FAQs: Buying & Selling a Vessel

Selling a boat in Canada is not as simple as finding a buyer, taking the money and handing over the boat. Boating can be a truly enjoyable experience, but it pays to understand the paperwork and documentation requirements that go along with buying or selling a boat. While that may not be as much fun as hitting the water with your fishing pole and a picnic, it’s a vital part of being a responsible boat owner. For that reason, we’ve put together this guide that will help you through the process of selling your vessel. 


Do I Need a Lawyer if I’m Selling a Boat in Canada?
Even if you’re a seasoned boater and feel like you understand the selling process, it can make your life infinitely easier to work with a marine lawyer during the sale. It’s especially smart to hire a marine lawyer if this is the first time you are selling a boat. There are plenty of requirements that go along with the sale and you want to be sure you follow the steps correctly so the transaction is valid and legal. Instead of spending hours upon hours researching all the requirements, save yourself time, hassle and effort by hiring someone who is an expert at the process. 
What is a Marine Lawyer?
How does a marine lawyer differ from other types of lawyers? Put simply, he or she specializes in laws that relate to boating and being on the water. They should have a degree in maritime law to prove this knowledge and specialty. Hiring someone who knows all the details of boating law will serve you well if you’re selling a watercraft and aren’t sure what the process entails. A maritime lawyer can handle the following situations, in addition to helping you sell your boat:


Dealing with cargo that has been lost at sea
Facilitating relationships between seafarers and their crew
Leisure travel, such as on cruise ships
Navigation issues

Sometimes, boating can be unpredictable, so it’s a good idea to have an expert professional on your side, should anything out of the ordinary affect you or your boat. 
Why Hire a Marine Lawyer?
Clearly, having a maritime lawyer comes in handy when you decide to sell your boat, but having one on retainer at all times could be the right choice for any boaters in Canada. Here’s why:


They assist with boat collisions and accidents. 
They can help you work through incidents that occur on the dock.
They will deal with injuries and the legal repercussions that go with them. 
They are also trained to help you work through legal transactions, including buying and selling a vessel. 

Having a good marine lawyer on your side is particularly valuable when you are working on a sale transaction. Some of the duties they can take on for you include the following:


Contract negotiations
Lien investigation
Authenticate titles
Draft bills of sale

Would you like to know more about hiring a maritime lawyer or the boat sale process? We’re here to help. Contact the Canadian Vessel Registry today for the assistance you’re looking for with selling a boat in Canada. 

If you’re buying a used boat in Alberta, there are going to be some documentation applications that you’ll need to take care of. Here’s everything that you need to know.
Buying a Used Boat in Alberta
Buying a boat is always a very exciting venture, but it always comes with some inconvenient paperwork that you’ll have to fill out. In the case of buying a used boat, you will have to make sure that the registration ends up in your name as part of the overall purchase. And so, with this in mind, we can go over what this process will look like. The process will be different depending on the intended use of the vessel that you’re purchasing, so here’s what you’ll need to do depending on whether you’re getting a recreational boat or a commercial one.
Recreational Boats
If you’re buying a used boat meant for recreational purposes, odds are that the seller already has a pleasure craft licence for it. This is the document meant for specific recreational vessels that fit certain characteristics, allowing them to operate in Canadian waters in accordance with the corresponding regulations. Usually, you’d have to apply to get this documentation in order, but since you are buying a used boat in Alberta, the seller will most likely already have the pleasure craft licence ready. That doesn’t mean that you won’t have to go through any process whatsoever. Instead of the initial application, the pleasure craft licence will have to be transferred from the previous owner to you, the buyer and the new owner.
Commercial Boats
A similar process will apply when it comes to commercial vessels, most of which will need a certificate of registration in order for the owner to be able to use it in a commercial operation. Of course, if you are buying a used boat in Alberta, you won’t have to apply for this yourself. Instead, you will need to have the seller transfer the documentation to you when the sale is taking place. This is up to the seller, not the buyer, since they are the current holders of the registration certificate and will therefore be the ones that need to file for the transfer of documentation. This will ensure that the ownership with Transport Canada ends up in your hands in an official capacity.

