Islands, coves and fine print: electric boat rules in Greece

Greece is a dream line-up for boaters: coves, warm water and islands close enough to hop between. It is also a country where much of the practical information comes from rental companies rather than from the rules themselves.

We could confirm some of the national framework from the Greek government's service portal. For the rest, we tell you what the rental platforms and an eFoil maker report, and that we could not confirm it.

Treat this page as a starting point, and ask the local port authority before you head out.

What we could confirm: the high-speed craft licence

The Greek government's service portal describes a high-speed craft operator licence (Mitos):

• Applicants must be at least 18.
• The exam has a theory part and a practical part, run by a board at the port authority.
• The written test has 20 questions, and you pass with 18 correct.
• The fee is 65 euros.

The portal also lists a separate licence for businesses that rent out marine recreational equipment (Mitos).

The page does not say which craft need the licence by power or speed. The port authority can tell you whether yours does.

What rental platforms report: licence-free boats

According to BorrowABoat, a rental platform, adults can drive small motorboats without a licence, up to about 30 hp on inboards and 15 hp on outboard RIBs. The same page gives conflicting figures in different places (BorrowABoat). We could not confirm the threshold from an official source.

Ask before you rely on it.

Jet skis and eFoils

BorrowABoat says jet skis and fast boats need a licence, or a guided session with an instructor, and that riders must be at least 18 to rent one. Designated riding zones and limits near swimming areas apply.

E-Surfer, an eFoil maker, reports an eFoil-specific national rule. It describes a distance of at least 200 m from swimmers and buoys, 300 m from a shore without swimmers, riding in daylight only, a helmet and impact vest, no riders under 12 and supervision from 12 to 18 (E-Surfer). We have not confirmed this against the regulation.

Local rules: the port authority decides

Rules near beaches, speed limits and riding zones are set locally by the port authorities under the general port regulations. They change from island to island. The port authority where you launch is the place to ask.

Our verdict: ask the port before the session

So, how does Greece treat electric boaters? Probably kindly, for small boats. But we could confirm less here than for any other country we cover, so the honest verdict is: ask first.

Get the local port authority's answer on licences and zones, keep well clear of swimmers, and treat rental company summaries as a guide rather than the rule.

For the same rules elsewhere, see boat licence rules across Europe and eFoil rules in Europe.