Australian Boat Licence Study Guide 2026

Boat licences in each state

Australia has no single national boat licence. Each state sets its own licence, ages and local rules. The international collision rules (COLREGs) and the IALA A buoyage system apply in every state, so the same right-of-way rules, lights and buoys are used everywhere.

State	Licence	When you need one	Minimum age	Knowledge test
New South Wales	General boat licence (plus a PWC licence for jet skis)	Driving at 10 knots or more, or any PWC	12 (limits until 16)	50 questions: 24 of 30 in Section A and all 20 in Section B
Victoria	Marine licence (plus a PWC endorsement)	Operating any powered recreational vessel	12 for a restricted licence; 16 for PWC	30 questions, 26 to pass (PWC: 15 questions, 13 to pass)
Queensland	Recreational marine driver licence (RMDL) (plus a PWC licence)	Engine power over 4.5 kW, or towing a person	16	Assessed in a BoatSafe course by an approved provider
Western Australia	Recreational Skipper's Ticket (RST)	Motor over 6 hp (4.5 kW)	14 (limits until 16)	40 questions, 34 to pass, then a practical assessment

Young skippers

NSW: licence holders under 16 must not drive between sunset and sunrise, race or tow anyone. At 10 knots or more, a licence holder aged 16 or older must be on board.
Victoria: a restricted licence (ages 12 to 15) allows driving only between sunrise and sunset, under 10 knots, and not towing. It becomes a full licence at 16.
Queensland: you must be 16 to hold a licence. An unlicensed person may drive only when a licensed person on board can take control straight away.
Western Australia: RST holders under 16 may only skipper in daylight and at no more than 8 knots. Under-18s need a parent's consent letter to apply.

Getting the licence

NSW: show practical experience with the Boating Licence Practical Logbook or an approved course, then pass the knowledge test at a service centre or with an Authorised Training Provider.
Victoria: sit the test at VicRoads or with an accredited provider and pass an eyesight test. A course certificate must reach VicRoads within 12 months.
Queensland: pass a BoatSafe course. The provider's statement of competency is valid for 6 months, and the licence is valid for life.
Western Australia: pass the theory test first, then a practical trip where you must meet 56 of 62 criteria. The RST is valid for life.

A recreational licence does not cover commercial work. In NSW, for example, commercial operation needs a Certificate of Competency from the Australian Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA). Interstate licences are accepted for a time: in Victoria for up to three months, and in Queensland if you are 16 or older and the licence is current.

Buoys and beacons: the IALA A system

Australia uses IALA System A, the same as the UK and Europe. Lateral marks show the sides of a channel. They are laid for a vessel travelling in the direction of buoyage, which usually means coming in from sea, entering a harbour or going upstream.

Port-hand mark: red, can topmark, red light. Keep it on your port (left) side when entering.
Starboard-hand mark: green, cone topmark pointing up, green light. Keep it on your starboard (right) side when entering.

When you leave harbour and head out to sea, everything reverses: red marks are on your starboard side and green marks on your port side.

Cardinal marks

Cardinal marks are black and yellow. They show where the safest water is, using the compass. Pass on the side the mark is named after: pass north of a north cardinal mark. The two black cones on top point to where the black band is on the mark.

North: both cones point up. Safe water to the north.
East: cones base to base. Safe water to the east.
South: both cones point down. Safe water to the south.
West: cones point to each other. Safe water to the west.

Cardinal mark	White light at night	Memory aid
North	Continuous quick flashes	12 o'clock
East	3 flashes	3 o'clock
South	6 flashes plus 1 long flash	6 o'clock
West	9 flashes	9 o'clock

Other marks

Isolated danger: black with red bands and two black balls. A small danger with safe water around it. Do not pass close.
Safe water: red and white vertical stripes, may have one red ball. Often marks a channel centre or approach.
Special mark: yellow, may have a yellow X. Marks a special area, such as a zone boundary or aquaculture lease.

An isolated danger mark that is lit shows a white light in groups of two flashes. Special marks show a yellow light. In Victoria, yellow marks also show zone boundaries and aquaculture reserves.

Rules of the road on the water

The International Regulations for Preventing Collisions at Sea (COLREGs) apply on all Australian waters. When two vessels meet, one is the give-way vessel and the other is the stand-on vessel. The give-way vessel acts early, with a large course or speed change the other skipper can clearly see. The stand-on vessel keeps its course and speed, but must act if a collision cannot be avoided by the give-way vessel alone.

