NSW Boat Licence Course – In Partnership with MTS

As a first time and somewhat anxious boat owner, today was our first experience with Tristan. His true passion for boating and enthusiasm for his clients to enjoy the instructor experience impressed me from the minute he stepped on board. Tristan’s attention to detail, clear instructions and intuition of what our specific requirements were, made for a very productive day, leaving us more confident and more enthusiastic than ever about our future in boating. … Tristan is a credit to his profession and passion.

I found Tristan to be extremely professional , his boating skills and how he teachs and helps you remain calm whilst taking you through manoeuvres is second to none . I can’t recommend Tristan enough! If you find berthing a boat as nerve racking as I did … hire Tristan.. used my boat the next day ….docked first go with confidence!

Tristan gave my brother and I an amazing time on his brand new boat, teaching us different skills whilst also showing us how to drive well in all situations. Was super friendly and a great teacher.

I highly recommend booking a session with Tristian to anyone who is either new to boating or rediscovering their boating journey. Tristian is a skillful and patient educator and he is willing to share his knowledge and experience with students of all backgrounds. If you approach his sessions with openness, positivity, and a keen ear, you will be rewarded with some real gems to cherish as you build your own boating experience.

Tristian is awesome with his boating knowledge and the ability to share this in an easy to understand manner. He also instills confidence in you during the training, which is a great help and helps you minimise mistakes. Tristian is next level with all sorts of other boating advice and assistance, liaising and assisting you to source boat repair slips and mechanics, ensuring your boat is operationally sound and ensuring any future issues are addressed in advance, and providing a wide range of resources via their webpage, suggested Apps, and other similar resources. Tristian is also always ready to take your call, and help you work through whatever issue you have. I highly recommend Tristian and thank him for his training and related assistance.

I had an excellent experience with Tristian as my private boating coach. He understood everything I asked perfectly and explained things clearly with a great communication throughout the session. His boating knowledge is truly impressive, and he shared tips and the insides that were both practical and easy to apply. I left the lesson feeling much more confident and the better propelled thanks to his expertise. Highly recommend Tristian to anyone looking for a skilled and reliable instructor.

My husband and I have been training (and a sunset and evening cruise!) with Tristian since August last year, and he is honestly one of the best operators you’ll ever meet. He’s professional, patient, funny, and makes every session feel relaxed and enjoyable — even when you’re learning something new. We always walk away feeling more confident, and every time on the water with him becomes a beautiful memory. If you’re looking for training, a skipper, or just an unforgettable day out, we can’t recommend him enough. A genuinely good person and an exceptional instructor. Thanks so much, Tristian — see you again soon!

Tristan and Dave were both super responsive, helpful and pleasant to deal with. I had lessons using our own boat in our local waters which was just what I needed to be more confident on the water. Dave was an extremely experienced skipper who had a lot of knowledge to share - both my husband and I learned so much from him - we’ve changed things around on our boat and we are buying a few other items for safety and ease of using the boat. During the lessons we did a mix of practical things like mooring and anchoring as well as setting a passage for the morning. Dave was always pleasant and upbeat and just a really great teacher - we always felt safe with Dave and had a lot of fun too. I highly recommend both Dave and Tristan for boating lessons or getting your boat licence.

Tristian was terrific. Knowledgable, clear and focused on what we wanted and needed to know. Highly recommend!

HIGHLY RECOMMEND! After buying our dream boat, the Princess 61 Motor Yacht, my wife and I quickly realized we needed proper training on how to operate and maneuver her safely and confidently. We contacted Boat-Wise, had Tristan assigned to train us, and has been fantastic! He trained us on our own boat – getting us up to speed in no time. He has helped Julie and I work together as a team, and our confidence grows with every lesson. It has been a great experience, and I would highly recommend Tristan for any level of boat training – whether you’re a beginner or looking to refine your skills. Thank you Tristan for training us!

These guys are unbelievably good I strongly recommend them regardless of how much you know they will definitely bring you to another level you can only benefit from them.

I had a fantastic experience with the Boat Wise team, during my private boat tuition. Captain Dave was patient, knowledgeable, and made me feel completely comfortable and confident on the water. The session was not only informative but also really enjoyable. I’d highly recommend the Boat Wise Team to anyone looking to learn boating in a safe and fun way!

Boatwise has been of the most professional and personal experience when it comes to charter, training and guidance. Would recommend Tristan anytime and will keep using his services for our Chap 290 luxury yacht.

