Private Boat Licence Course

One-on-one training. Full attention. Real confidence.

Hands-on, personalised training tailored just for you.
Course Details

One-on-one coaching for focused, personalised training. Learn at your pace with an instructor dedicated to your success.

Gone are the days of sitting in a boring classroom with a group of strangers.

Our fun and engaging boat licence course gives you the skills and confidence you need to hit the water and start exploring.

You'll learn on our comfortable 6.5m training vessel while cruising the stunning waters of Sydney Harbour.

Private Course Advantages
One-on-one coaching means faster progress, personalised attention, and a course tailored to your needs.
100% focused on you
Your training is fully personalised, ensuring you master every skill at your own pace.
Real-world training on your terms
Train in real boating conditions with an expert by your side, giving you full confidence on the water.
Train solo or with a partner
Bring one additional learner if you prefer to train together—no groups, just exclusive coaching.
Flexible scheduling
Unlike group sessions, private training is available 7 days a week to suit your schedule.
Private Boat Licence Course
Available 7 days a week
$1,342
(incl. GST)
Vessel: On Our Training Boat
Students: 1-2 per session
Location: Gladesville Bridge Marina
Runtime: 5-6 hours (9:00 AM - 3:00 PM)
Dates: 7 Days a Week
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Lachie Larsson
February 23, 2025
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hong eric
February 1, 2025

did private lesson - thoroughly enjoyable

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Kathleen Mitchell
January 31, 2025

We could not have wished for a better experience for our son to obtain his boat licence. Thank you Tristian for your professionalism in making the process so smooth and Captain Dave for the invaluable knowledge you passed on to our son, he was thrilled! We would recommend Boatwise to anyone - 5 🌟

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Emi H
January 31, 2025

Private lesson was excellent and well structured!

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Robert Hughes
January 22, 2025

I couldn't recommend Tristan more highly. He is very professional and personable which made the whole experience positive and informative. Tristan was very patient which really helped build confidence. I'll be definitely booking in again for more classes. Thanks again Tristan!!

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DAVID WILDMAN
January 14, 2025

I highly recommend Tristian and BoatWise for anyone looking to obtain their boat license or enhance their boating skills. My experience with Tristian was exceptional from the very start. After studying the boating handbook—an excellent guidebook provided by BoatWise—and completing practice tests on the NSW Transport website, I felt well-prepared for my lessons. During a full 6-hour day on the water in Pittwater, Tristian expertly guided me through the essentials of safe boat preparation, startup procedures, and all the necessary basics. His testing included the rules of the water and navigating various markers and hazards. Thanks to his thorough instruction, I successfully passed my practical assessment and received my certificate, followed by my NSW Boat License the next day! A week later, I enjoyed another full day on the water with Tristian, where I learned to handle the boat in more challenging situations. We practiced various techniques with the engines and reviewed the basics, such as anchoring, mooring, and docking smoothly. By the end of the second day, I felt confident in my understanding of boating theory, navigation rules, and safe operation under different conditions. If you’re considering getting your boat license, seeking a refresher, or wanting more complex training, look no further than Tristian at BoatWise!

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fergs 64
January 12, 2025

Went today with my wife for out boat licence, I was really nervous at the start within a min Tristan the instructor made me fell 100x better and the rest of the day was soo much fun as well as learning everything I need to successfully go about the harbour . Definitely recommend this course 👌. Thanks for a awsome day out Tristan.

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Dyan Stott
December 17, 2024

Great boating school.

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George Karambelas
December 15, 2024

Boat wise offers an excellent experience which encompasses both hands on learning as well as theory learning. Most definitely recommend for everyone.

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Charlie Merhi
December 13, 2024

I highly recommend Boat wise, I shopped around on who I can get to teach my son his boating license, and I’m so glad i went with boat wise my son understood and now can drive a boat they took the time and went through the whole process and made it’s so easy, very happy and satisfied with my decision.

