When it comes to leisure activities, nothing allows you to enjoy the great Canadian outdoors quite like owning your own boat. With a vessel of your own, you can head out and fish, waterski, or just relax whenever the urge should arise. If you happen to be a Quebec resident, you have also found yourself in a fortunate spot for boating, since this province is home to 500,000 freshwater lakes. Yes, you read that right, there are a half million lakes in Quebec, which is a province whose surface is about 12 percent water. With that said, there is no time like the present to buy your own boat and start exploring these virtually endless waterways. Of course, finding the right boat for you is no easy task. You will need to get on the web and perform quite a bit of research as you get to know the various makes and models available for you to buy. When you do find the boat for you, you can then locate a seller, make an offer, and head down to the dock to take your new boat out for a cruise. First, though, you should probably see if you need a boat registration in Quebec.
In a number of ways, owning and operating a boat is a lot like owning and operating a car. For instance, to drive a car, you need to obtain a driver’s license. Well, there is a similar document for boats, which is often called a boating license or pleasure craft operator card (PCOC). You can get a PCOC much the same way you get a driver’s license–you will need to take an educational course and pass Transport Canada’s exam. As you typically need to register a car, there will be a similar process to follow with a boat, and this typically occurs by obtaining either a pleasure craft license (PCL), or a vessel registration. Read on to learn more about these documents, as well as how to get yours online.
When Do You Need a Boat Registration in Quebec?
If you are buying a boat purely for leisure, you will likely only need a pleasure craft license. More specifically, PCLs are required for any boat with an engine of 7.5 kW (10 horsepower) or more, though they are available to all. If your boat will be traveling internationally under the Canadian flag, or if it was bought with a marine mortgage, you will need to obtain a vessel registration. This is also the case for any boat used for commercial practices.
You can fill out the following forms on our website to get your vessel registration: Form 1 – Application for Vessel Registration, and Form 3 – Statement of Qualification for Vessel Registration. You can also upload the requisite photographs of your vessel and your tonnage measurement using our SSL-encrypted web portal.
Learn More – Work with Us Today!
Ready to register your vessel online? Use our website to complete this process with just a few clicks. To learn more, visit our Frequently Asked Questions page, or spend a minute or two exploring our navigation menu.
