No, You Can Keep Your Pleasure Craft Licence
A pleasure craft is one that is used for recreation, just for fun. You aren’t using it in a commercial capacity, this was simply someone helping.
That said, if your vessel meets the standards (15 gross tonnes or more and an engine larger than 7.5 kW) you could choose to register your vessel. You could also do so should you decide to use your vessel in a commercial capacity.
Additionally, you could register your vessel if you plan to take it outside of Canada, want a reserved name, or wish to apply for a mortgage.
Use this link to apply for a pleasure craft licence.
Use this one to register a boat in Canada.
Laws Regarding a Pleasure Craft Licence and More in Canada
Here at the National Vessel Registry Center Corp., we have helped vessel owners from all walks of life to both register vessels as well as to acquire pleasure craft licencing. Beyond that, we have the documentation for when you wish to sell a licenced or registered vessel, wish to know more about a vessel, and other forms.
The following laws may pertain to your situation.
Optional registration
47 Unless they are registered, listed or otherwise recorded in a foreign state, the following vessels may be registered under this Part:
- (a) a pleasure craft that is wholly owned by qualified persons;
- (a.1) a vessel that is exempted under the regulations from the registration requirement in subsection 46(1) and that is wholly owned by qualified persons;
- (b) a vessel that is owned by a corporation incorporated under the laws of a foreign state if one of the following is acting with respect to all matters relating to the vessel, namely,
- (i) a subsidiary of the corporation incorporated under the laws of Canada or a province,
- (ii) an employee or a director in Canada of a branch office of the corporation that is carrying on business in Canada, or
- (iii) a ship management company incorporated under the laws of Canada or a province; and
- (c) a vessel that is in the exclusive possession of a qualified person under a financing agreement under which the person will acquire ownership on completion of the agreement.
- 2001, c. 26, s. 47
- 2011, c. 15, s. 40
Marginal note:
Bare-boat chartered vessels
48 A vessel that is registered in a foreign state and that is bare-boat chartered exclusively to a qualified person may be listed under this Part as a bare-boat chartered vessel for the duration of the charter if, for the duration of the charter, the registration is suspended in respect of the right to fly the flag of that state.
Marginal note:
Vessels under construction
49 A vessel that is about to be built or that is under construction in Canada may be temporarily recorded in the Register as a vessel being built in Canada.
Marginal note:
Vessels built outside Canada
50 Notwithstanding sections 46 to 48, the Minister may direct the Chief Registrar to refuse to register or list a vessel built outside Canada.
Application
Marginal note:
Application
- 51 (1) An application for the registration, listing or recording of a vessel must be made in the form and manner, include the information and be accompanied by the documents specified by the Chief Registrar.
- Marginal note:
- Further evidence
(2) In addition to the specified information and documents, the Chief Registrar may require an applicant to provide evidence, including declarations, that the Chief Registrar considers necessary to establish that a vessel is required or entitled to be registered or is entitled to be listed or recorded.
Names of Vessels
Marginal note:
Before registration or listing
- 52 (1) Every vessel, other than one to be registered in the small vessel register, must be named in the form and manner specified by the Chief Registrar before it is registered or listed.
- Marginal note:
- Approval of names
(2) The Chief Registrar may, on application, approve the name of a vessel before it is registered or listed and approve a change in the name of a Canadian vessel. - Marginal note:
- Disallowance of names
(3) The Chief Registrar must disallow a name if- (a) it is the same as the name of a Canadian vessel;
- (b) it is likely, in the opinion of the Chief Registrar, to be confused with the name of a Canadian vessel or with a distress signal;
- (c) it is likely, in the opinion of the Chief Registrar, to be offensive to members of the public; or
- (d) its use is prohibited under an Act of Parliament.
- Marginal note:
- Requiring renaming
(4) The Minister may order that a Canadian vessel be renamed if the Minister considers that its name would prejudice the international reputation of Canada.
Ownership of Vessels
Marginal note:
Shares
- 53 (1) For the purposes of registration, the property in a vessel is divided into 64 shares.
