Renting a Boat Without a License: 10 Questions and What Changes from October 2026
We answer the most common questions about renting a boat without a license in Blanes and what changes from 1 October 2026: the titulín in one day or a trip with a skipper.
Update: since 1 October 2026, no boat is rented out without a qualification (RD 1188/2025). Today you can sail with the Navigation Licence (Licencia de Navegación, the 'titulín'), which you can get in one day, or go out with a skipper on our private excursion. Until 30 September 2026, renting a boat without a license was one of the most popular experiences on the Costa Brava. Since 1 October the rules have changed, but first-timers' questions remain the same. In this article we answer the 10 questions our customers ask us most, with the rules that apply today. If you prefer to see everything at a glance, the course and the requirements are in our guide to the Navigation Licence (the titulín). Do I need a license or navigation permit to rent a boat? Since 1 October 2026, yes. RD 1188/2025 ended rentals without a qualification: the former exemption for boats up to 5 meters in length and 15 HP now applies only to private boats. That is why we no longer rent out our boats without a license (Solar 450, Remus 450, Remus 450 II, Astec 400 and Astec 480). Today you have two options: - Drive the boat yourself: you need the Navigation Licence (the "titulín", a 1-day course, no exam) or a higher qualification, to be over 18 years old and to have a valid identity document (ID card, passport or European document) - Go out with a skipper: on the private excursion a professional skipper drives…