What if I don't pass on the first attempt?

Your first re-sit with Boat Pilot is free, subject to availability. If you do not pass either or both practical assessments on the day, call Brendon on 0407 754 614 and Boat Pilot will sort out a re-sit at no extra charge.

Home / Cleveland

Boat and Jet Ski Licence Near Cleveland

Training at Weinam Creek, Redland Bay – about 10 to 15 minutes south on Cleveland-Redland Bay Road. Calm water, small groups, and both licences covered in one day.

BoatSafe accredited

Blue Card holder

Free re-sit included

Max 4 students per session

Boat Pilot is a BoatSafe-accredited provider running combined boat and jet ski licence training for Cleveland residents. Training takes place at Weinam Creek, Redland Bay – around 10 to 15 minutes south via Cleveland-Redland Bay Road. The combined session covers the RMDL boat licence and PWC jet ski endorsement, priced at $475 all in ($75 online theory, $400 combined practical). Weekday sessions are $427.50. Free first re-sit included. Recognised by Maritime Safety Queensland.

Training location

Why Cleveland residents train at Redland Bay

Cleveland sits right on Moreton Bay. The ferry at Toondah Harbour, the foreshore at Cleveland Point, the canals at Raby Bay – the water is part of daily life here. Most Cleveland residents who want their boat or jet ski licence just want somewhere close and straightforward.

The training location is a short drive down Cleveland-Redland Bay Road – the Moores Road boat ramp at Weinam Creek, Redland Bay. From central Cleveland it is around 10 to 15 minutes. From Raby Bay or the southern end of Cleveland, closer to 10. Free parking at the ramp. No tolls on the route.

Weinam Creek is sheltered water. That matters for a first practical session – calm enough to focus on technique without the distractions of open water or boat traffic, and open enough to cover everything the practical assessment requires. Come early, get on the water, and you are done well before mid-afternoon.

Boat Licence

Jet Ski Licence

Combined Licence

Our training base

Redland City Council ramp information →

The combined session

What you get in one day

The combined boat and jet ski session runs from roughly 7:00 am to 3:00 pm. In that time you cover the BoatSafe theory assessment, the RMDL boat licence practical training and assessment, and the PWC jet ski endorsement – all in one day at Weinam Creek.

Complete your online theory

Register for the BoatSafe online theory course ($75) and complete it at home at your own pace, before your practical session. Takes a few hours. You receive a completion record when you are ready to book the practical day.

Online theory $75

Book your combined practical day

Choose a weekday or weekend session at the Weinam Creek ramp. Maximum four students per session. The combined practical covers both the RMDL boat licence assessment and the PWC jet ski endorsement. The session does not rush through material - the assessment starts when you are ready.

Combined session $475 | Weekday $427.50

Apply for your licences at TMR

After the practical day, take your Statement of Competency to aa Transport and Main Roads service centre to apply for both your RMDL and PWC licences. A separate government fee applies at this step.

Boat Licence AND Jet Ski Licence - 1 Day

Online theory (Step 1)

$75

Boat Licence practical (Step 2)

$400

Boat Licence Total

$475

Transport and Main Roads charges a separate government fee when you apply for your licences. Weekday discount applies to the combined session.

Free re-sit guarantee

If you don’t pass either or both practical assessments on the first session, your re-sit is on us. Subject to availability. No second invoice.

Choosing a provider

What to look for in a boat licence trainer

If you are comparing providers before booking, these are the practical things worth checking. They are relevant regardless of where you end up training.

BoatSafe accreditation from Maritime Safety Queensland

Only BoatSafe-accredited providers can legally deliver recreational boat licence practical training and assessment in Queensland. Look for the provider to be on the MSQ register – not just someone who offers boat handling lessons. The register is public at Maritime Safety Queensland. Boat Pilot is an accredited BoatSafe provider.

Blue Card for sessions involving under-18 students

In Queensland, anyone working with children in a paid or voluntary capacity is required to hold a Blue Card – the Working with Children Check issued by the Department of Justice. If your teenager is doing the training, check the instructor is current. Brendon holds a current Blue Card.

Calm, sheltered water for first-timers

The training environment affects how well students learn. Open or busy waterways add pressure that works against someone driving a boat for the first time. Look for a provider that trains in sheltered water – a bay, inlet, or creek where the focus can stay on technique. Weinam Creek is exactly that.

Time given to each student - not a rushed throughput

Group size determines how much water time each student actually gets. Look for small groups with a stated maximum. A session of 10 or 12 people splits both the instruction time and the water time very thin. Boat Pilot runs a maximum of four students per session.

Modern, purpose-bought equipment

There is a difference between training on equipment bought and maintained specifically for licence training, and training on privately owned gear that has been adapted for the purpose. Purpose-built training equipment behaves predictably and gives students a consistent experience.

Transparent pricing with no surprise fees

The full cost – theory, practical, what is and is not included – should be stated clearly before any money changes hands. At Boat Pilot, the combined session is $475 all in ($75 theory, $400 practical). The only additional cost is the government TMR fee, which is paid directly to Transport and Main Roads and is separate from training.

Free re-sit if you do not pass on the first attempt

Not all providers offer a free re-sit. It is worth asking before you book. At Boat Pilot, the first re-sit is free, subject to availability.