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Etai Meretz
December 12, 2024

Tristan is a great teacher and skipper. Was very patient out on the water and helped refine our skills. Taught us a bunch of new tricks as well as what to consider in order to improve our seamanship. Would highly recommend!

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Youssef Dimassy
December 12, 2024

So easy to work with and very helpful in learning the correct way with great staff

We Assess You on the Water as You Learn

Complete a couple of hours of pre-study with our Boat Wise Handbook, then get assessed in real time while you train on the water.
How it works:
1. Book Your Private Session
Choose a date that works for you and secure your one-on-one training.
2. Pre-Study (1-2 Hours Online)
Prepare ahead with the Boat Wise Handbook, so you’re ready to hit the water.
3. Private On-Water Practical (5-6 Hours)
Train one-on-one with an instructor on Sydney Harbour with real-time assessment.
4. Receive Your Boat Licence
Once passed, we’ll send your electronic certificate. Take it to Service NSW to finalise your official licence.
Kathleen Mitchell
January 31, 2025

We could not have wished for a better experience for our son to obtain his boat licence. Thank you Tristian for your professionalism in making the process so smooth and Captain Dave for the invaluable knowledge you passed on to our son, he was thrilled! We would recommend Boatwise to anyone - 5 🌟

DAVID WILDMAN
January 14, 2025

I highly recommend Tristian and BoatWise for anyone looking to obtain their boat license or enhance their boating skills. My experience with Tristian was exceptional from the very start. After studying the boating handbook—an excellent guidebook provided by BoatWise—and completing practice tests on the NSW Transport website, I felt well-prepared for my lessons. During a full 6-hour day on the water in Pittwater, Tristian expertly guided me through the essentials of safe boat preparation, startup procedures, and all the necessary basics. His testing included the rules of the water and navigating various markers and hazards. Thanks to his thorough instruction, I successfully passed my practical assessment and received my certificate, followed by my NSW Boat License the next day! A week later, I enjoyed another full day on the water with Tristian, where I learned to handle the boat in more challenging situations. We practiced various techniques with the engines and reviewed the basics, such as anchoring, mooring, and docking smoothly. By the end of the second day, I felt confident in my understanding of boating theory, navigation rules, and safe operation under different conditions. If you’re considering getting your boat license, seeking a refresher, or wanting more complex training, look no further than Tristian at BoatWise!

fergs 64
January 12, 2025

Went today with my wife for out boat licence, I was really nervous at the start within a min Tristan the instructor made me fell 100x better and the rest of the day was soo much fun as well as learning everything I need to successfully go about the harbour . Definitely recommend this course 👌. Thanks for a awsome day out Tristan.

Charlie Merhi
December 13, 2024

I highly recommend Boat wise, I shopped around on who I can get to teach my son his boating license, and I’m so glad i went with boat wise my son understood and now can drive a boat they took the time and went through the whole process and made it’s so easy, very happy and satisfied with my decision.

Sunita Mizar
September 15, 2024

Highly recommend Tristan and Boatwise to get your boat training! The booking process was super smooth, Tristian communicated with us multiple times before the course to ensure we were prepared well. Dave, our instructor for the day, was incredibly professional and friendly. He was a wealth of information and a highly skilled boarder. We were out on a very cold and windy September Sunday, Dave made sure that we learnt our basic boat skills in that choppy water in an amazing way. We did this training as a family - 2 adults and our 13 year old. There were 2 others with us doing the course. Everyone had a go (sometimes multiple times) to make sure we had learnt that particular skill (parking, mooring, anchoring, etc) and despite the horrid weather, we had a boat load of fun 😁. Thanks a tonne, Dave! Tristian followed up the next day on how we go about getting our boat license. 👍🏼 Tristian and Dave both mentioned that they'd be willing to help out with boat questions in the future, a huge thank you for the lovely service! In all, we are very glad we went with Boatwise. There are a lot of choices out there, you will absolutely NOT go wrong with Boatwise!

