Guides for boat owners
Rules for leisure boats
Licences, alcohol limits, life jackets, toilet waste and navigation rules. Checked against official texts.
Boat operator's certificate and boat licence – what are the requirements?
Do you need a boating licence? Boat Driving Licence, Coastal Skipper Certificate and personal watercraft licence – what's required and when.
Coastal Skipper certificate (Kustskepparintyg) – what it is and how to get it
The Coastal Skipper certificate (Kustskepparintyg) from NFB: qualifies you for leisure boats of at least 12 × 4 metres at night and in exposed waters. Requirements, exam format, cost and practical boat training.
Personal watercraft licence – rules, age and cost
Since 1 May 2022, a licence is required to operate a personal watercraft. Age limit, course length, fees and where you may ride – according to Transportstyrelsen.
Boating under the influence – alcohol limit and which boats are covered
A 0.2 per mille limit applies to boats that do at least 15 knots or are at least 10 metres long. How the drunk-boating rules and checks work.
Life jackets – rules, types and how to choose
50, 100, 150 or 275 Newton? How to choose the right life jacket, what CE marking and EN ISO 12402 mean, and how to check inflatable life jackets.
Boat toilet waste – rules and pump-out
Discharging toilet waste from leisure boats is prohibited. Here's how the rules, pump-out and harbours' responsibilities work.
Holding tank pump-out and pump-out stations – how to do it
Discharging toilet waste from leisure boats is prohibited in Sweden. How pump-out works, how to find a station and what your boat needs.
Bottom painting – rules for antifouling paint
Which antifouling paints can you use on the east coast, the west coast and in lakes? Plus brush washing, TBT and safe scraping.
Boat on a trailer: don't confuse licence limits with your car's towing capacity
B, B96 and BE for boat trailers: gross weight determines the licence, while actual weight and the car's limits decide what you may load.
VHF certificate (SRC) and VHF channels – what you need
What paperwork you need for a VHF on a leisure boat, how to get an SRC certificate and a licence from PTS, and which channels to use for distress and calling.
Safety equipment on board – what the law requires and what you should carry
Few things are legal requirements on a Swedish leisure boat, but navigation lights, a sound signal and life jackets still matter. Checklist in table form for boats under and over 12 metres.
Right-of-way rules at sea – who gives way?
Powerboat vs sailboat, head-on, crossing and overtaking: the give-way rules in the COLREGs explained with a table, plus what applies in narrow channels.
Navigation marks in Sweden – lateral, cardinal and special marks
How to read Swedish navigation marks: red and green lateral marks, cardinal mark topmarks and lights, isolated danger marks and yellow special marks. With table.