About us

About BoatPass

The person behind the app – and why it exists.

Marius Gehler, founder of BoatPass, at the helm of a motorboat in a marina
Marius Gehler
Founder & Developer of BoatPass

Hi, I'm Marius – founder and developer of BoatPass. I've been building apps for years, and I built BoatPass with one clear goal: a boating-license app that feels genuinely good on your phone – fast, clean and motivating.

SBF BinnenSBF SeeELWIS catalogAndroid development

Why BoatPass exists

Marius Gehler at the helm of a sailboat on the water

When I started studying, I asked friends who already had their license. Their verdict was almost always the same: there are apps with good content – but none that make studying on your phone actually enjoyable. Clunky menus, uninspired interfaces, questions you just memorize by rote.

That stuck with me. I've been building apps in my spare time for years – BoatPass is my passion project alongside my day job. So I built the app I wish I'd had: one that makes studying on your phone genuinely enjoyable – and that maps 1:1 onto the official question catalog.

What matters to me

Studying theory for the boating license shouldn't feel like a chore. You should enjoy learning and make fast progress. That's why every question comes with clear explanations and memory aids – instead of just „right/wrong“. The material sticks, and you get out on the water sooner.

Where the content comes from

The questions and answers in BoatPass are not my invention: they come 1:1 from the official question catalog published by the German Federal Ministry for Digital and Transport via ELWIS. Which catalog and which revision sits behind each licence is listed on the licence pages, with a direct link so you can check it against the official source yourself.

The explanations and memory aids I write myself – based on the catalog and the underlying regulations (BinSchStrO, SeeSchStrO, COLREGs). BoatPass is developed independently and is not affiliated with DSV, DMYV or any public authority.

If you spot a mistake in an explanation, tell me. I check every report myself and correct it in the next update.

My promise

  • ✓ Always up-to-date official question catalog (ELWIS)
  • ✓ No subscription – buy once, use it for good
  • ✓ Explanations & memory aids instead of rote memorization
  • ✓ Built by a developer who takes design seriously
  • ✓ Report a mistake – I check every report myself and fix it in the next update

Contact

Feedback, found a bug, or just a question? Reach me via the contact form – I read every message myself.

Ready for your exam?

15 questions a day across all licences, no account and no payment details.

Free on Google Play
iOS app coming soon