Keep a proper lookout at all times, by sight and hearing.
Go at a safe speed. It depends on visibility, traffic, wind, waves, current, nearby hazards and how fast your boat can stop and turn.
If an approaching vessel's compass bearing stays the same while it gets closer, there is a risk of collision.

Meeting head-on: both power vessels turn to starboard and pass port to port.

A: Turns to starboard (right).
B: Turns to starboard (right).

Crossing: the vessel that has the other on its starboard side gives way.

A: Give-way vessel. B is on its starboard side, so it slows or turns right and passes behind B.
B: Stand-on vessel. It keeps its course and speed.

Overtaking: the vessel coming up from behind keeps clear until it is well past.

A: The overtaking vessel. It is the give-way vessel.
B: The vessel being overtaken. It keeps its course and speed.

You are overtaking if you come up from more than 22.5 degrees behind the other vessel's beam. At night you would see only its white sternlight. Every vessel, even a sailing boat, must keep clear when overtaking.

A power vessel keeps out of the way of a sailing vessel under sail.

A: Sailing vessel under sail alone (stand-on).
B: Power vessel (give-way). It passes behind A.

More rules to know

A yacht using its engine, even with sails up, counts as a power-driven vessel.
Two sailing vessels with the wind on different sides: the one with the wind on its port side gives way. With the wind on the same side, the windward (upwind) vessel gives way.
In a narrow channel, keep as near to the starboard (right) side as is safe.
Vessels under 20 m and sailing vessels must not impede a large ship that can only navigate safely within a narrow channel.
Power and sailing vessels keep out of the way of vessels fishing with nets, lines or trawls, and of vessels not under command.

Navigation lights and sound signals

Show navigation lights from sunset to sunrise, and by day in restricted visibility such as fog or heavy rain.

The standard lights on a power-driven vessel.

Red sidelight on the port (left) side.
Green sidelight on the starboard (right) side.
White masthead light, shining forward.
White sternlight, shining backward.

A power vessel under 12 m may show one all-round white light instead of separate masthead and stern lights, plus sidelights.
A sailing vessel under sail alone shows sidelights and a sternlight, but no masthead light.
A vessel at anchor shows an all-round white light at night and a black ball by day.
Two all-round red lights, one above the other, mean a vessel is not under command. Keep clear.
A kayak or rowing boat must have a white torch or lantern ready to show in time to prevent a collision.

Reading lights at night

You see ahead	It means	What to do
Red and green together, with a white light above	A power vessel coming straight at you	Turn to starboard
Red (its port side) on your starboard side	A vessel crossing from your right	Give way: slow down or turn and pass behind it
Green (its starboard side) on your port side	A vessel crossing from your left	You are normally the stand-on vessel; keep watching
Only a single white light that you are closing on	Probably the sternlight of a slower vessel	You are overtaking: keep clear

Sound signals

A short blast lasts about one second. A prolonged blast lasts four to six seconds.

Manoeuvring signals between vessels in sight of each other.

One short blast: I am altering my course to starboard.
Two short blasts: I am altering my course to port.
Three short blasts: I am operating astern propulsion (going in reverse).
Five or more short, rapid blasts: I doubt you are doing enough to avoid a collision.

In fog, a power vessel moving through the water sounds one prolonged blast at least every 2 minutes.

Lifejackets

Australian lifejackets are rated by level. Queensland requires all lifejackets to meet Australian Standard AS 4758 from 1 September 2025.

Level 100 and above (100, 150, 275): high buoyancy that keeps you floating in a safe position. Needed for open and offshore waters.
Level 50: for active watersports. It will not support your head.
Level 50S: similar buoyancy to Level 50, made for particular activities. It has no head support and is not designed to keep you face up.

State	Main rules on wearing a lifejacket
NSW	Boats up to 4.8 m: Level 100+ at all times on open waters and when crossing coastal bars; Level 50S+ on enclosed waters when alone (including with children under 12) or at night. Boats over 4.8 m: Level 100+ when crossing coastal bars. Everyone on a PWC: Level 50S+ at all times.
Victoria	Vessels up to 4.8 m: must be worn. Children under 12: at all times on a moving vessel (Level 100 on enclosed waters such as Port Phillip Bay). Larger vessels: at times of heightened risk, such as at night, alone or crossing a bar.
Queensland	Children over 1 and under 12 in an open boat or open area while underway. Everyone in an open boat under 4.8 m when alone (or with only children under 12) or between sunset and sunrise. Everyone in an open boat crossing a designated coastal bar.
Western Australia	Registrable boats under 4.8 m more than 400 m from shore: everyone wears Level 100+. Larger boats there: children aged 1 to 12 wear Level 100+. Everyone on a PWC: Level 50S+ at all times.

