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Is the boat license overpriced? The price of getting a boat license has always been a major obstacle for many people. A problem that limits accessibility and is seen as more of a burden than a necessary contribution to acquiring full knowledge and mastery. On the one hand, 2024 brought us, with the new Regulations implementing the Recreational Code, the D1 boating license, the “patent“ that allows from the age of 16 years to navigate during the day within 6 miles from the coast with vessels up to 10 meters (from 18 years, with boats up to 12 meters) and with a maximum of 115 hp of power. A simplified qualification intended to breathe new life into the boating license market.
The other side of the coin, however, is likely to cause the opposite effect: we are talking about the sting of the new mandatory “minimum” fees for all boating licenses.
Introduced in 2023 with the “Regulations Governing Boating Schools” had gone unnoticed, but they will go into effect in September 2025 and the consequence will be a generalized increase to the detriment of users and in defiance of the principle of free competition. Suffice it to say that a course for the A license “without limits from the coast” will not be able to cost less than 1,400 euros (including 5 one-hour outings) and for each additional practical outing it will be necessary to shell out no less than 90 euros for an hour. Prices much higher (even double) than many offers currently on the market. The same minimum fee schedule, to say the least, is not provided for driving schools (which often also conduct boating school activities). Double standard, double standard?
Abolish the minimum fee schedule for nautical schools. Alternatively, revise the fees (significantly) downward.
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