Frequently Asked Questions

In Norway, boating license requirements depend on your year of birth. If you were born in 1980 or later, you must hold a valid boating license (as required by Norwegian law).

Our safety requirement (applies to everyone) Regardless of your year of birth, we require all drivers to have at least two seasons of boating experience, for safety reasons.

Our boats are comfortable and easy to handle, but we want every guest to have basic experience with:

safe manoeuvring
navigation
weather awareness and trip planning
Foreign licenses (EEA / ICC)

If your boating license or qualification is issued in another EEA country, it is generally valid in Norway, as long as it covers the necessary competencies.

ICC (International Certificate of Competence) is accepted only if it includes coastal navigation (Resolution 40).

Other foreign boating licenses may also be accepted if they are equivalent to the Norwegian boating license and issued in: English, or a Scandinavian language

If you’re unsure, feel free to send us a scan/photo of your license — we will gladly verify it for you.

We kindly ask you to send us a copy of your boating license in advance, or present it upon arrival.
If the license rules don’t apply to you, please send us your sailing resume in advance or bring it with you for check-in.

Do I get any training?

To make sure you feel confident and comfortable on the boat, we will give you a thorough introduction upon arrival. We will go through:

• safety routines

• the boat’s equipment

• the devices on the captain’s console

• practical tips you may find useful before your holiday begins


This introduction takes around 1 hour before you leave the marina.

If you would like even more confidence on the water, we also offer an optional 2-hour training session with our captain.
You can add it during the booking process under Extra equipment.

General Rules
(applies to both coastal waters and the Telemark Canal)

The speed limit is 5 knots when you are close to land (within 50 meters), and this is the most common restriction you will encounter during your trip.

Always follow navigation markers and local signage.
Navigation markers can change position from year to year, and the physical markers always take priority over what you see on the chartplotter.

Other restrictions are usually clearly signposted.

You can also monitor your speed and battery consumption using the onboard instruments.

Telemark Canal

On the Telemark Canal, the speed limit is 5 knots.

When going upstream, you will see:

• green/white markers (sticks) on the starboard side, and

• red markers on the port side.

Keep a distance of around 3–5 meters from the markers.

Coastal waters

In most coastal areas, the same speed limit applies as on the Canal: 5 knots.

Further away from land, speed restrictions may not apply — however, you should always consider the boat’s range:

• at a steady speed of 5 knots, the battery typically allows for around 10 hours of cruising

• the boat’s maximum speed is 10 knots

We do not offer a skipper service for weekly cruises.

However, we do offer an optional 2-hour training session with our captain, which can be added as extra equipment during the booking process.

If you are interested in day trips with a captain, please contact us directly at: post@canalboats.no
Please note that availability depends on our schedule and workload, so this service may not always be available.

To see the current rental price, simply use our booking widget or booking calendars, select your preferred dates and boat model, and the price will be displayed automatically.

Prices vary depending on the season.

Our seasons are:

• High season: 21.06–14.08
• Medium season: 01.05–20.06 and 15.08–04.10
• Low season: 01.04–30.04 and 05.10–01.11

You can choose to pay the full amount at the time of booking, or split your payment into two convenient installments.

If you select the installment option, you pay 35% when confirming your booking. The remaining 65% is due no later than 42 days before your holiday begins.

Payments are made by card through our booking system. After completing your booking, you will receive a confirmation email with a clear overview of your payment schedule and amounts.

If you choose the installment option, you will also receive a payment link for the remaining balance.

For a bank transfer, please contact us — we’ll provide you with further details.

We accept card payments via our website: Visa and Mastercard. You can also pay using PayPal or Google Pay.

Another option is a bank transfer. If you would like to pay this way, please contact us in advance — we will manually create your booking for you.

SPAREBANKEN SOR
Konto nr: 2801 55 18539
IBAN: NO7928015518539
Swift: SPSONO22XXX

The security deposit is €3,000 and is payable on the day of check-in by card or in cash.

The deposit is refundable within 7 working days after check-out, provided the boat is returned undamaged.

Please note that credit card payments are subject to a 3.6% bank processing fee.

Yes — you can choose an optional damage waiver (reduction of liability) for €460.

With this option, your liability in case of damage to the boat is reduced to €460. Please note that this amount is non-refundable.

