The Ski Boat Driver Level 2 is the recognised standard for anyone wishing to drive a ski boat unsupervised for water skiing, wakeboarding and other towed disciplines on coastal waters. It ensures drivers are trained, competent and fully aware of their responsibilities when operating a boat with people in the water.
SBD2 is often the first step on the boat-driver pathway and is a prerequisite for progressing into coaching. Successful candidates can also apply for the internationally recognised ICC for coastal waters, with an optional endorsement for inland European waterways.
What’s Involved?
Most candidates begin with boat-driving lessons unless they already have experience towing skiers or riders. The SBD2 course typically takes one day and includes:
- Coastal and boat-handling theory
- Hulls, engines and propellers
- Buoyancy aids and life jackets
- Rules of the road, navigation marks and charts
- Tides, launch and recovery
- Slow-speed manoeuvring
- Towing a skier or wakeboarder safely
After the theory session, candidates complete a 30-minute multiple-choice paper followed by a practical assessment covering familiarisation, slow manoeuvring and towing skills.
Requirements
To take the SBD2, candidates must:
- Be 16 or over
- Hold current BWSW membership
- Have some supervised boat-driving experience (or arrange lessons)
What Happens After?
Once qualified, drivers may choose to progress to:
- Ski Boat Driver Level 3
- BWSW Level 1 Coaching
- BWSW Level 2 Coaching
