SKI BOAT DRIVERS AWARD
British Water Ski aims to improve the standard of ski boat driving in the absence of any legislation or licencing system in the UK. In many parts of Europe a licence is mandatory but not in the UK. We offer three tiers of award as proof of your boat handling skills - the Ski Boat Driver Award (SBDA), the Club Driver Award and the Commercial Driver Assessment (CDA). The SBDA is now recognised as the benchmark standard of driving skills at clubs throughout the UK and is supported by a network of over 100 test centres.
Why should I qualify if it is not necessary in the UK?
our awards are formal proof of your boat handling experience and skills.
if you take our SBDA we are able to issue you with the mandatory European counterpart - the ICC or International Certificate of Competence.
the majority of clubs in the UK require our SBDA for you to drive on their water.
if you wish to take a British Water Ski Instructor qualification holding the SBDA is a minimum requirement before you take a course.
as an SBDA holder you automatically receive a discount on our Approved Boat Insurance Scheme operated by RA Carter Ltd.
take the SBDA and you can move up to the next level of Club Driver Award.
What do I need to know to take the test?
first of all you must be a member of British Water Ski.
you must also be at least 16 years of age at the time of taking the test.
you must have a level of driving roughly equivalent to RYA Powerboat Level 3.
you must have read and be familiar with the content of our SBDA manual.
Our manual contains all the information required for the written test and includes a comprehensive full colour guide to flags and other signage. It is available as a free download on the British Water Ski website in the resources section for members.
What do I need to do in the test and how long does it take?
Practical Test
complete a 10 minute driving test.
demonstrate to the examiner basic boat handling skills and simple maneuvers.
Written Test - Coastal Waters (mandatory)
complete a multiple choice question paper of 22 questions (approx 30 minutes).
correctly answer a minimum of 18 questions correctly.
Written Test - Inland Waters
complete a multiple choice question paper of 14 questions (approx 20 minutes).
correctly answer a minimum of 11 questions correctly.
2 Day course
10 hrs theory and practical training
Idea for beginner boat drivers
1 Day course
5 hrs theory and practical training
Idea for those with experience
How do I maintain my qualification?
you must remain a British Water Ski member.
you must renew your ICC every 5 years for the licence to be valid. How long does it take until I receive my licence?
generally licences are processed on the day they are received but allow 2 to 3 days for processing during peak times.
you must be a member for your licence to be issued - if your club has not renewed your membership or if you have not submitted a membership this will cause a delay. If you have any questions that are not answered here please feel free to call
