Chartering House-/Motorboat
A very special kind of experience is to go on holiday as one’s own captain on a houseboat or a motorboat. Numerous firms provide an ever-increasing number of modern boats for charter. There are moorings in marinas, sports boat harbours and at water sports clubs and campsites. Wherever your journey along the extensive network of waterways takes you, it is worthwhile stopping off for shore leave.
If you wish to explore the countryside by motorboat or houseboat, a special arrangement is available to you: under the so-called charter-licence regulation you can charter certain yachts and houseboats without a sports boat licence. A few special provisions must be observed.
Some basic information on licence-free boating in Germany (charter licence):
• Some particularly sensitive waters are prohibited for motorboats for nature-conservancy reasons
• Possible on hired boats under 15 metres
• Highest speed: a maximum of 12 km/h
• Valid for up to 12 person per boat
• A thorough introduction to theory and practice (at least three hours)
The following areas are licence-free:
• The Mecklenburg Small-Lakes Area, including all adjacent waters up to the Liebenwalde lock (End of the Upper Havel Waterway)
• The Mecklenburg Great-Lakes Area, including all adjoining waters (Lake Mueritz licence-free only on the west shore)
• The Schwerin Lakes Area
• The Lake Tollensesee Area
• The Mueritz-Elde Waterway and the Stoer Waterway
• The River Peene Area
-> The area between Malchin (Peene kilometer 2.5) with Lake Kummerow and Demmin (kilometre 34.9) is licence-free.
-> On the lower reaches of the Peene to Anklam a sports boat licence (sea) is valid.
-> On the Peene broads and lagoon the sports boat licence is obligatory.
The locks are in operation during the peak season (1 April - 30 September) each day from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m.; in the period from 1 October to 30 November to 4 p.m. For canoe trekkers there are often boat-haulage facilities next to the locks.