Your instructor

Who trains you and how it runs

Brendon runs every session personally. He set up Boat Pilot to be small by design – one instructor, small groups, with the focus on actually teaching people to drive a boat safely rather than processing numbers.

He holds a Blue Card (Working with Children Check), is BoatSafe-accredited by Maritime Safety Queensland, and holds a Certificate IV in Training and Assessment. That combination means he can deliver the practical assessment legally, can work with students under 18, and understands how adults learn practical skills.

When you call 0407 754 614, you are speaking directly to the person who will be on the water with you. Not a booking agent. Not a call centre. That conversation – where you can ask anything before you commit to booking – is part of the service.

BoatSafe-accredited provider, recognised by Maritime Safety Queensland

Current Blue Card holder – cleared to work with children and young people

Certificate IV in Training and Assessment (TAE)

Maximum four students per session – usually fewer

Owner-operated. Brendon teaches every session.

This is not a franchise and there are no associate instructors. Brendon owns the business, owns the equipment, and teaches every course. If you have a question about what to expect, call him directly on 0407 754 614. Same person. Every time.

The session goes at your pace.

The practical assessment does not start until you are comfortable with what is being asked of you. If something needs to be explained again, it gets explained again. The goal is that you understand what you are doing, not that the session ends on schedule.

Families and teens

Boat licences for Cleveland families and teenagers

The minimum age to hold a Queensland Recreational Marine Driver’s Licence or PWC licence is 16. If your teenager is 15 years and 6 months, they can sit the practical training and begin the process before their birthday – the Statement of Competency remains valid until they can apply.

A number of Cleveland families have made the short drive down for students from Cleveland District State High School, Ormiston College, Wellington Point State High School, and Faith Lutheran College in Victoria Point. A Saturday morning booking and they are home well before lunch.

Family and group bookings work well within the four-student maximum. If two or three people from the same household want to book together, that is straightforward to arrange. Call Brendon on 0407 754 614 to talk through what works for your group.

Blue Card confirmed - sessions with under-18 students

Brendon holds a current Blue Card issued under Queensland’s Working with Children program. Every session involving a student under 18 is conducted by a formally cleared instructor. Parents are welcome to stay at the ramp for the duration of the session.

What teens need to bring

The online BoatSafe theory course needs to be completed before the practical day – teens do this at home at their own pace. They need to bring their completion record, a form of ID, and clothes and footwear suited to being on the water. Everything else is covered on the day.

$475

Book Monday to Friday and pay $427.50 for the combined boat and jet ski session - instead of the usual $475.

Same session. Same instructor. Same ramp. Just a better price.

Common Questions

Questions Cleveland residents ask

Anything not covered below – call Brendon directly on 0407 754 614. He picks up.

Not sure which licence you need?

The combined session covers both the boat licence and the jet ski licence in one day. Most Cleveland students choose this. If you only need one, see the boat licence or jet ski licence pages.

How far is the training location from Cleveland?

The Moores Road boat ramp at Weinam Creek is around 10 to 15 minutes south of central Cleveland via Cleveland-Redland Bay Road. From Raby Bay or the southern edge of Cleveland, closer to 10 minutes. From near GJ Walter Park or Cleveland Central, allow 12 to 15. Free parking at the ramp.

Can I get my boat and jet ski licence on the same day near Cleveland?

Yes. The combined session at Weinam Creek covers both the RMDL boat licence and the PWC jet ski endorsement in one practical day. The session runs from roughly 7:00 am to 3:00 pm. Maximum four students per session.

How old do you have to be to get a boat licence in Queensland?

The minimum age to hold a Queensland Recreational Marine Driver’s Licence (RMDL) or PWC licence is 16. You can sit the training from 15 years and 6 months. Brendon holds a current Blue Card, so sessions involving students under 18 are covered.

What does the combined boat and jet ski licence cost?

The combined session is $475 all in – $75 for the online BoatSafe theory course (Step 1) and $400 for the combined practical training and assessment day (Step 2). Book Monday to Friday and pay $427.50 (weekday special). Transport and Main Roads charges a separate government fee when you apply for your actual licences.

Do I need a boat licence to drive a tinnie near Cleveland?

In Queensland, a Recreational Marine Driver’s Licence is required to operate a powered vessel. That includes tinnies. Practically speaking, most powered boats used around the Moreton Bay area – including around Cleveland Point, Toondah Harbour, and Raby Bay – require a licence. The combined session covers the boat licence component.

How long does the practical training take?

The combined practical session runs from roughly 7:00 am to 3:00 pm. That covers the in-person theory assessment, the boat practical training and assessment, and the jet ski practical training and assessment. Smaller groups often finish a little earlier in the day.

What happens if I don't pass on the day?

Your first re-sit is free. If you don’t pass either or both practical assessments on your first session, Boat Pilot will schedule a re-sit at no extra charge. Subject to availability – call Brendon on 0407 754 614 to arrange it.

What is included in the $475 price?

The $475 covers the BoatSafe online theory course ($75) and the combined practical training and assessment day ($400) – boat licence and jet ski licence practical in one session. It does not include the Transport and Main Roads government fee for applying for the actual licences, which is paid separately. The weekday price is $427.50.

Ready to get your boat and jet ski licence near Cleveland?

Training at Weinam Creek, Redland Bay – 10 to 15 minutes south on Cleveland-Redland Bay Road. Both licences in one day.

Weekday sessions from $427.50. We pick up.