For full details, please refer to our rental conditions.

We recommend bringing comfortable non-slip boat shoes and waterproof clothing, just in case of rain.

Gloves can be useful when passing through the canal locks — these are available for purchase at our base if needed.

You’ll find several shops within walking distance of the marina, including a grocery store, liquor store, pharmacy and more, so it’s easy to stock up before departure.

There’s no need to bring water containers — fresh drinking water is available at our guest marina and at other harbours along your route.

Yes — fishing is allowed, but local regulations apply depending on whether you are cruising the Telemark Canal or along the coast.

Telemark watercourse (canal & inland waters)

The canal offers excellent fishing opportunities for trout, perch, char, whitefish, pike and tench. In the lower parts of the Telemark Canal, you can also purchase fishing licenses for salmon and sea trout.

Please note:

• Everyone over the age of 16 must hold a valid fishing license.
• Children under 16 do not need a license or state fishing fee.
• Salmon and sea trout may only be fished between June 1 and September 30.
• A maximum of 2 salmon or sea trout per person per day is allowed.
• Salmon and sea trout caught between October 1 and May 30 must be released immediately.
• When fishing from a boat in Norsjø, Heddalsvannet and Bråfjorden, up to 4 lines (one bait per line) are permitted per boat.
• Fishing with gear that can be filled with water is not allowed.

The Telemark watercourse is disease-free. All fishing equipment used in other waterways must be disinfected before use. This also applies to boats and items such as ropes, nets, textiles and waders.

Fishing licenses for specific areas can be purchased via inatur.no.
A separate state fishing fee is required for salmon and sea trout (also available via inatur.no).

Telemark Canal

Septic tank emptying stations are available at the following locations:
Hjellebrygga (Skien), Ulefoss guest harbour, Kviteseid, Dalen and Akkerhaugen West.

Please note that the entire canal watercourse — especially Norsjø — is an important source of drinking water for local communities. For this reason, emptying septic tanks directly into the water is strictly prohibited.

We kindly ask you to use the designated pump-out facilities or empty the septic tank before entering the canal system.

Telemark coastline

Along the Telemark coast, pump-out facilities are available in:
Porsgrunn (Canal Boats Telemark), Brevik, Langesund and Kragerø (by the ferry terminal at Stabbestad).

We’ll also point out the nearest pump-out stations during check-in to make your journey easy and worry-free.

There are a total of 8 lock systems with 18 lock chambers along the Telemark Canal: Skien, Løveid, Ulefoss, Eidsfoss, Vrangfoss, Lunde, Kjeldal and Hogga.

The canal stretches 105 km from Skien to Dalen, with a total lift height of 72 metres — making it one of Norway’s most impressive and scenic inland waterways.

For the 2026 season, Telemark Canal lock tickets are included in your boat rental price.

This means you can enjoy cruising through the canal and passing the historic locks without any additional lock fees — everything is already taken care of for you.

We recommend around one week to experience the entire Telemark Canal at a relaxed pace.

For guests who would like to combine the canal with the coastline, we suggest planning at least a two-week holiday to fully enjoy the archipelago and coastal towns.

With one week available, it’s also possible to cruise halfway up the Telemark Canal before heading towards the coast.

We’re always happy to help you plan the perfect route — feel free to contact us. You can also explore our experiences on our website for inspiration.

Passing through the locks is an exciting part of your journey.

One person can assist at the bow and another at the stern. The lock keeper will pass you mooring ropes, which you simply catch and secure on the opposite side of the boat.

For example, if the boat is positioned on the right side of the lock, the ropes are tied on the left side of the boat — and vice versa.

We will explain the lock procedure at check-in, so you feel confident before setting off.

If you have any questions, feel free to contact us — we’re happy to help.

The Telemark Canal is open from June 21st to August 14th.

During this period, you can pass through the locks daily between 9:00 AM and 6:00 PM.

July is the busiest month, so arriving at the locks a little earlier (around 8:30 AM) can help avoid queues. Please note that the passenger vessels (MS Victoria and MS Ibsen) always have priority.

Outside the main season, cruising the Telemark Canal is still possible by prior arrangement with the Telemark Canal Office. We take care of the scheduling for you and provide a ready-made timetable for your lock passages.