One of the great things about owning a boat is all of the things that you can do with your own vessel. Canada, of course, is also the perfect setting for boaters. With hundreds of thousands of lakes and vast expanses of ocean coastline, you will never run out of new places to fish or sightsee. Of course, some use their boats for other means, such as earning their livelihood out on the water. If you have made your career at sea, your boat is a paramount component of your professional life, and purchasing a new vessel can call for a lot more research than buying, say, a simple pontoon or fishing boat. If your boat is central to your business, you will need to make sure that the boat you buy can handle the rigours of commercial fishing, sightseeing charters, or whatever else your commercial operation may entail. It is also worth noting that commercial vessels are in a different realm when it comes to price, so many options to purchase boats that were previously owned. While you can snag a great deal on a used vessel, it can require a bit more in the way of legwork when it comes to finding the boat that is right for you. Whether you are purchasing a new or used boat, however, you may also need to complete Transport Canada register boat forms.
If you own and operate your own business, or if you have a history of entrepreneurship, you likely are no stranger to paperwork. While a working life out on the sea carries the allure of no longer being stuck at a desk, there will still be bureaucratic measures that will warrant your attention from time to time. Transport Canada, which is our country’s main transportation agency for all matters on sea and land, will require you to complete documentation processes on occasion. At the outset, you will likely need to work with them to complete your Transport Canada register boat forms. At the National Vessel Registry Center, we offer a one-stop, online resource for all of the forms and documents you need. Read on to learn more about what types of boats require registration, as well as how you can obtain yours online with our help.
What Types of Vessels Require Transport Canada Register Boat Forms?
If you have owned a boat before, or have spent time operating one, you know that it comes with a lot of responsibility. You owe it to both yourself and your passengers to safely operate your vessel, as well as keep it stocked with first aid supplies and life jackets, in addition to performing regular maintenance on your engine. Another key aspect of responsible boat ownership is staying current on your required vessel documentation. In Canada, there are multiple modes of documentation that a vessel can hold, and precisely which forms you need will largely depend on your boat’s capabilities, as well as what you plan to use it for.
For most boaters, a boat license, or as it is officially dubbed, a pleasure craft license (PCL), will suffice. As its name would imply, a PCL is primarily applicable to boats that are used for purely recreational purposes. To be more specific, any vessel that has an engine of 10 horsepower (7.5 kW) or more needs to apply for a PCL. This is done by completing an application and providing a photograph of your vessel along with proof of ownership to Transport Canada.
Boats that are used for any sort of commercial purpose, as well as those that are financed with a marine mortgage will require vessel registration. You will also need to register your boat if you plan to sail on international waters under the Canadian flag. When you register your vessel, you receive a completely unique boat moniker of your choosing, along with an official number. To enter your vessel in the national vessel registry, you will need to complete Form 1 – Application for Vessel Registration, as well as Form 3 – Statement of Qualification for Vessel Registration. You will also need to submit a bill of sale, as well as photographs of all four sides of your vessel.
Register Your Boat Online with Our Help
While you certainly have the option to submit paper copies of your vessel registration documents to Transport Canada, it can be a bit of an inefficient process. Instead of printing out PDFs, inking them by hand, and making a trip down to the post office, why not save yourself some time by working with us? At the National Vessel Registry Center, we have online, fillable forms that you can complete for this and all other matters of Transport Canada vessel documentation. If you have any questions, or if you would like to learn more about our services, please feel free to browse our site for everything you may need.
