The need for a small boat licence (SWC) is a concern for many aquatic motorists, especially those who are just planning to buy their first boat, and legislation has changed, often causing confusion among PVC boat owners. engine horsepower.
There's a common misconception that only owners of large boats or those who go out to sea need rights, and in fact, it depends on a combination of specifications: the weight of the boat and the power of the engine installed on it. outboardIt is important to immediately understand whether your future bundle falls under the requirements of mandatory registration and certification.
Ignorance of the law is not an excuse, and penalties for lack of rights can be very tangible for the budget of any angler or tourist. In addition, driving without proper clearance poses risks to safety on the water. In this article, we will discuss in detail how much power the rights are needed, how to count "horses" and what exceptions to the general rules are.
Legislative framework and capacity thresholds
The main document regulating behavior on the water is the Code of Administrative Offences and orders of the Russian Ministry of Emergency Situations. According to current regulations, the key border separating free swimming from regulated is the 8 horsepower mark. If your engine power exceeds this threshold, you must have rights with you.
However, here lies an important nuance: not only the power of the engine, but also the weight of the equipped vessel. The rights of the category of SMEs (small-sized vessel equipped with an engine) are necessary if two conditions are met simultaneously: the weight of the vessel exceeds 200 kg, and the engine power is more than 8 hp If at least one of the conditions is not met, formally the rights may not be required, but the situation requires detailed consideration.
Many aqueous motorists face the problem of converting kilowatts to horsepower, since in technical documentation (PTS or GTD) power is often indicated in kW. For translation, a factor of 1.36 is used. For example, a 6 kW motor formally has 8.16 hp, which already requires rights, although in practice inspectors often round the values in favor of the owner if the deviation is minimal.
⚠️ Attention: Rounding the engine power when checking documents is a risk. If the GTD or PTS indicates a value that when recalculated gives 8.1 hp, formally you are violating the law without a license. Always check the technical documentation before buying the engine.
It's important to distinguish between "vessel registration" and "rights acquisition." These are two different processes: a boat weighing more than 200 kg must be registered with the GIMS, regardless of the engine. But the rights are for driving a powerful engine. If you have a lightweight inflatable boat weighing 150 kg, but with a 15 hp engine, you will need the rights, even if the boat itself does not require registration (although in practice inspectors can also require registration if the design is considered unsafe).
Calculation of the total weight of the boat and the effect on the category of rights
Understanding how to calculate the weight of a vessel is critical to determining whether to take an examination. Many people mistakenly believe that only the weight of the hull of a boat is taken into account. In fact, "weight of a boat in load" means the sum of the weight of the hull, fixed equipment and the weight of the hull in the boat in question. maximum permissible load.
For inflatable and fiberglass boats, the calculation often goes like this: taking the weight of the boat itself with the equipment installed (anchor, fuel tank, battery) and adding the weight of people and cargo that the boat can take on board according to the passport. That is why light PVC boats with a carrying capacity of 400-500 kg often fall into the category of registration and rights if their total weight with the engine exceeds 200 kg.
Consider an example: you have a boat weighing 60 kg. rated carrying capacity is 400 kg. You install a 30 kg motor. The total weight of a fully loaded vessel will be well above 200 kg. In this case, even if the engine has exactly 8 hp but the weight of the vessel is high, you may be required to register the vessel. However, the 8 hp threshold for internal combustion engines remains key for rights.
It is worth noting that for electric motors, the rules may differ depending on the regional interpretation, but most often they are equated to analogues of the internal combustion engine in power. If an electric traction motor produces more than 8 hp (which is rare for amateur models, usually they are up to 1-2 kW), the rights will also be needed.
- 📏 The weight of the hull is the weight of the boat with all the stationary equipment installed.
- ⚖️ Cargo capacity is the maximum weight that can be loaded into the boat specified in the data sheet.
- ⛵ The curb weight is the sum of the body weight and the maximum load, it is compared with the limit of 200 kg.
- 🔋 Motor weight – is considered as part of the curb weight if the motor is permanently fixed on the transom.
Categories of rights and types of engines
The certificate for the right to drive a small vessel is issued with a mark on the category. "Motor boat"The old type of license had lettering, the new type of boat and power, and it's important to understand that the rights you get to operate a boat don't give you the right to operate a jet ski without a mark.
There is a division by engine type. The main categories that boat owners face are motor boats (boats, mots) and jet skis. If you plan to operate a boat with an outboard motor, you need a motor boat category. Training and examination questions will be about the design and operation of this type of boat.
Can I drive a boat with a tractor or car license?
No, the rights to control land vehicles (categories B, C, tractor rights) do not give the right to drive a boat with an engine more powerful than 5 hp (according to the old rules) or 8 hp (according to the new).
