Does the guest need a boating licence?

In Croatia, no. T’quilo is not a boat under the Rulebook on boats, small craft and yachts (Official Gazette 13/20), because its hull is 2.49 m and its motor is 500 W, and the rules on an operator’s certificate apply to boats.

Does it have to be registered?

In Croatia, no. Registration applies to craft that meet the definition of a boat, and T’quilo stays below both thresholds.

Why is it exactly 2.49 m?

Because the threshold is a hull longer than 2.5 m. At 2.49 m there is no argument about it, and the deck is still about 5 m².

How many people may be on board?

Two. That is what the platform is built for, and under art. 6 of the same rulebook it is also the limit for craft of 2.5 m or less.

Is liability insurance required?

Not in Croatia at this power. Art. 8 of the rulebook requires it above 15 kW; T’quilo has 500 W.

Does this hold outside Croatia?

Not everywhere. In most of Europe the limit is set by engine power and 500 W is below every one we found. But Slovenia and Portugal require a qualification for any motorised craft, Malta requires registration, Serbia and Bosnia and Herzegovina both, and Spain a licence when the craft is rented out. In most of the United States any motorised craft has to be registered. Tell us your market and we will check.

Licence

No licence, no registration.

The most common question about T’quilo, answered with the regulation rather than a slogan.

Checked: 5 November 2026

Croatia

In Croatia you need neither.

Under the Rulebook on boats, small craft and yachts (Official Gazette 13/20, art. 4), a craft counts as a boat once its hull is longer than 2.5 m or its propulsion exceeds 5 kW. The threshold is "or", not "and": crossing one of them is enough. T’quilo crosses neither, so the rules on registration and on an operator’s certificate (art. 5) do not reach it.

Hull length: 2.49 m
Motor: 500 W
People on board: 2
Liability insurance: not required

The length is 2.49 m on purpose. The regulation says "longer than 2.5 m", so 2.5 would still pass, but with no margin at all. A build measuring 2.51 m is a boat.

Europe

Below most thresholds, not all.

Most European countries set their limit by engine power. The lowest we found is the Romanian 3.68 kW, and T’quilo has 0.5 kW. A few countries, however, have no threshold at all: Slovenia and Portugal require a qualification for any motorised craft, and Malta requires registration. Since 1 October 2026 Spain requires a licence when the craft is rented out.

Austria: No licence below 4.4 kW for sport and leisure, but the exemption does not apply to commercial navigation
Belgium: Speed is measured, not power; the limit is around 20 km/h
Bulgaria: At sea, no registration or licence up to 4.57 m and 15 kW within 500 m of the shore, but only without commercial activity. On rivers a qualification is required
Croatia: Below 2.5 m and 5 kW it is not a boat: no licence, no registration
Cyprus: A new 2026 law covers craft from 2.5 m but is not yet in force. Being checked
Czechia: No licence from age 15, up to 4 kW and a total mass of up to 1000 kg
Denmark: Licence only for planing craft above a power threshold
Estonia: Licence above roughly 18.6 kW
Finland: Registration from 5.5 m or 15 kW; no licence for electric motors below 5.5 kW
France: Licence above 4.5 kW, regardless of length
Germany: Licence above 7.5 kW for electric motors. Lake Constance: 4.4 kW
Greece: Licence for fast craft, as a rule with an engine above 15 hp
Hungary: Up to 7 m and 14.7 kW the craft counts as a rowing-boat class: no registration, no technical inspection. Combustion engines are banned on Lake Balaton anyway
Ireland: No general licence for private boating; separate rules for passenger craft
Italy: Licence above 30 kW within six nautical miles
Latvia: Licence above 3.7 kW, and for any craft over 5 m
Lithuania: No registration or licence up to 19 kW, from age 18. Commercial use still requires registration
Luxembourg: No licence below 7 m without a cabin and up to 7.35 kW. Registration from 7 m or above 7.35 kW
Malta: Every motorised craft, electric included, must be registered, and hiring out requires a hire licence. An operating licence is so far required only from 30 hp
Netherlands: No power threshold. Licence for craft over 15 m and for fast craft above 20 km/h
Poland: Licence above 10 kW
Portugal: Every motorised craft needs registration and a licence. The lowest, marinheiro júnior, covers up to 4.5 kW
Romania: No certificate up to 3.68 kW, at sea and on inland waters
Slovakia: Licence from 4 kW. Registration above 11 kW
Slovenia: A motorised craft up to 7 m and 7.35 kW requires a knowledge-test certificate. Only rowing and sailing boats are exempt
Spain: No licence up to 5 m and 15 hp, by day and within 2 nautical miles, but since 1 Oct 2026 for private use only. When rented, the guest needs a licence
Sweden: No licence for craft under 12 m

Europe outside the EU

Albania: Sources disagree. Being checked
Bosnia and Herzegovina: In both the Federation and Republika Srpska only craft without a motor are exempt. A motorised platform needs registration and a qualified operator
Montenegro: A boat is a craft longer than 2.5 m or with a motor above 3.5 kW. T’quilo is neither, and a certificate for renters is required only above 3 kW
North Macedonia: Being checked
Norway: Licence above 19 kW or 8 m, for those born in 1980 or later
Serbia: Only boats without a motor up to 3 m are exempt. A motorised boat is registered and the operator must pass an exam
Switzerland: Licence above 6 kW. Lake Constance: 4.4 kW
United Kingdom: No licence for private boating. On Canal & River Trust waters every craft needs a licence, electric ones included

Croatia is stated from the regulation itself. For most other countries we read the regulation or the competent authority’s own page, for some only commercial guides. One more thing worth knowing: several of these exemptions are written for private use. Renting out is a business activity and carries its own rules - in Spain, Austria, Lithuania and Bulgaria that condition is written into the regulation itself. Tell us which market you are in and we will go to the authority.

The rest of the world

We are still working on it, country by country, and we would rather say nothing than guess. One thing is already clear: this is not universal. In most of the United States any motorised craft has to be registered, electric ones included. If your water is outside Europe, ask us and we will find out before you order.

Questions

Does the guest need a boating licence?: In Croatia, no. T’quilo is not a boat under the Rulebook on boats, small craft and yachts (Official Gazette 13/20), because its hull is 2.49 m and its motor is 500 W, and the rules on an operator’s certificate apply to boats.
Does it have to be registered?: In Croatia, no. Registration applies to craft that meet the definition of a boat, and T’quilo stays below both thresholds.
Why is it exactly 2.49 m?: Because the threshold is a hull longer than 2.5 m. At 2.49 m there is no argument about it, and the deck is still about 5 m².
How many people may be on board?: Two. That is what the platform is built for, and under art. 6 of the same rulebook it is also the limit for craft of 2.5 m or less.
Is liability insurance required?: Not in Croatia at this power. Art. 8 of the rulebook requires it above 15 kW; T’quilo has 500 W.
Does this hold outside Croatia?: Not everywhere. In most of Europe the limit is set by engine power and 500 W is below every one we found. But Slovenia and Portugal require a qualification for any motorised craft, Malta requires registration, Serbia and Bosnia and Herzegovina both, and Spain a licence when the craft is rented out. In most of the United States any motorised craft has to be registered. Tell us your market and we will check.

A note

This page is information, not legal advice. Croatia is stated from the regulation itself. Everything outside Croatia comes from public sources and is meant for orientation; before you put a platform in the water somewhere, check with the local maritime authority. If you tell us the country, we will do that work with you.

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