Croatia

[Wazzajnr]

Hi all,

Anyone know the rules in Croatia? Going there in August and would love to take the tub.
Any requirements or can I just pitch up and launch?
Cheers..

[Pikey Dave]

We went to Croatia with the RIB in 2017 & fell foul of the authorities & ended up with a €600 fine. Since then, Croatia is now part of the Schengen area & things should have changed, but you need to check. We got caught out on 2 counts, we launched in Istria & went to Trieste for lunch, we didn’t check out/in of Croatian waters, so they had us for illegally leaving/entering the country. The second count was that we didn’t check in with a harbour master when we first entered the country and register the RIB. Bearing in mind that we towed the RIB into Croatia, and entered by road and passed through Croatian immigration & customs. We didn’t initially arrive by sea.
They are very officious and we sensed that there is still a lingering post communist paranoia within the state bureaucracy. Like I said, things may have changed since they joined Schengen, but I suspect the rules regarding registering with a harbour master may still stand. I had done all my research before we went, had checked the RYA cruising website for rules in Croatia, and as far as I could ascertain we had complied with all the requirements. But it’s hard to argue with an armed patrol boat on his patch. So we paid up. Expensive lunch.

[Wazzajnr]

Originally Posted by Pikey Dave

We went to Croatia with the RIB in 2017 & fell foul of the authorities & ended up with a €600 fine. Since then, Croatia is now part of the Schengen area & things should have changed, but you need to check. We got caught out on 2 counts, we launched in Istria & went to Trieste for lunch, we didn’t check out/in of Croatian waters, so they had us for illegally leaving/entering the country. The second count was that we didn’t check in with a harbour master when we first entered the country and register the RIB. Bearing in mind that we towed the RIB into Croatia, and entered by road and passed through Croatian immigration & customs. We didn’t initially arrive by sea.
They are very officious and we sensed that there is still a lingering post communist paranoia within the state bureaucracy. Like I said, things may have changed since they joined Schengen, but I suspect the rules regarding registering with a harbour master may still stand. I had done all my research before we went, had checked the RYA cruising website for rules in Croatia, and as far as I could ascertain we had complied with all the requirements. But it’s hard to argue with an armed patrol boat on his patch. So we paid up. Expensive lunch.

Crumbs, sounds horrid! Will be cheaper to hire something there than risk that then.
I have tried to find some info but there doesn't seem to be much about. I think I will just take the paddle boards and maybe the kayak then. Hopefully non motorised stuff won't attract any ridiculous fines!

[jnr12]

Originally Posted by Wazzajnr

Hi all,

Anyone know the rules in Croatia? Going there in August and would love to take the tub.
Any requirements or can I just pitch up and launch?
Cheers..

Hi, I've been going to Croatia for the past 5 year (Istra, Island of Rab & krk). I have a 4m Honwave (20hp) which i take in our motorhome. Never has an issue. I fly a Uk ensign flag and it seems to mean I'm left alone and coastal police tend to pick on the German flag'd boats.

The laws have changed from March 2025. They are more strict on speed, distance from shore and mooring. we stay on a campsite which used to allow mooring using their own buoys, however now we have to take the boat out of the water at night (Unless we use the main marina 1km away).

I would suggest checking with where you intend to head to for local rules. But any mooring fees / fees will be much cheaper than hiring and you know your own boat better.

As long as you don't act a dick and speed close to land or in a harbour you are likely to be left alone.

[Bushrider]

Not boating there but following guys in German boating forums .
Boating in Crostia starts with registering the boat online on the E-Nautika.hr portal .
According the guys this is already a challenge itself
If I am not mistaken you need to go anyway to the harbour master to check in ..
You guys are in trouble cause it seems the site is for EU residents only .
Many rules have changed and police is not shy to take penalties .
You need to be for example 300m from the shore before you can get on plane .
If police considers you were too fast or too close to the shore - you are done .‘

[Pikey Dave]

Sort of confirms what I already knew, but sounds like it’s got worse rather than better. One to avoid IMHO

[Wazzajnr]

OK, I think i'm going to take the boat anyway based on what JNR12 said. I will try and speak to a harbourmaster when i get there.
No way to register for UK citizens unfortunately.