Electric houseboat hire: what does it cost, how far can you go, and do you need a licence?
Electric houseboats near Berlin, on the Havel and Mecklenburg lakes: 11–15 kW, 10–20 kWh, a week from €750. No licence needed with a charter certificate.
If you want to try an electric houseboat in Germany, the Brandenburg hire company BunBo rents boats for up to 6 people at €750 to €2,295 per week, depending on the season, on lakes and rivers around Berlin. Its two electric models run on 11 and 15 kW at 6 to 7 km/h. You need no licence: after a briefing of about three hours you get a charter certificate for €40.
Which electric houseboats does BunBo rent out?
BunBo has two electric models in its fleet; the other types are not electric (BunBo).
| BunBo 1061E | BunBo 1200E | |
|---|---|---|
| Length | 10.70 m | 12.30 m |
| People / berths | up to 6 / 4 + 2 | up to 6 / 4 + 2 |
| Living space | 21 m² + 13 m² terrace | 28 m² + 16 m² terrace |
| Motor | 11 kW electric outboard | 15 kW gearless Aquamot outboard |
| Battery | 10 kWh, 48 V | 20 kWh, 48 V |
| Solar | solar panels, output not stated | 6 kWp |
| Backup | petrol generator | 3.5 kW emergency generator (petrol) |
| Cruising speed | 6–7 km/h | 6–7 km/h |
| Consumption when cruising | approx. 2.5–3 kW | approx. 3 kW at 6 km/h |
| Base | Zernsdorf, Dahme lakes between Berlin and the Spreewald | Lychen (Upper Havel, Mecklenburg Lake District) and Brandenburg/Plaue (Lower Havel) |
| Weekend price | from €415 | from €570 |
Sources: BunBo 1061E, BunBo 1200E, 1200E info sheet, model overview.
How far can you go with an electric houseboat?
For the 1200E, BunBo states 35 to 40 km on battery alone without sun. In sunshine and at cruising speed, the range is "theoretically unlimited", according to BunBo. The solar system has 6 kWp, and the motor needs about 3 kW at 6 km/h. On shore power the boat charges at up to 3.5 kW (BunBo). For dull days both boats carry a petrol generator as a backup.
What does a week cost?
For all boats up to 6 people, BunBo quotes €750 to €2,295 per week, depending on the season, including VAT (BunBo). There is no full-week price per model on the page. The electric boats start at €415 (1061E) and €570 (1200E) for a weekend (BunBo), and the 1200E from €625 for a short week in the booking portal (BunBo). The charter certificate costs €40 per trip (BunBo).
Do I need a licence?
No. If you do not hold the German inland licence (Sportbootführerschein Binnen), BunBo issues the charter certificate after a briefing of about three hours (BunBo). The legal basis is the German charter certificate for boats under 15 m on certain waters, whatever the drive (§ 9 SportbootVermV-Bin). Details are in houseboat hire without a licence. In the UK, by comparison, private pleasure craft need no licence at all (RYA).
At 11 and 15 kW, the BunBo motors are above the 7.5 kW limit up to which an electric boat is licence-free in Germany anyway (§ 5 SpFV). Without the charter certificate you would need a licence here.
Restrictions: According to BunBo, the charter certificate only allows you to boat on German inland waters. You may only pass through Berlin with restrictions, and boating on the large Müritz, the Elbe and the Oder is not allowed (BunBo FAQ).
Can I buy a BunBo electric boat?
No. BunBo only sells used BunBo 1000 boats from its charter fleet, and these run on a 15 hp petrol outboard, from €39,900 with a one-year warranty (BunBo). If you want to buy an electric houseboat yourself, the builders are listed in electric houseboats for sale.
Can I hire an electric boat for just a day?
Yes. In Havelberg, the Arthotel Kiebitzberg rents out solar boats for the Havel, no licence needed: the RAYA for 8 people from €110 for 3 hours or €390 for a full day, and the ELSA 2 solar catamaran for 12 people from €280 or €700, including VAT (Arthotel Kiebitzberg). In the Netherlands, all hire boats in Giethoorn have been electric since 2023 (Gemeente Steenwijkerland).
Sources and image rights
- Images
- Wolfgang Weiser / Pexels (conditions)
- Checked
- 24 October 2026 by Andreas Lakeberg
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Legal notice. This article is a general summary of regulations and is not legal advice. Only the linked laws and regulations in their current version and the responsible authority are binding, for example the navigation authority, the local council or the lake operator. Information checked: 24 October 2026.
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