So you’ve gone out and gotten your Pleasure Craft Operator Card (PCOC) and are ready to hit the water, but are you sure you’re ready to go? Captains must be aware that certain types of boats must be either registered or licensed and it is their responsibility to know the rules. Boats must be licensed if they are using a motor with 10 horsepower or more, and if your vessel requires a marine mortgage or will be travelling out of Canada, it must be registered. There are a few key differences between boat registry and boat licencing, and since the captain may decide which they would prefer it is important to understand what each entails.
A vessel’s Pleasure Craft License is documentation with a unique license number associated with said craft which can be used to identify your boat in case of emergency. You can apply for a license via mail or online, and once received, the captain must also ensure that it is used properly. The physical license must be carried on board the boat at all times, so it’s a good idea to keep it locked up inside the vessel – it’s a $250 fine if you are caught boating without it. In addition to always keeping the license on the boat, the vessel-specific identification number must be displayed in contrasting colours on either side of the boat’s bow in block letters at least seven and a half centimeters tall.
It is also the Captain’s responsibility to ensure that the license information is always correct and up-to-date. A pleasure craft license is only valid for ten years, after which it must be renewed, which just like applying for your original license you can do by mail or online. Personal information on the license must also be kept up to date, meaning that if you change your name, address or any other relevant details present on the license you must update it. The only time a boat can be operated without a license is if it has been recently purchased in the past 90 days. In this case, the captain must still carry documentation detailing their name, address and proof of the purchase date of the boat.
The other option that captains and boat owners have is to register their boat instead of license it, which has a few different procedures. The main difference between the two is that there are associated fees if you choose to register instead of license your vessel. While pleasure crafts that are licensed display an identification number, registered vessels have different markings. The exterior of the boat is marked with the name of the boat and the port of registry, for example: The Codfather, Toronto, ON. Keep in mind that – just like the license number on a licensed boat – the name you give your vessel will be used by search and rescue personnel in the event of an emergency. It is best to consider a name that is short, concise and clear to make it easier for rescue personnel to find you if needed. On the inside of the boat, there will be an official number and the registered tonnage of the boat.
When your boat requires a marine mortgage, or will be travelling outside of Canada, you don’t have a choice between licensing and registering – you must register the vessel.
If your boat meets any of these requirements, you need to be looking into registering or licensing your vessel. If you meet these criteria or if you have any other questions about registering and licensing your boat in Québec, you should contact the Vessel Registration Office. Keep in mind that in addition to having your boat’s license or registry, you also need a Pleasure Craft Operator Card to be a certified boater. Take the Transport Canada approved boating safety course and get on the water today.