You must follow the procedures for obtaining an Ontario boat license in the province of Ontario if you are a boat owner in Canada. You need to hold a Pleasure Craft Operator Card to operate a boat in the province of Ontario (PCOC). This card indicates that you have completed training on the proper procedures to follow when boating safely. The Personal Captain’s Certificate is good for five years and may be achieved by attending a sailing or powerboating school that has been approved. Continue reading if you want more information about obtaining a boat license in Ontario. To get your driver’s license, you will need to satisfy the following requirements:
Be at least 16 years old.
Boat licenses are required for Canadian citizens who want to operate watercraft on Ontario’s lakes. While the specifics of what you need to get a boating license from your province might vary widely, there are a few things that you can anticipate doing regardless of where you live. You must be at least 16 years old, take and pass a test, and have insurance to get a boat license, which is a driver’s license for the water.
You may get your Ontario boat license with less hassle if you do what is listed below. The written portion of the exam is only offered in English, so you’ll want to ensure you’re a strong reader. Also, clear eyesight is required, so if you use corrective lenses, be sure to bring them up for an eye exam. Finally, remember that now may not be the greatest moment to attempt driving a powered boat; you should probably start on something smaller, like a canoe or kayak.
A Boating Safety Course
You must complete a recognized boating safety program before applying for your Ontario boat license. You may get your Basic One class license in Ontario with this concise 3- to 4-hour course that covers all the material required by the province. Among them are navigation, seamanship, and other more advanced subjects, including safe boating practices, laws of the road, and rescue techniques. You may take classes at various public and private universities, community centers, and clubs.
Exam requirements include a multiple-choice examination and a practical demonstration of abilities on the water. A total of 80% is required to pass both sections. After you pass the test, you’ll get a 90-day temporary boater certificate until you may replace it with a permanent one or take the test again to get a new temporary card.
Complete the Vessel Registration Application
This application may be picked up at the National Vessel Registry Center or printed straight from their website. Both options are accessible. It is a simple document, and finishing it up will only take a few minutes of your time. You’ll need to know the make, model, and year your boat was manufactured. In addition, you will be required to provide information about yourself and the other persons who will be on board with you throughout the exam.
If you are unsure about your credit score, you will need to get a copy of your most recent credit score printed off from Equifax or Transunion and bring it to this location. In addition, the application requires you to include details on any previous boating licenses you may have had, as well as the names and contact information of two more witnesses who will sign an affidavit attesting to your level of boating expertise.
Pay the Registration Fees for An Ontario Boat License
If you want to lawfully operate a boat on any of the waterways in Ontario, the provincial government mandates that you pay a registration fee beforehand. It is vital to familiarize yourself with the laws that come along with these yearly costs and what you can do to minimize them since these fees assist the government in maintaining and improving canal access for everyone. In line with federal legislation, you must take your boat to have a hull identification number (HIN) engraved on its hull. Since this step is only required once, if you have previously completed it in another jurisdiction, you are not required to do it again in Ontario. It is required that the HIN be legible from a distance of twenty feet and written in black ink or painted white on each side of the bow and transom.
Having your yacht legally registered is a must before setting sail on a new adventure. Start by calling +1 (800) 419-9569 to speak with an agent who will gladly answer any questions you may have about the National Vessel Registry.
