If you are the owner of a registered pleasure craft, you’ll find your boat much easier in case it is lost or stolen. The registration number, which is displayed on the boat’s hull as a hull identification number (HIN), allows the police to more easily locate the vessel. You can also do some things yourself to make your boat less attractive to thieves.
Take Your Keys With You
If you’re in a holiday mood, you might forget to take the keys out of the ignition. So, make it a habit to remove your keys and take them with you whenever you leave your boat. Place the keys, instead, in your car’s locked glove compartment if you’re parked near the marina. Otherwise, keep them on your person and place them in a hidden and remembered spot or in a locked safe.
Chain Your Pleasure Craft to the Dock
Docking your boat and affixing the boat with a rope to a cleat makes theft too easy. Instead, it’s much better to use an anchor chain. While a chain won’t necessarily remove the possibility of theft, it certainly takes a lot more time to steal a boat when it’s been chained. Inspect the chain every so often and replace it if you note signs of corrosion or deteriorating and thinning lines.
Safeguard Your Boat’s Outboard Motor
Some thieves only want to take the outboard motor. That’s because the motor is more difficult to trace and easier to steal. If you can remove the motor, store it safely away from the boat–in a locked shed, basement, or in garage. If the outboard motor is too heavy to transport, install an outboard motor lock.
Secure the Boat Trailer Twice for Good Measure
If your boat is trailer-bound, use a Master Lock trailer coupler. It’s more challenging to break than a regular lock. Run a chain through a wheel and fix a second lock to it or totally remove the wheels when they are not being used overnight.
Make Sure Your Registered Pleasure Craft Number is Prominently Displayed
Your registered pleasure craft comes with a hull identification number. It should be displayed on the upper starboard quarter of the outer part of the transom. If you buy the boat from a dealer, the number should appear on the purchase order.
To support your registration, you should take pictures of the boat. By going through the Canadian Vessel Registry and applying for registration, you’ll be given an authorized certificate – showing that you have legal title and own the boat.
Renew Your Boat Registration and Report any Changes
Registered boats must be renewed every three years. So, make sure you remain compliant. Your renewal notice will usually be sent to you about two weeks before the expiry date. If you don’t receive the notification, your registration may have been suspended or revoked. This can happen if you don’t notify officials of an address change.
You should also fill out the proper document, through the Canadian Vessel Registry, of any alterations you’ve made to the boat that will change the information presented on the registration.
If you change your port of entry or the name of the boat, you also need to fill out a change form located on the Canadian Vessel Registry website.
Conduct a Personal Property Search Before You Buy and Register A Boat
A personal property search or lien search, gives you information on the ownership history of a vessel. It also reveals what prior repairs have been made or if there are any current liens. If the boat is found to be stolen, the bank or lender that owns the boat will be notified.
What If Your Vessel Is Stolen?
If your boat is stolen, notify the police of the theft ASAP. Give them the registration number and the approximate date, time and location of the crime. If you believe a boat you want to buy has been stolen, call the police. Don’t set up a meeting until the police can check on the seller’s legitimacy.
Safeguard Your Boat and Stay Legal When Navigating the Waterways
Visiting the Canadian Vessel Registry is the best way to ensure you safeguard your boat and that it is registered properly. Don’t take any chances. Follow the practices above to ensure a better and safer boating experience. A registered pleasure craft shows proof of legal title and gives added legal benefits if your boat is stolen or lost.
