Are you ready to sail on Canada’s waterways? Boating is a fun activity that allows you to spend some quality with your family in peace. Bring a few board games, a bag full of snacks, a dinner basket with all the fixings for sandwiches, and a change of clothes to spend a memorable day and night on your boat.
While it may sound easy to pack your stuff and go sailing, there are a few rules you need to follow on Canadian water. If you are boating for the first time, here’s a guide that will help you prepare your personal watercraft PWC and avoid the authorities:
Licensing and Registration
You are required to carry a boating license with you at all times when operating a pleasure craft. If your boat is powered by multiple motors adding up to 10 hp (7.5 kW), it must be registered. Any tender or dinghies aboard should also be registered.
Your PWC license will be valid for ten years. To provide your whereabouts to Search and Rescue personnel, the Pleasure Craft Licensing System can access your information anytime.
How to Get a Boating License
- Follow the instructions in the form and fill the sections with accurate information.
- Attach the required documents to the signed form
- Mail the documents to the Pleasure Craft Licensing Centre mentioned in the form
Make sure your boat’s license number is displayed clearly:
- Above the waterline
- On either side of the bow
- In block letters
- 5 cm above the base of the boat
- In a color that is different from the background
Boating Safety Knowledge
All boaters must carry Proof of competency, regardless of their boat’s size or engine’s horsepower. Here are the types of Proof of Competency:
- A Pleasure Craft Operator Card
- A document that states you have passed the boating safety course in Canada before April 1, 1999
- A specific marine certificate
- A rental boat safety checklist
Rules for a Rented Boat
If you are driving a rental, you can either carry a Pleasure Craft Operator Card or a rental boat safety checklist. The rental agency needs to ensure that the boat meets all the basics. They must also provide a safety orientation on the boat’s features, equipment, and water hazards.
Minimum Safety Equipment Requirements
| Boat Type – PWC |
| Personal Lifesaving Appliances
– One lifejacket or PFD for each passenger – One reboarding device – One buoyant heaving line 15 m long |
| Visual Signals
One watertight flashlight OR Three flares of Type A, B, C, or D |
| Safety Equipment
One (1) manual propelling device OR – One anchor and one cable 15 m long – One bailer or manual bilge pump |
| Navigation Equipment
– One sound-signaling device or appliance – Navigation lights – One magnetic compass – One radar reflector |
| Fire Fighting Equipment
One 5BC fire extinguisher |
A boater must follow these rules to avoid any run-ins with the authorities and for their passengers’ safety.
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