Cab24 Akademie

Swiss boat licence – theory for motorboat & sailing boat (A, D)

Theory for the Swiss boat licence cat. A (motorboat) and cat. D (sailing boat): lights, sound signals, signs, right of way, seamanship – with one or two correct answers, as in the exam.

CHF 9.90 one-time Buy course

No subscription. Access immediately after payment, unlimited in time, tied to your account. All questions are visible only after purchase.

Exam format and simulation

Every question has three answers, of which one or two are correct. Each wrongly ticked answer and each missing correct answer counts as one error point.

According to the cantonal navigation offices, the theory exam is the same for categories A and D. We found differing information on the exam time: several cantonal offices state 50 minutes, one cantonal page states 45 minutes. The simulation uses 50 minutes – check with your navigation office. The simulation "Kat. A" only draws questions that apply to motorboats, the simulation "Kat. D" only questions that apply to sailing boats. Because the official exam can cover both areas, it is worth learning both the motorboat topic and the sailing topic. The special rules for the Untersee and the Rhine are not part of the course.

Information as of October 2026. Exam rules can change; the responsible authority (the navigation office of your canton) is decisive.

What it is about

Anyone who wants to operate a motorboat with more than 6 kW of engine power or a sailing boat with more than 15 m² of sail area in Switzerland needs the boat licence of category A or D. The course covers the Inland Navigation Ordinance (BSV), from licences and duties through lights, sound signals, signs and buoys, right of way and the shore zone to rivers and canals, plus seamanship, weather, navigation, motorboat handling, sailing technique and safety on board according to the exam programme in Annex 19 of the BSV. A separate topic deals with the special rules on Lake Constance (Lake Constance Navigation Ordinance), Lake Geneva (Swiss-French regulations) and Lake Maggiore and Lake Lugano (agreement with Italy). As in the exam, every question has three answers, of which one or two are correct.

What the course includes

Topics

  1. Law, licences, documents

    When a boat licence is required, which categories and age limits apply, and how the exam, vessel licence, registration mark, insurance and boat rental are regulated.

    54 questions

  2. General obligations, alcohol, accidents, environment

    Responsibility of the boatmaster, duty of care and loading, conduct in accidents and providing assistance, alcohol and drug limits, and protection of waters and noise protection.

    49 questions

  3. Lights and day signals

    Which lights vessels carry at night and in restricted visibility and which balls, flags and boards they show by day – from the masthead light of a motorboat and the green all-round light of priority vessels to fishermen's, divers' and distress signals.

    90 questions

  4. Sound signals

    Duration and meaning of vessels' sound signals: manoeuvring signals, meeting and harbour signals, fog signals and distress signals, as well as the prescribed sound-signalling devices.

    35 questions

  5. Navigation signs, boards, buoys, storm warnings

    The navigation signs under Swiss Inland Navigation Ordinance (BSV) annex 4 prohibit, require, restrict, recommend or give information – they apply in addition to the traffic rules. In addition there are yellow spherical buoys for closed areas and sports areas, red cylinders and green cones for navigation channels, cone markers for shoals and the orange storm warning lights.

    79 questions

  6. Right of way and meeting

    Who gives way to whom is laid down by the Swiss Inland Navigation Ordinance (BSV) in a fixed order of precedence: priority vessels (scheduled passenger vessels first), cargo vessels, professional fishermen showing signals, sailing vessels, rowing boats; sailboards and kiteboards give way to everyone. Between motor vessels of equal rank the crossing, head-on and overtaking rules apply; between sailing vessels, the tack (wind side) and windward/leeward.

    90 questions

  7. Shore zone, water sports, bathing, diving, fishing

    In the shore zones (inner 150 m, outer 300 m), motor vessels are limited to 10 km/h, and in the inner zone they may only enter for specific purposes; reeds and similar vegetation must be avoided, as a rule at a distance of 25 m. Water sports, bathing, diving and fishing have their own times, distances and signs, and events require a permit.

    50 questions

  8. Restricted visibility, night, radio/radar, emergencies

    In fog, driving snow or heavy rain, special obligations apply: adapted speed, lights and fog signals, minimum equipment for setting out, and strict requirements for navigation by radar with VHF channel 16. Anyone in distress calls for help with specified signals; anyone who notices distress must help.

    35 questions

  9. Flowing waters and canals

    Special rules apply on rivers and canals: give way to starboard, the vessel proceeding upstream waits before narrow passages and bridges, and whoever is crossing gives way. The current changes every manoeuvre – berthing and turning round are done against the current.

    35 questions

  10. Seamanship: knots, mooring, anchor, equipment, life-saving appliances

    Anyone in charge of a vessel must be able to moor and anchor it safely and must know the prescribed equipment. The practical exam requires making fast to a cleat, bollard, ring and pile and at least 4 knots.

    70 questions

  11. Weather for boatmasters

    On inland lakes, wind and weather determine safety: gusts can strike within minutes. Anyone who knows the storm warning, the Beaufort scale, bise, foehn, thermal winds, thunderstorms and fog can react in good time – assessing the weather is part of the practical exams A and D.

    50 questions

  12. Navigation: chart, compass, bearings

    On large lakes, in haze or fog, you must be able to determine your own position and set a course. Practical exams A and D require determining a course on the chart and determining your position by taking bearings; this includes compass theory, chart reading and time-distance calculations.

    35 questions

  13. Motorboat: manoeuvring and technology

    Anyone in charge of a motorboat must know how it behaves when manoeuvring: propeller walk, the stern swinging out, the influence of wind and current, planing and wave formation. In addition: safe handling of fuel, engine care in the event of faults, towing and the man-overboard manoeuvre.

    50 questions

  14. Sailing technique

    Anyone in charge of a sailing vessel must have a confident command of the points of sail, tacking, gybing and shooting up into the wind, trim the sails correctly and reef in good time. This includes the basic terms of rig and sails, stability and capsizing, weather helm and lee helm, and determining the sail area in accordance with annex 12.

    60 questions

  15. Vessel safety and emergencies

    Fire, water ingress, running aground, collision and person overboard require quick, orderly action. People are protected first, then the vessel; anyone who can gives assistance and, if necessary, calls for help.

    45 questions

  16. Special rules for Lake Constance, Lake Geneva, Lake Maggiore/Lake Lugano

    On the border waters, international treaties with their own rules apply, some of which are stricter than the Swiss Inland Navigation Ordinance (BSV): on Lake Constance the Lake Constance Navigation Regulations (BSO), on Lake Geneva the Swiss-French regulations, and on Lake Maggiore and Lake Lugano the agreement with Italy together with its regulations.

    43 questions

Ready to learn?

CHF 9.90 one-time Buy course