Chasing swell abroad: taking an electric boat to another country

Picture the plan. Trailer behind the car, electric boat on the trailer, and a week on an Alpine lake you have only seen in photos. Glassy water, mountains, no petrol engines.

It is a great trip. It also crosses borders, and every border brings its own rules on licences, power and where you may launch. Getting one of them wrong can mean a fine, or a week of looking at the lake from the shore.

Here is what to sort out before you leave.

Licence and the ICC: your passport for the line-up

Most countries base licence rules on engine power or speed. A licence-free boat at home may need a licence abroad, and the reverse.

The International Certificate of Competence (ICC) is issued under UNECE Resolution 40 as evidence of competence when requested by officials in foreign countries. The RYA stresses that it is not the boating equivalent of a driving licence: requirements vary, sometimes for coastal waters, sometimes for inland waters, sometimes for neither and sometimes for both. It is generally recommended for European inland waterways (RYA).

Not every country takes part. Spain, Greece and Portugal had not adopted the ICC resolutions as of 2013, though they often still ask visitors for an ICC (Wikipedia).

Check the destination country page in our rules section and the licence rules across Europe.

Local rules: every break has its locals

Lake and river rules can be very different from what you know at home.

In Tyrol, combustion engines are banned on a list of lakes, and electric motors are allowed up to 500 W, or 2,200 W on Achensee (Tyrol regulation). A boat that is perfectly legal at home may be far over that limit.

Some famous lakes do not allow private boats at all, electric or not. Our list of electric-only waters flags the places that are often listed by mistake.

Check before you go:

• Power caps for electric motors.
• Speed limits and shore zones.
• Permits, launch fees and seasons.
• Where you are allowed to launch from a trailer.

Charging abroad: plugs, power and patience

Charging is usually the easy part, as long as you have the right connection.

• Bring adapters for the shore power sockets you will meet. Ask the marina which plug they use.
• Bring your own charger and cables.
• Book berths with shore power where you can.
• Check whether the campsite or hotel allows charging, and what it charges for it.

Our guide to how to charge an electric boat covers plugs and charging power.

Insurance: is the country in your quiver?

Check that your boat insurance covers the country and the type of water you will use. Many policies have a cruising area.

Ask about towing and transport too. Pantaenius says a well-documented maintenance history and up-to-date safety equipment help with insurability (Pantaenius). Take copies of your policy, registration and battery documentation with you. Our guide to insuring an electric boat has a list of questions to ask.

Getting there: the battery on the road and the ferry

A battery fitted in the boat travels with it on the trailer. Make sure it is switched off, secured and protected.

Ferries are where you should ask in advance. Operators can have their own policies on vehicles and trailers carrying large lithium batteries. Contact the ferry company before you book, tell them what you are carrying, and get the answer in writing.

If you carry spare or portable batteries, keep them charged to the level your maker recommends for transport, protected from damage and away from heat.

Our verdict: check twice, launch once

So, is it worth taking an electric boat abroad? Absolutely. Some of the best electric boating in Europe is on lakes that turn petrol boats away.

The work is in the preparation: licence, local rules, charging, insurance and transport. Sort those before you leave and the only surprise on the trip should be how good the water is. For destination ideas, read the best lakes and rivers for electric boats.