After retiring to sunny Sydney 18 months ago, my wife Kylie and I dove headfirst into the ultimate cliché: snagging a gorgeous Princess F55 motor yacht with absolutely zero boating know-how! Thank goodness for Tristian at BoatWise – he’s been our absolute lifesaver (and boat-saver)! From guiding us through the boat licence course to hands-on, personalized training right on our own vessel across Sydney Harbour, Tristian’s warm, engaging vibe makes every session a joy while laser-focusing on building real skills and confidence. We’ve leveled up after every fun-filled lesson, feeling way more ready for those epic cruises. If you’re starting from scratch like us, BoatWise is pure gold – can’t recommend Tristian enough! 🚤✨

Training from Tristian has dramatically enhanced my confidence on the water and in particular with docking and anchoring. Highly recommend spending a few hours with him if you are new to boating or in need of a refresher.

Tristan was a great instructor, he taught me very well and I am now able to confidently drive my boat with thanks to his help and advice. He was very friendly and encouraging as well. I highly recommend his service.

Amazing training facility ran by an awesome team will definitely be using again :)

Tristian, you are an amazing person both as a friend and boat mentor. All the very best to you mate!

Super helpful and friendly, no judgement guidance on getting to know your boat. Good for old and new skippers alike

Tristan and the Boatwise team have made owning and running a boat a breeze. Fantastic training and ran the whole process of getting my boat back on the water - including a new engine.

Tristian is a fantastic instructor. He helped me, my husband and stepkids get their boat licenses last year. I had just immigrated to Australia, and he was really helpful in so many ways. We have also joined the Boatlife boat club so we could get more time on the water for practice. Even though I had quite a bit of sailing experience abroad, my powerboat skills have really improved as a result of his help. Definitely don't hesitate to go with Boatwise, it is a really good company.

I recently bought a boat as my new hobby but I quickly realised that it is not so easy to drive. Luckily, I connected with Boat Wise the manager Tristan and in no time he taught me how to handle the boat with ease and obtain my licence. It was a great experience in learning as Tristan was patience, clear and precise in his instructions, supportive, fun and very professional. I would high recommend Tristan at Boat Wise should you want to seek any boating activities.

If you cherish your family and your boat... don't skip this review. I have had my boat license for over 20 years. I am very confident in my driving and managing the boat. I contacted Tristan to get some night navigation experience and thought to my self. Why not just meet him prior and do some swell and weather training as well. I was beyond surprised at the professionalism of Tristan and his knowledge. Tristan showed me easier ways to tie the boat to the cleat, come along side a wharf, different way to understand cardinal marker, he suggested a better way to attach my fenders.... and then the swell training and weather training. The knowledge I gained even as a skipper of 20years on my own half cabin was incredible. Needless to say I am still looking forward to booking in with Tristan to do night navigation. Tristan, Thank you for a great day, training and I will look forward to booking with you in a few weeks for night navigation. Chris Noonan

In modern times there are generally lots of credible suppliers for any service .. but BoatWise takes their training and licensing to a whole new level - you’ll find others who claim to offer similar services .. but there is only one place I’d recommend .. BoatWise !

Tristian is an amazing coach and mentor. He has a truely amazing way of making you feel relaxed and calm when sitting in the captains chair. He also provides indepth knowledge to ensure you grow i to being a capable handler of your ship. I highly recommend him.

I can not speak highly enough of Tristian his approach to teaching is laid back while at the same time being very professional. From the moment I met up with him at Mooney Mooney he was hands on deck to assist me with readying the boat all the while getting to know a bit about what I wanted to get out of the 3 hour's I had booked with him. His ability to impart knowledge in simple terms & demonstration was refreshing. We ended up going a bit overtime actually an hour & a half overtime this was at my request to which he willingly obliged even though he had to ring people & rearrange his schedule.I have come away from the time on the water with a new understanding of the water of my boat & how to work with them both to make boating a much more pleasurable & most importantly a safer experience for all who are on my boat in the future. As I said at the start of this review I cannot speak highly enough of Tristians ability & expertise I have no hesitation in recommending him to anyone contemplating furthering their abilities when it comes to boat handling. Geoff Watson

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.

The best investment I made after purchasing my beloved 34 foot Mainship was having Tristian from Boat Wise spend a week aboard. I started the week feeling anxious about handling my first shaft-drive boat and finished it feeling completely confident at the helm. We tackled fuelling, manoeuvring through the shallow Broadwater, setting a course, anchoring and reversing into my tight marina berth, as well as handling lines and fenders. Tristian guided me through it all with patience, skill and calm humour. Boat Wise promises to help you “gain total confidence on the water” and that’s exactly what happened. I couldn’t recommend him more highly!

Tristan has been a great source of knowledge and an inspirational teacher and guide on our boating journey.

Tristian and the team are awesome! They’re very good at explaining not just what to do, but why to do it, which helped me a lot. I did my boat licence through BoatWise a while back, and it was a great day - lots of practical too, which for me is a much more productive way to learn. More recently, I’ve been working with Tristian to touch up on manoeuvring in tight spaces around the marina, which has been extremely helpful. I would highly recommend BoatWise to both new and experienced boaters.

