What type of experience or license do you need for a speed boat if you want to hire one when on holiday?

Question

eg in the Mediterranean

Answer 1

As a previous asker said, you can get a boat pretty much anywhere, with no qualification, just hand over enough money and they will give it to you. They probably won't give you a decent boat, but it will give you something to drive around in, if you stay close to a harbor or beach.

However, having lived and worked on boat around the med, do you really want to take a boat out that may break down at any time, where you can't fix it, and you have no radio to communicate with the outside world if you need it?

If you go to a sailing school, or a reputable boat hire place you will probably need some form of qualification, the british have the RYA (you would need powerboat level 2 or higher), which is pretty universally recognized.

The mediterranean is beautiful, and especially so by water. But I have seen many many people do many many dangerous and wreckless things because they don't respect the power of the sea, or other water users.

Some horror stories involve; parents capsizing their day boat with their toddler stuck inside, an powerboat engine stopped working (and the prop fell off) in a busy greek shipping lane, a couple stuck in a cave because they demasted their boat (who would have thought that a boat with a mast might not fit in a cave!), a little girl drowing because she got caught under her fathers boat (held under by a safety line they didn't cut through)

So be safe, careful, respect mother nature, take some lessons and have the most amazing time (which I know you will... sailing in the med)!

Answer 2

Depends who you hire from but no license needed. A bit of experience or someone who's experienced could be advantageous though just in case something goes wrong.

If it was a working boat then things would be a bit different.

Enjoy your hols :o)

Answer 3

you need a RYA level 2 power boat certificate and the international licence you can apply for when you have got it.

butn some places just want the money and wil let you hire anyway, But safety should be you first concern