...this will halve the tuition cost...but I think it’s only in French....but google translate is your friend
You have to be able to recognize the difference between IALA A and IALA B without being told.and the questions aren’t gotcha types)...
Ok...I didn’t remember that one?You have to be able to recognize the difference between IALA A and IALA B without being told.
Just in case you are going to be boating in Guadeloupe.
I thought that was a gotcha.
So how many daughters do you have ?Nah , you are newish on here ? Only one ?
No need to look further than …
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Its just a boat with “ benefits “:![]()