To navigate a boat on a public canal in Canada, you are needed to have a valid boat registration number. These numbers are used for official reasons such as monitoring the movements of vessels and enforcing safety standards. They are also used to identify the boat and the person who owns it. If you own a boat in Canada, you must have a solid understanding of the many kinds of registration numbers as well as the procedures for acquiring them. This article offers a general overview of boat registration numbers in Canada, including topics such as the many numbers that may be obtained and the application process for doing so. Having your own boat in Canada may be a lot of fun. However, to comply with safety regulations, you must register your boat and prominently display that registration number. The following are some advantages that result from clearly showing your boat registration number on your vessel.
Increased Safety
Each vessel has a unique identification number, known as a boat registration or ID number. When an emergency arises, authorities can contact you if they know who owns your vessel. A boat’s registration number must be visible. As a result, officials will have an easier time tracking down and identifying vessels that may be breaking the law or posing a danger. Numbers issued across the country can be found in the Department of Homeland Security’s database, and most states maintain their databases of local boats. Since 1947, the national database has been compiling data on ships; before that, records are sparse. Having your boat’s registration number on display provides not only peace of mind but also increases the safety of you and other boaters in the event of an emergency. While on the water, time is of the essence. Everyone on board should wear a life jacket in an accident or emergency.
Easier Communication With Other Boaters
When passing, anchoring, or docking with other boats, it’s helpful to quickly identify oneself as a boater by using your boat registration number. As an alternative to radioing your vessel, other boaters may use your boat registration number to get in touch with you if you aren’t on board and your radio isn’t switched on. Other boaters will know where to find you in an emergency if they see it on your yacht. Other boaters may have difficulty contacting you if you don’t display your registration number. It’s too late for some individuals to be involved in an accident or attempt to sell their boat before they know they even have a registration number.
Alternatively, someone may take your registration number and use it for their purposes. Your convenience is enhanced by making your registration number readily available. You may have never heard of the numerous types of registration numbers available (such as a “home port” or “vessel name” registration number). A call to the Coast Guard will be much simpler if you have all your pertinent information readily accessible.
It’s the Law
Isn’t it federal law that vessels publicly display their boat registration numbers? That’s right; failing to show your phone number may result in legal action (typically on the hull). Make sure the number is visible at least 50 feet away since that’s how far an average person can see. You might be pulled over and cited by the police for not displaying the signs. Displaying your registration number conspicuously has the added benefit of making it much simpler for others to locate should the need arise. If anything goes wrong while you’re away, you may be able to get in touch with someone who can assist fix the problem. For most, boaters understandably don’t want to be an easy target for burglars. Even yet, the worst-case scenario is if someone steals the boat and has a more difficult time selling it. Thieves are considerably less likely to get away with their crimes if the numbers are apparent.
Boat Registration Enhances Insurance Discounts
If you have boat insurance coverage, you may have heard that if you prominently show the registration number on your vessel, your premiums would be lower. This is true, but only if you display the number. This is because the state or province in which you are registering your boat could provide boat owners savings on their registration fees if they are prepared to display their numbers in plain sight. This is the case on both the state and provincial levels; however, it is up to each state and province’s discretion to choose whether they would provide boat owners with discounts in exchange for publicly displaying their boat registration numbers. However, most states and provinces do, and it may be well worth the little work required to ensure that your registration number is clearly visible to any law enforcement officials who may stop by to check on you.
The National Vessel Registry is an agency of the United States Coast Guard that maintains a record of all vessels in its jurisdiction. Vessels that are at least 16 feet long and powered by a motor must have a registration number. The National Vessel Registry can be contacted to report lost numbers, obtain duplicate numbers, or ask general questions about boat registration at +1 (800) 419-9569.