- Marginal note:
- Registered owners
(2) Subject to subsections (3) and (4), only owners or joint owners of a vessel or of one or more shares in a vessel may be registered in the Register as owners of the vessel or shares, as the case may be. - Marginal note:
- Registered owners — financing agreements
(3) In the case of a vessel described in paragraph 47(c) (a vessel subject to a financing agreement), the persons referred to in that paragraph are to be registered in the Register as the owners of the vessel. - Marginal note:
- Bare-boat charterers
(4) In the case of a vessel described in section 48 (a bare-boat chartered vessel), no person may be registered in the Register as an owner of the vessel. - Marginal note:
- Registration of joint owners
(5) No more than five persons may be registered in the Register as joint owners of a vessel or a share in a vessel. - Marginal note:
- Disposition of registered joint interests
(6) A registered jointly owned interest in a vessel or a share in a vessel may be disposed of only by the joint owners acting together. - Marginal note:
- Registration of fractions prohibited
(7) No person may be registered as the owner of a fractional part of a share in a vessel. - Marginal note:
- No effect on beneficial owners
(8) This section does not affect the beneficial interests of a person represented by or claiming through an owner of a vessel or a share in a vessel. - Marginal note:
- Trusts not recognized
(9) No notice of a trust may be entered in the Register.
Certificates
Marginal note:
Certificates of registry
- 54 (1) If the Chief Registrar is satisfied that all of the requirements of registration or listing have been met with respect to a vessel, the Chief Registrar must register or list the vessel, as the case may be, in the Register and issue a certificate of registry.
- Marginal note:
- Information
(2) Every certificate of registry in respect of a vessel must contain the information specified by the Chief Registrar, including- (a) its description;
- (b) its official number; and
- (c) the name and address of
- (i) in the case of a vessel described in paragraph 47(b) (a vessel owned by a foreign corporation), the authorized representative,
- (ii) in the case of a vessel described in section 48 (a bare-boat chartered vessel), the bare-boat charterer, and
- (iii) in any other case, its owner and the authorized representative.
- Marginal note:
- Period of validity
(3) Every certificate of registry is valid for the period specified by the Chief Registrar.
Marginal note:
Provisional certificates
- 55 (1) The Chief Registrar may, on application, issue a provisional certificate in respect of a vessel that is required or entitled to be registered under this Part if
- (a) the vessel is in a foreign port and a person intends to register it under this Part; or
- (b) the vessel is in a port in Canada and the Chief Registrar is satisfied that permission to operate the vessel should be granted before a certificate of registry can be issued.
- Marginal note:
- Issuance
(2) The Chief Registrar may, on application, issue a provisional certificate in respect of a vessel that is not required or entitled to be registered under this Part if the Chief Registrar is satisfied that the vessel needs to undergo sea trials. - Marginal note:
- Validity
(3) A provisional certificate is valid for the purpose and the period specified by the Chief Registrar. - Marginal note:
- Application
(4) An application for a provisional certificate must be made in the form and manner, include the information and be accompanied by the documents specified by the Chief Registrar.
Marginal note:
Lost certificates
56 If a certificate of registry or provisional certificate is mislaid, lost or destroyed, the Chief Registrar must issue a replacement certificate of registry or provisional certificate, as the case may be, on application made by the authorized representative or owner in the form and manner and including the information and accompanied by the documents specified by the Chief Registrar.
- 2001, c. 26, s. 56
- 2023, c. 26, s. 366
Marginal note:
Refusal to issue, renew or amend certificate
56.1 Despite any other provision of this Act, the Chief Registrar may refuse to issue, in respect of a vessel, a certificate of registry, a provisional certificate or a replacement certificate of registry or provisional certificate, or to renew a certificate of registry or to amend one under paragraph 73(b), if the applicant for, or holder of, the certificate is in default of payment of a required fee, charge, cost or expense under this Act or the Wrecked, Abandoned or Hazardous Vessels Act in respect of that vessel.