File For Boat Documentation
Transport Canada documentation applications can be tedious and inconvenient to go through, but we don’t want that to be the case for you. Our platform is designed to make sure that all these processes are made easier for you, and that you have no trouble filing for any vessel documentation that you need. Not only that, but our team is always ready to provide you with the help that you need should you have any questions or doubts about any application process. Whether you are dealing with registration, licences, transfers, or just about any other piece of documentation, you will find everything that you need right here at the National Vessel Registry Center.

So, you’re looking into buying a boat in Canada. This is obviously very exciting, and you probably can’t wait to be out there sailing in your soon-to-be new vessel. However, before you get to do that, you will have to consider a few things.
Buying a Boat in Canada
If only buying a boat was as easy as going down to the retailer and paying for the vessel. That's definitely part of it, but you will also have to keep certain factors in mind going forward. Let’s take a look at a few things to consider when buying a boat here in Canada, be it new or used.
Buying a New Vessel
If you are buying a new vessel, you will find that the overall process for purchasing, as well registration or licensing, will be very straightforward. If you are buying directly from a retailer or manufacturer, you don’t have to worry about running checks on the boat or doing mechanical revisions. Instead, you can rely on the warranty and similar mechanism to trust that you are purchasing a good and reliable vessel. Once you have the bill of sale, you can get the corresponding documentation with the help of our platform. If the vessel is going to be operated commercially, you will have to register it with Transport Canada. On the other hand, if it is going to be used recreationally, you can also register it, but you will probably want to get a pleasure craft license for it.
Buying a Used Vessel
Now, when it comes to buying a used boat, the process might be slightly more extensive. You don’t want to buy a boat that comes with a claim of lien or a mortgage that you’ll be responsible for. So, you will want to request information about the vessel from the current owner, probably in the form of an official transcript. One you know that the vessel’s background is appropriate for a purchase, it will be time to check if the boat itself is good to own and operate. It’s always a good idea to hire a professional boat surveyor who can at least check the hull and the motor before you make a formal offer so that you don’t have to deal with any mechanical surprises down the road. Once purchased, the owner will have to transfer the registration or license rather than you having to get initial ones.


Submit the Corresponding Forms
Everyone knows that engaging with government agencies can often be quite frustrating, especially when it comes to transportation. Registering your vessel, for example, or transferring registration, can be very inconvenient processes, which is why we make an effort to make them easier for you. Here at the Canadian Vessel Registry Center, you will be able to find all the forms you might need in relation to your vessel. For more information about this process or to ask any questions about it, reach out. 

If you are considering purchasing a boat in Canada, one of the first steps you need to do is to register it with Transport Canada. Boat registration is a requirement under Canadian law. In contrast to registering a vehicle, this entails more than just filling out some form and paying the associated price. The purchase of a brand-new boat is a thrilling event. Not only do you get to make use of the brand-new boat, but you also get to become a part of the community of people who own boats. 

However, a few things need to be taken care of before you can begin to enjoy your new purchase. Start doing those things if you want to get the most out of it. Registering your yacht with Transport Canada is one of those things. The following is a list of the most important reasons why each new boat owner should register their vessel as soon as possible:
It's the Law
When you've been waiting for a long time to buy a boat, it's tempting to get caught up in the thrill of it and forget about the laws and regulations that keep you safe. The first step for each new boat owner is registering their vessel with Transport Canada, even if they can't wait to go out on the water. Even if you have never set foot in a body of water, you still need to register your boat. All boats in Canada longer than 15 feet are required by law to be registered with Transport Canada. 

