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SBF See Lehrer
Your trainer for the SBF See, Germany's coastal boat licence: all 285 official ELWIS questions, real exam sheets and a traffic-light system – in German.
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A look inside the app
Your exam prep with SBF See Lehrer
The Sportbootführerschein See (SBF See) is Germany's official licence for skippering motorised boats on the coastal shipping lanes – and if you live in Germany as an English-speaking sailor, there is no way around its theory exam, which is held in German. The questions come from the official ELWIS catalogue, and this app puts all 285 of them on your phone, including every official sign and image in zoomable full size.
Because the app is in German, you study exactly the phrases and terminology that will appear on your exam sheet – for non-native speakers this is the most reliable way to prepare, since translated study material would teach you words the exam never uses. Explanations accompany every question, the traffic-light system separates what you know from what still needs work, and exam mode uses the official ELWIS exam sheets with the real time limit.
For the practical test, step-by-step photo guides cover all the knots. The app runs completely offline, and you can try it for free with 50 questions before unlocking the full catalogue. Planning to cruise rivers and lakes as well? The companion app SBF Binnen Lehrer covers Germany's separate inland licence.
Who is the app for?
Made for English-speaking sailors and expats based in Germany who want to skipper motorised boats or sailing yachts on the coastal shipping lanes, from the North Sea to the Baltic. Because the theory exam is only offered in German, you need enough German to read and understand the official questions – and this app has you practising exactly that vocabulary from day one.
The exam
SBF See exams are administered by the examination boards of the Deutscher Motoryachtverband (DMYV) and the Deutscher Segler-Verband (DSV) on behalf of the federal government, and the theory test is conducted in German. Its questions come from the official ELWIS catalogue of 285 questions, which the app covers completely. The SBF See is also the prerequisite for the Sportküstenschifferschein (SKS), should you want to go further along the coast later.
Learning features at a glance
All 285 official ELWIS questions
The complete, up-to-date question catalogue for the SBF See in the original German – with every official sign and image, viewable in large format with a single tap.
Official ELWIS exam sheets
All official exam sheets of the theory test are included. In exam mode you practise under real conditions, with a submission timer running on the original exam time.
Traffic-light system and statistics
Red means more practice, green means ready: the learning mode shows your standing at a glance, backed by detailed statistics on your progress.
An explanation for every question
Each of the 285 questions comes with a comprehensible explanation in German, so you genuinely understand the answers – a real advantage when the exam language is not your mother tongue.
Knot guides, step by step
Photo instructions take you through every knot of the practical exam, complete with explanations and each knot's pros and cons.
Fully usable offline
The app needs no internet connection at all. Study on the bus, on the train or on the water without touching your data plan.
Frequently asked questions
Is the app available in English?
No – like the exam itself, the app is entirely in German. That is by design: the SBF See theory test uses the German ELWIS questions word for word, so studying them in the original language is what actually gets you through, whereas an English translation would leave you unprepared for the real sheets.
Do I need the SBF See as a foreigner living in Germany?
The SBF See is the official German licence for skippering motorised recreational boats on the coastal shipping lanes. Whether a boating certificate from your home country is recognised in your situation is a question for the examination boards of the DMYV and DSV – if you live in Germany and are starting from scratch, the SBF See is the licence to get.
Can I sit the SBF See exam in English?
No. The theory exam is held in German by the DMYV and DSV examination boards. Preparing with the original German ELWIS questions is therefore the safest route: by exam day, every question on the sheet will already be familiar.
Are the questions official and up to date?
Yes, the app contains all 285 questions and answers from the official ELWIS catalogue in the current version, plus all official ELWIS exam sheets of the theory test – you practise with precisely the material that appears in the exam.
Does the app work offline?
Yes, everything including exam mode runs without an internet connection. Weak signal at the marina or on your commute costs you nothing, and no mobile data is used while studying.
Is the app free?
You can start free of charge with 50 questions and give the app a thorough test run. If it suits you, you unlock the complete question catalogue and all exam sheets – for as long as you need to prepare.
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Start your preparation now
Download SBF See Lehrer for free and study with the official exam questions — anytime, even offline.