SBF Binnen & See
The foundation for inland and coastal waters.
Compare the two certificates, learn the official questions by subject and prepare chart work and manoeuvres in good time.
Knowledge & Learning
From the first SBF manoeuvre to a coastal passage.
Use one place to find certificate guides, complete study scripts, suitable exam materials, the sailing glossary and practical exam advice.
5 learning areasfrom guide to glossary
SBF & SKScertificate knowledge and exam practice
Sailing knowledgefor confident decisions on board
All in one place
Choose how you want to learn.
Start with the exam, a specific question or a term you want to look up. Every route leads to the relevant certificate and the next useful step.
Guides
Clear answers on SKS admission, nautical miles and logbook practice, with official sources where rules matter.
Read the guides →Study guides
The subject behind every official question, organised by chapter and supported by purpose-built diagrams.
Choose a study guide →Exam materials
What you need for chart work, knots and written preparation — selected for a specific task.
Choose materials →Sailing glossary
Navigation, COLREGs, weather, seamanship and radio explained for quick reference.
Open the glossary →Exam tips
Direct routes to exam formats, preparation order and the practical skills that deserve early practice.
See exam tips →Learning routes
Organised by certificate and practice.
Stay within one topic while moving between exam overview, study script, materials and practical advice.
SKS
From theory and chart work to the required miles.
Plan theory, practice and mileage evidence as one route instead of treating them as separate hurdles.
- SKS certificateAdmission, theory, chart work and practical exam→
- SKS study guide638 official questions in 36 chapters→
- SKS chart-work materialsTraining chart, publications and tools→
- 300 nautical milesWhat must be documented before the practical exam→
- Theory before the milesHow the 24-month window affects planning→
Sailing knowledge
Knowledge that remains useful after the exam.
Use the glossary and practical guides for navigation, weather, seamanship, logbook routines and safe equipment decisions.
Guides
Reliable answers for the next decision.
Official rules are cited where they apply; open questions remain clearly identified.
300 nautical miles for SKS admission
Official requirements and the inconsistency concerning miles sailed before the SBF Sea.
Read guide →How should nautical miles be counted?
Distance through the water, distance over ground and what the guidelines leave open.
Read guide →Which miles count?
Coastal waters, inland waters, dinghies and charter yachts clearly distinguished.
Read guide →The mileage certificate
Who may sign it and which details make the record useful.
Read guide →Theory first, miles later
When the mileage evidence is required and how long the passed theory remains valid.
Read guide →Logbook obligations
Which records may be required and why sweeping answers are unreliable.
Read guide →Exam tips
Prepare in the order the exam demands.
First understand the exam format, then work through the subject, and practise the tools and manoeuvres early enough. For the SKS, include the mileage record in that plan from the start.
- 01Know the exam
Requirements, sections, time limits and scoring are listed on the certificate pages.
- 02Understand the subject
Use the study scripts by chapter and return to weak subjects instead of isolated answers.
- 03Practise for real
Chart work, knots and manoeuvres need repetition with the same tools and conditions used in the exam.