If you have a foreign certificate, it can be recognized in the Russian Federation only if there is a notarized translation and compliance with international standards. However, for navigation on the inland waterways of Russia, GIMS inspectors require a Russian certificate or its international counterpart issued by the authorized body of the Russian Federation.
The table below shows the correspondence between engine types and the required categories of rights:
| Type of boat/engine | Power (hp) | Required category of rights | Registration of the boat |
|---|---|---|---|
| PVC boat/ICE engine | up to 8 inclusive | Not required | No (if the mass is < 200 kg) |
| PVC boat/ICE engine | more than 8 | Motorboat | Yes (if mass > 200 kg) |
| Boat/Motor of the ICE | Anything. | Motorboat (Cater) | Yes. |
| Hydrocycle | Anything. | Hydrocycle | Yes. |
Procedure for obtaining a certificate in GIMS
Obtaining rights is a regulated process and requires preparation. (first of all) you need to study in a specialized center or prepare for the exam yourself, you can take the exam directly at the GIMS office in your home, and you will need to collect a package of documents, including a passport, medical certificates and photographs.
The test consists of two parts: theoretical and practical. The theory tests knowledge of water rules, navigation signs, basic first aid and engine design. The practical part includes mooring, approach to the berth, maneuvering and emergency actions. For many experienced boaters, the theoretical part is the most difficult because of the specific language in the tickets.
☑️ Preparation for the GIMS exam
The validity period of the certificate is 10 years, after which you need to undergo an extension procedure, which, as a rule, does not require re-taking of the examinations, unless there were gross violations.
The medical certificate must be obtained from a licensed institution and contain marks from a therapist, ophthalmologist and psychiatrist-addict, without a valid medical certificate, admission to examinations and the management of the boat are prohibited, even if you formally have rights in your hands.
Fines and liability for lack of rights
The lack of licenses for driving a motorboat with a power of more than 8 hp is equivalent to driving without a driver's license. GIMS inspectors have the right to stop the boat for checking documents at any time. The penalty for driving without a license is a significant amount, which is regularly indexed, and at the moment it can reach several thousand rubles.
In addition to the penalty for lack of rights, a fine may be imposed for failure to register a vessel if its weight exceeds the permissible norms. In the event that the violation is repeated or it has caused an emergency, liability may be increased up to the arrest of the vessel and placing it in a parking lot.
⚠️ Attention: The transfer of the boat to a person who has no rights is also punishable by a fine, and the owner of the vessel must verify that the person he trusts to drive the boat has a certificate.
If you are stopped without a permit, you must stop driving until the violation has been corrected (i.e., before the person with a license appears), and if you continue to move after the protocol is drawn up, it can be considered a new offence.
Exceptions and special cases of exploitation
There are situations where rights may not be required or requirements are mitigated, for example, when conducting official sports competitions, participants may be guided by the rules of a particular federation, but when entering the public water, the general rules of GIMS are returned to force.
An important aspect is the use of boats within the coastal zone or on closed water bodies (paid fishing), the administration of such bodies of water may have its own internal rules that do not abolish federal legislation.
Keep a copy of the boat's passport and license in a waterproof bag on the shore or in a sealant. Original documents are better to carry, but the risk of losing them on the water is high.
Also worth mentioning are children's boats and toys, if the vessel is not designed to carry people or has a lower engine power than the threshold (for example, children's electric cars on the water), rights are not required, but the line between a toy and a full-fledged small vessel is sometimes very thin and is determined by the technical data sheet of the product.
Key rule: If the engine is more powerful than 8 hp (about 6 kW) and the boat is heavier than 200 kg, the rights of the SME category are mandatory. Buying a 9.9 hp engine "in reserve" without a license is a direct route to a fine.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Do I need a 9.9 hp engine license if it is choked to 5 hp?
Formally, the inspector looks at the documents (GTE or PTS). If the documents indicate a power of 9.9 hp, then the rights are necessary, even if you have physically limited traction. To avoid problems, you need to officially redesign the engine in the service center and make changes to the documents, or have a certificate of factory understatement of power, if such an option is provided by the manufacturer and reflected in the PTS.
Are Soviet rights to control the boat valid?
Old-style certificates (Soviet or early Russian) are valid until their expiration date or until they are replaced by new forms in order of priority, but if you lose or damage, you will be issued a new certificate of modern type.
Do I need a boat without a motor (rowing)?
No rights are required for rowing boats with a carrying capacity of less than 100 kg. If the boat is heavier than 100 kg, it must be registered, but the rights to operate a rowing vessel (without a motor or with an engine of up to 8 hp if the total weight allows) are not required.
Can I get a boat license at 16?
Yes, small courts are allowed to be run by persons over 16 years of age, and the written consent of parents or legal representatives is required to obtain a license at this age.