Jo Duflou
August 4, 2024

We've had some excellent individual and group lessons from Tristian and Dave over the last 3+ months. What started off as very hesitant and accident prone boating, has now become much more confident and with the entire family passed our boating license too. Couldn't have done it without you guys.

Zara Scala
July 28, 2024

Not only a beautiful day out on the water, but incredibly information boat licence course with Alan. Thank you Alan for taking my family and I through all the safety and logistical requirements of the boat licence course. We had a lot of fun during the process and left feeling like we had picked up a lot of useful information in a way that was easy to understand and replicate. Looking forward to our private lessons with Tristan in the near future!

Ryan Mackey
June 4, 2024

Just want to thank Boat Wise for a great day. I found the trainer to be very supportive and helpful in figuring out the things I didn’t quite understand. I would highly recommend Boat Wise to anyone looking to get into boating and getting licensed.

Troy Devine
April 23, 2024

Tristan from Boat Wise was amazing! His technical knowledge and ability to navigate us through the course of the day was top-notch and I'd highly recommend him and his team to aid you in not only obtaining your boat license but any course work too.

Catherine Naito
April 22, 2024

Fantastic way to get boat licence. Tristan professional and knowledgeable but also great fun so the 4 (teenage) children loved it too.

Paul Young
April 21, 2024

We were fortunately referred to Boatwise by the Pardo dealer when we bought our new boat and having not had a boat for 10 years we thought we just needed a refresher course. Almost one year later I think we have probably used just about every service possible......to say that Tristian goes the extra (nautical) mile would be an understatement!! He has increased our skill levels in all respects, has referred first class service providers to us who are now part of our "team", made great and practical suggestions to maximise enjoyment of the boat(both technically and socially!) and provided successful boat license tuition to our daughter and son in law(and skippered the boat for their wedding!) He has also combined tuition on the trip out with skippering on the way back when circumstances required!! Tristian is very efficient and always more than punctual. Safety is his prime focus in tuition and Tristian upholds the highest standards in all aspects of the maintenance of the boat. The tuition is friendly and concepts explained well. We are looking forward to continuing to widen our skills with the assistance of Boatwise. We would wholeheartedly recommend Tristian and Boatwise without any hesitation.

hello
April 21, 2024

We were doing a boat licence coarse , on the 20th of april we had fun, i learnt a fair bit about boatng. Alan the instructor made it look really easy. We all got a bit wet but i w I uld do it again

Course FAQS

Questions?

This course is practically assessed— there is no written exam required. Your instructor will evaluate your skills in real time as you train on the water. We have a 99.9% pass rate.
Once you successfully complete the course, you’ll receive your electronic certificate via email.

You will then need to print this out in a PDF format and take it to Service NSW or Maritime head office in Rozelle to pay the government fees and obtain your official boat licence.
Safety and Preparation
Life jackets, communication, and crew positioning for safe boating
High-Speed Handling
Manage trim, stability, and wave conditions for a smoother ride
Low-Speed Handling
Manoeuvre in tight spaces, control drift, and handle wind & tide
Rules of the Water
Understand right-of-way, navigation signs, and how to manage busy waterways
Boating Skills
Anchor like a pro, berth confidently, and secure your vessel with proper mooring techniques
Emergency Situations
Respond quickly to distress calls, recover a person overboard, and use a marine radio effectively
Personal Equipment
Know what to wear, the importance of safety gear, and how to prepare for any trip
Parts of the Boat
Learn key terminology and understand how your vessel operates
Types of Craft
Get to know different hull types, engines, and fuel systems
Basic Weather and Tides
Read forecasts, understand sea conditions, and plan trips safely
Buoyage and Collision Regulations
Navigate confidently while following international boating rules
Onboard Safety and Legal Responsibilities
Understand everything required to skipper safely and legally

Sydney's best private boat licence course.

Train one-on-one & get licensed with confidence.

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