Check that a lifejacket fits before you need it.

Zip or clip up the front.
Fasten all the buckles.
Pull the straps snug.
Lift at the shoulders: a good fit stays below the chin.

Inflatable lifejackets must be serviced. In NSW this is a legal requirement, and in Queensland they must be serviced as the manufacturer specifies. Keep the service records and write the date on the jacket.

Speed, distance, PWC rules and alcohol

Each state sets its own default speed and distance rules. They apply even where there are no signs.

State	Default speed and distance rules
NSW	Powered vessels keep at least 60 m from people in the water, swimming areas and dive flags. At 6 knots or more, keep 30 m from other vessels, structures and the shore.
Victoria	5 knots within 200 m of the water's edge on coastal and enclosed waters, and within 100 m of a dive flag. On inland waters, 5 knots within 50 m of a person, vessel, structure or the shore.
Queensland	6 knots within 30 m of a person in the water, an anchored or moored boat, or a jetty, wharf, ramp or pontoon, and in boat harbours, marinas and canals.
Western Australia	8 knots within 50 m of a moored vessel, a person in the water, a jetty or the shore; within 15 m of a vessel underway; in water less than 3 m deep; and in mooring areas.

Personal watercraft (jet skis)

NSW: no irregular riding (circling, weaving, jumping wash) within 200 m of shore in a PWC restriction zone, or where homes within 200 m of shore can be seen.
Victoria: 5 knots within 200 m of the water's edge on coastal and enclosed waters (500 m between Martha Point and Point Nepean), and no closer than 300 m to a whale or dolphin.
Queensland: 6 knots within 60 m of people in the water, moored boats, structures and the shore. Freestyling on coastal waters only more than 200 m from shore where homes are within 100 m of the shoreline.
Western Australia: no freestyling or wake jumping within 30 m of another PWC or 50 m of another vessel or person. PWC are banned on parts of the Swan and Canning rivers.

Alcohol and drugs

State	Blood alcohol limit for recreational skippers
NSW	Under 18: zero. 18 and over: under 0.05. Also applies to the observer and anyone being towed.
Victoria	Under 21: zero, even at anchor. 21 and over: not over 0.05.
Queensland	Under 0.05. Zero tolerance for drugs.
Western Australia	0.05, with higher penalties at 0.08 and 0.15.

Police can breath test and drug test skippers on the water. In NSW this includes a vessel that is drifting. A drink or drug offence can cost you your licence.

Safety equipment and emergencies

Required equipment depends on the state, the type of water and how far you go from shore. Some common rules:

Flares: two red handheld and two orange smoke flares are required on registered boats in Victoria's coastal and enclosed waters, Queensland's partially smooth waters and beyond, and WA's unprotected waters (more than 400 m from shore). Orange smoke is for daylight. Red flares are for night but can be seen by day.
EPIRB: in Queensland, required beyond partially smooth waters and more than 2 nautical miles from land. In WA, a GPS-enabled 406 MHz EPIRB, or a PLB worn by someone, is needed in unprotected waters.
Register your EPIRB with AMSA. Registration is free and must be updated every two years or when your details change.
Radio: WA requires a VHF or HF marine radio more than 4 nautical miles from shore.
Signalling device: Queensland requires a torch, lantern or glow stick on boats out between sunset and sunrise.

Most new recreational boats supplied after 1 July 2012 carry an Australian Builders Plate. It shows the maximum number of people, load and engine power. Never overload your boat. Attach the engine kill switch lanyard to yourself so the engine stops if you fall out.

When something goes wrong

MAYDAY is the distress call for grave and immediate danger to life or the vessel. PAN-PAN is for an urgent problem, such as engine failure, with no immediate danger to life.
VHF channel 16 is the distress and calling channel. In WA, the Water Police also monitor 27 MHz channel 88. You can also call 000.
If your boat capsizes but stays afloat, stay with it. It is easier to see than a swimmer and helps you float.
If someone falls overboard, shout, keep pointing at them and never lose sight of them while you carefully turn back.
Slowly raising and lowering outstretched arms is a recognised distress signal. Help if you can do so safely.

After an accident, stop, help anyone in danger and exchange details. In Victoria, report to police if someone is hurt or property is damaged and no police or owner is present. In WA, report accidents involving death, serious injury or an unseaworthy vessel within 72 hours.