If you don't, you may have to pay a few thousand dollars in fines and penalties, and even worse, you may be charged with a crime and given a criminal record. Registering your new boat before taking it on a road trip is also important. You might have problems crossing state boundaries or possibly be arrested if you don't have the required paperwork from Transport Canada.
You Need Proof of Ownership for a Boat Registration
The registration of your boat gives irrefutable evidence that you are the legal owner if anything unfortunate occurs to it. Not having a title or other evidence of ownership may be immensely detrimental to your situation when you need to claim on your insurance or record a theft. If a law enforcement officer attempts to pull you over, they will utilize your boat registration as evidence that you are authorized to operate the boat if they do so. 

In addition, it is essential to have a solid understanding of the dissimilarities between registering a boat and titling a boat. Registering your vessel on a canal indicates that you are paying a fee to your state government to get permission to use that waterway; nevertheless, you do not acquire ownership rights. Recording the boat's ownership in your name with the relevant state agency is known as "titling," giving you exclusive ownership rights to the vessel.
It Helps Protect Your Investment
Even though it may not seem to be a huge concern at first glance, registering a boat is an essential initial step for anybody who has just purchased a boat. Getting your boat registered is one of the best ways to guarantee that it is protected by insurance if damaged or stolen. If you own a boat that isn't registered, its safety is only as good as the regulations allow it to be. For example, if someone falls and gets hurt on your deck or if someone takes your boat from its slip in the middle of the night, you might be held accountable for any damages that result. When you're so thrilled about buying a new boat, it's easy to forget about steps like this one, but you shouldn't skimp on paying attention to the finer points! Registering your yacht is one of the most crucial steps to protecting yourself and your investment.


You'll Have Access to Important Information
One of the first things you'll do after purchasing a boat gets it registered with Transport Canada. This entitles you to many useful details, such as safety alerts and recalls warnings for your boat's engine and other components. A critical initial step in boat ownership and one that, luckily, most sellers will complete after they've sold their boat and no longer require it. You should expect the vendor of a pre-owned boat to have registered the vessel before selling it to you, but if they haven't, it's your responsibility to do so immediately. 

We at the National Vessel Registry know how crucial it is to provide quick change of ownership services. When you buy a boat from us, you can rest assured knowing that the procedure will be quick and painless so that you can start enjoying it immediately. We've helped so many to acquire and hold onto the registration or licencing they need. 

When the time comes to part ways with a boat, many people ask themselves how to approach this. In some times, the vessel is beyond saving and will need to be disposed of, but there will certainly be situations in which you can actually sell the boat to someone else. So, if you’re wondering how to sell a boat in Ontario, here is the guide you’ve been looking for.
How to Sell a Boat in Ontario
In order to sell a vessel, you have to keep certain things in mind. You can’t, for example, expect to get more money than your boat is worth, nor can you simply hope that a single listing on the paper is enough to capture prospective buyers’ attention. You should keep the following process in mind in order to make sure you don’t get too ahead of yourself.


Selling the Boat
The process of selling a boat doesn’t have to be complicated, but it will definitely have its nuances here and there. After all, you are selling an object with a significant financial value and very specific maintenance needs. Because of this, it might not be so easy to sell the boat within your intended time frame, at the price you’re looking for, or with the ease you’d prefer. A good way to approach this will be by hiring someone who can assess the vessel, determine its condition, and give you a realistic price that you can hope to receive for it. Start this process ahead of time if you have time to consider because it might take a while for you to find a buyer. Once you’ve found one, though, everything should be a lot simpler going forward.
Transferring the Documentation
Once you’ve sold the boat, you will have to make the sale official, which means transferring the official documentation through Transport Canada to the new owner. Regardless of whether the boat in question is recreational or commercial, the process will be fairly similar. In order to transfer your vessel’s registration or its pleasure craft licence, you will need to submit the application for such. Both of these forms will be readily available with us here in Transport Canada for your convenience, and they will mostly involve straightforward information about the new owner. Once you have submitted the transfer form to Transport Canada, the registration or the licence will be reflecting the changes in ownership. This means that the new owner will be able to use the registration to back up their new claim over the vessel in question.