If you’ve run into Transport Canada’s requirements for a pleasure craft licence, you might have wondered what’s the definition of pleasure craft and whether or not you need to get the licence. Here’s everything you need to know.
A pleasure craft is any type of vessel that is used exclusively for recreational purposes, such as boating, fishing, or water sports. This can include motorized boats, sailboats, and personal watercrafts. It is important to note that even if a vessel is used for both recreational and commercial purposes, it is still considered a pleasure craft as long as the primary use is for recreation.
In Canada, Transport Canada requires all pleasure crafts over 10 meters in length to have a license. This requirement applies to vessels operated in Canadian waters and those staying in Canadian waters for more than 45 consecutive days, even if they are registered outside of Canada.
Definition of Pleasure Craft
Just like you have to register your commercial vessel with Transport Canada, you will have to get a pleasure craft licence in Canada for your recreational vessel. That’s right, you don’t have to go through the registration process in order to use your recreational vessel, but you will certainly need to look into getting the right licence. First, what even is the definition of pleasure craft? Which ones need to be documented? We’re here to answer all these questions for you. Let’s take a closer look at this.
Documenting Your Pleasure Craft
Transport Canada defines a pleasure craft as any vessel used solely for recreational purposes. If you’re wondering whether your specific boat requires completing the pleasure craft registration form, we’re here to help. Transport Canada has precise boating regulations that outline which vessels need this license. If your pleasure craft, including personal watercraft, has motors of 10 horsepower (7.5 kilowatts) or more and is used in Canada, you must obtain the appropriate license. Our team can support you through this process, making it smooth and manageable.
Displaying the Licence Number
After receiving your pleasure craft license in Canada, you must correctly display the assigned number. Follow specific guidelines for showing the pleasure craft number on your vessel, similar to registered vessels. Incorrectly painting the digits or not following the guidelines may cause potential issues with Transport Canada authorities. Ensure you display the pleasure craft number properly to avoid any complications.
- Display the license number on both sides of the bow.
- For obvious reasons, the number needs to be above the waterline.
- Write the digits in block characters that are at least 7.5 centimeters (or 3 inches) high.
- The colour of the letters needs to distinctly contrast with the colour of the bow.
Get Your Pleasure Craft Licence
People universally dislike paperwork, especially when dealing with government agencies and complex bureaucracies. As a vessel owner in Canada, you may find the administrative tasks related to vessel registration or pleasure craft licensing burdensome. Nevertheless, it doesn’t have to be daunting. At the National Vessel Registry Center, we’ve streamlined the process, making applications and submissions more user-friendly. Simply navigate our menu to locate the required forms, and don’t hesitate to contact us for any assistance with completion.