- 2023, c. 26, s. 366
Marking
Marginal note:
Marking
- 57 (1) The authorized representative of a Canadian vessel shall, in the form and manner specified by the Chief Registrar, mark the vessel with its official number and any other information that the Chief Registrar specifies.
- Marginal note:
- Validity of certificate of registry
(2) A vessel’s certificate of registry is not valid until the vessel has been marked in accordance with subsection (1). - Marginal note:
- Maintenance of markings
(3) The authorized representative shall ensure that the vessel is kept marked. - Marginal note:
- Defacing, etc., markings
(4) No person shall wilfully deface, alter, conceal or remove the markings of a Canadian vessel.
Notifying Chief Registrar
Marginal note:
Notification of changes
- 58 (1) The authorized representative of a Canadian vessel shall notify the Chief Registrar within 30 days after any of the following occurs:
- (a) the vessel is lost, wrecked or removed from service;
- (b) there has been a change in the owner’s, the authorized representative’s or a registered mortgagee’s name or address;
- (c) the information provided with the application under section 51 has changed; or
- (d) in the case of a vessel described in section 48 (a bare-boat chartered vessel),
- (i) the right to fly the flag of the foreign state is reinstated, or
- (ii) the charterer ceases to have complete control and possession of the vessel.
- Marginal note:
- Notification of alterations
(2) If a Canadian vessel is altered to the extent that it no longer corresponds with its description or particulars set out on the certificate of registry, the authorized representative shall, within 30 days after the alteration, notify the Chief Registrar and provide the Chief Registrar with the relevant information and documents. - Marginal note:
- Notification of changes
(3) If for any reason a Canadian vessel does not have an authorized representative, its owner shall- (a) notify the Chief Registrar of that fact as soon as possible in the circumstances; and
- (b) notify the Chief Registrar within 30 days after any event referred to in subsection (1) or (2) occurs.
- Marginal note:
- Notification of completion of construction
(4) Within 30 days after completion of the construction of a vessel that is recorded as being built in Canada, the person in whose name the vessel is recorded shall notify the Chief Registrar of that fact and of the name and address of its owner.
- 2001, c. 26, s. 58
- 2011, c. 15, s. 41(F)
Maintenance of Register
Marginal note:
Amendments
59 The Chief Registrar may amend the Register or a certificate of registry to give effect to changes of which the Chief Registrar has been notified under section 58 or to correct any clerical errors or obvious mistakes.
Suspension, Cancellation and Reinstatement of Registration
Marginal note:
Suspension and cancellation
- 60 (1) Subject to the regulations, the Chief Registrar may suspend or cancel the registration or listing of a Canadian vessel if
- (a) it is not marked in accordance with subsection 57(1);
- (b) its certificate of registry has expired;
- (c) it does not have an authorized representative; or
- (d) section 58 has not been complied with.
- Marginal note:
- Cancellation
(2) Subject to the regulations, the Chief Registrar must cancel the registration or listing of a Canadian vessel if- (a) it has been lost, wrecked or removed from service;
- (b) it is no longer required or entitled to be registered or entitled to be listed under this Part; or
- (c) in the case of a registered vessel, a tonnage certificate provided by a tonnage measurer indicates that the vessel should be re-registered.
- Marginal note:
- Notice before cancellation
(3) If a Canadian vessel is not required or entitled to be registered under this Part after its ownership changes, the Chief Registrar must, before canceling its registration under paragraph (2)(b), give the owners and registered mortgagees- (a) notice of the change in ownership; and
- (b) an opportunity that, in the opinion of the Chief Registrar, is sufficient to transfer the vessel or shares in the vessel to a qualified person or to make an application under section 74.
- Marginal note:
- Cancellation of registration
(4) Except in the case of a vessel described in paragraph 47(c) (a vessel subject to a financing agreement), the Chief Registrar must cancel the registration of a vessel if a person who acquires the vessel or a share in it does not, within the prescribed period, provide evidence that satisfies the Chief Registrar that the vessel is required or entitled to be registered under this Part.