I had an absolutely amazing experience with BoatWise for my boat licence training! The course was clear, professional, and super helpful for someone like me who’s new to boating. What I loved most is that it wasn’t just theory – it included practical training as well. We actually got to spend around 15–20 minutes driving a boat, which gave me the confidence I needed to feel comfortable behind the wheel. The facilitators, John and Alex, were fantastic. They were patient, knowledgeable, and really supportive throughout the whole process. They explained everything in a way that was easy to understand and made the training fun and engaging. I highly recommend BoatWise to anyone looking to get their boat licence. The mix of hands-on practice and expert guidance from John and Alex made all the difference. Couldn’t be happier with the experience!

Tristian from Boat Wise is an incredible trainer—professional yet fun and interactive, not to mention a fountain of knowledge. He makes the whole boat-learning experience enjoyable and easy to understand. We are new to boating but he made us felt completely at ease asking questions, and his thorough & hands-on teaching style really helped things click. Thanks to Captain T, our confidence on the water and excitement to boating grow with each session. Couldn’t have asked for a better trainer and we look forward to future sessions 🛥☀️ Thank you Captain T!!

Captain Tristian is the best mentor in boating! He is so well versed on how to navigate the boat, understanding how the boat will move around in the water . Every training day felt like being supported to be able to maneuver the boat and feel the boat. Me and my sis are always excited on our training days, hearts skips a beat to expect the unexpected! I can’t believe the progress we have made with such a short timeframe and looking forward for more! Reverse camera On Captain! As what Captain T always says “ slow is pro ! “

I recently obtained my boat license through BoatWise, and I couldn't be happier with the training. Tristian, our instructor, was truly exemplary – remarkably patient, knowledgeable, and a highly skilled instructor. He made learning complex concepts enjoyable and clear. I now feel prepared and confident to navigate the harbour, and I'm eager to get involved in further developing my boating abilities. BoatWise comes with my highest recommendation!

I want to extend my sincere gratitude to Tristian from Boatwise for an absolutely fantastic experience! Tristian is an exceptional trainer. His vast experience and knowledge made the training process not only incredibly informative but also genuinely enjoyable! I learned so much about safely navigating on Sydney Harbour and now feel completely confident and excited to take my family out on the water. I highly recommend Boatwise to anyone looking at gaining real confidence on the water!

Very helpful, depth knowledge, highly recommend

One of the best decisions in our boating journey was using BoatWise for our skipper training. Tristian is an absolute boating maestro and made it easy for my family and I to learn how to skipper. From initial on board safety checks to understanding various conditions whilst on the water, his extensive knowledge will have new boaties on the water in no time.

Great day and Alan was extremely helpful and explanatory about everything needed on the course.

Absolutely thrilled with boat wise. The team are very professional and knowledgeable with the boat licence course. Alan was awesome. He made everything easy to understand. When it came to the practical part of the course, he guided us every step of the way. Highly recommended the boat wise team for anyone interested in obtaining a boat licence

Yeah Dude

Tristian is a great coach! Very knowledgeable and patient! Highly recommend!

A massive thanks to Boat Wise. Just completed the vessel handling course with Tristian, he was super enthusiastic about teaching each member onboard for ways for us to gain the clearest confidence to pursue the course. Can’t recommend Boat wise more!!! Book any marine course with them, highly recommend. Cheers

Just had an amazing boat handling course with Boat Wise, and I can't recommend them enough! Tristian was our instructor, and he was absolutely fantastic. He's a master at explaining everything clearly, especially all the tricky terminology. Seriously, he made learning so easy and enjoyable.

I recently completed my boating licence course with Boat Wise, and I couldn't be more impressed. From start to finish, the experience was outstanding. The instructor Alan was knowledgeable, patient, and passionate about boating, making the learning process both effective and enjoyable. The course was well-structured, covering everything from safety procedures to hands-on practice, and I left feeling confident and fully prepared to get out on the water. The equipment and facilities were top-notch, and the staff went above and beyond to ensure everyone felt comfortable and supported. Whether you're a complete beginner or looking to brush up on your skills, I highly recommend this course. It was an incredibly valuable experience and a fantastic investment in boating confidence and safety. Tristian was so informative and always on top of everything before my course making sure I am ready for the day and even when I went to Service NSW to issue my licence he informed me on what to do before hand.

Great captain! Happy with the service

absolutely recommend Boat Wise. very professional, thorough and experienced. we were a party of 3 and learnt a lot. many thanks to the Captain.

did private lesson - thoroughly enjoyable

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 🌟