Getting Started

• Construction Standards for Small Vessels 
• Compliance Notices 
• Hull Serial Number (HIN)
• Buying a Boat 
• Building a Boat 
• Pleasure Craft Licences 
• Vessel Registration 
• Who Needs Proof of Competency? 
• What are the Accepted Forms of Proof of Competency? 
• Why Proof of Competency?
• If You Don’t Have a Proof of Competency — Get It!
• Proof of Competency and Renting a Boat 
• Carry Your Documents! 
• Youth Must Follow Age and Horsepower Restrictions  
• Replacing a Lost Pleasure Craft Operator Card 

Previous page | Next page

Do you want to start boating but you’re not sure what you need to do to get a boat ready for Canada’s waterways? This section will guide you through getting your boat out on the water for the first time and explain how to make sure that you are ready to operate it safely.   

Construction Requirements for Pleasure Craft 

Part 7 of the Small Vessel Regulations and Transport Canada’s Construction Standards for Small Vessels specify how small vessels, that are equipped or designed to be equipped with a motor (including pleasure craft up to 24 m or 78’9”) and operate in Canada must be built. If you are selling, importing, building, rebuilding or operating such a vessel in Canada, you must make sure it meets these construction requirements.

Pleasure craft over 24 m (78’9”) must be built or rebuilt according to recommended practices and standards appropriate for that type of vessel and that are published by a marine classification society, standards development organization, government agency, or industrial or trade association.  

Compliance Notices 

Compliance Notices are the manufacturer’s or importer’s confirmation that the vessel is built in accordance with the construction requirements of the Small Vessel Regulations. Before attaching a Compliance Notice to a vessel, a manufacturer or importer must produce a Declaration of Conformity for the vessel.

The Small Vessel Regulations require, with a few exceptions, that all pleasure craft of less than 24 metres, that are or can be fitted with a motor have a Compliance Notice affixed to them in a location visible from the helm.

Although it is not prohibited to have other types of compliance notices affixed to the vessel, this does not replace the requirement to have a Canadian Compliance Notice attached.

Compliance notices for pleasure craft up to 6 m (19’8”) also have information on recommended maximum safe limits. These recommended maximum safe limits will tell you:  

• what outboard motor sizes are safe;
• how many people can be on board; and
• how much weight the boat can hold.

Remember that this information applies only in good weather. The number of people who can be carried safely depends on the type of boat, where people and equipment are carried, and weather and water conditions. Operators must know and respect their boat’s limits. 

Hull Serial Number 

All pleasure craft made in Canada, or imported into Canada after August 1, 1981 (with or without a motor), must have a Hull Serial Number (HIN). No character of the HIN is to be less than 6 mm (¼”) in height and width. A HIN helps to find lost or stolen boats and boats that are subject to a recall. The HIN must be permanently marked on the outside upper starboard (right side) corner of the transom (the boat’s rear, flat end – above the waterline), or as close to that area as possible. The HIN is 12 digits long, beginning with the Manufacturer’s Identification Code (MIC).

Example: ABC2AB41G203

MIC: ABC; Hull Number: 2AB41; Construction Start Date: G2; Model Year: 03.

Buying a Boat 

If you are buying a new boat in Canada, make sure it has a Hull Serial Number (HIN). If the boat has a motor or is designed to have one, make sure it also has a Canadian Compliance Notice. Manufacturers and importers must place a HIN and Canadian Compliance Notice on every boat that is or can be fitted with a motor that they sell in Canada after demonstrating that it meets the Canadian construction requirements. If you see a new boat for sale that does not have the required HIN and Canadian Compliance Notice, ask the seller to get them for you before you buy.

If you are thinking about buying a used boat, the first thing you should do is make sure that it meets the construction requirements that were in force when it was built. A good way to do this is to hire a competent marine surveyor to examine the boat, who will give you a fair opinion on the boat’s current condition and will let you know what changes (if any) need to be made to bring the boat up to standard.

If you are buying a boat from another country, please remember that:

• Construction requirements for pleasure craft differ from country to country. Make sure that the boat meets the construction requirements of the Small Vessel Regulations or that you can modify the boat to meet these requirements before you operate it. An imported boat must meet the construction requirements that are in force on the day it is imported. 
• The Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) will ask you for specific documents, as well as information on the boat and the seller to confirm the sale and assess the duties and taxes on the boat. Before buying the boat, visit the CBSA online at www.cbsa.gc.ca or contact them to find out what you will need from the seller to bring the boat to Canada.  
• If you will be towing the boat on a trailer, you should know that a trailer is considered a motor vehicle, with requirements that are different from those that apply to your boat. Contact the CBSA to learn more.
• If you are buying a trailer, contact your provincial or territorial transportation office to learn about any requirements that may apply. For a complete list of these offices, please visit www.tc.gc.ca.
• Since there may be export requirements in the country where you plan to buy the boat (and the trailer if you are buying one), contact the appropriate authorities in that country well in advance to find out what they are.

Building a Boat 

If you decide to build or rebuild a pleasure craft, it must meet or exceed the construction requirements of the Small Vessel Regulations and the Construction Standards for Small Vessels (TP 1332E). If the boat will be for your own personal use, you will not be required to attach a Compliance Notice. However, if you are building the boat to sell it, you must apply to Transport Canada for a Manufacturer’s Identification Code (MIC), produce a Declaration of Conformity, and place a Compliance Notice and a HIN on the boat before you sell it. To get a copy of the Small Vessel Regulations and Transport Canada’s Construction Standards for Small Vessels (TP 1332E), visit www.boatingsafety.gc.ca or contact us. 

Pleasure Craft Licences 

A pleasure craft licence is a document containing a unique licence number for a pleasure craft. The pleasure craft licence number must be displayed on both sides of the bow. You can get a free licence that is valid for 10 years by applying to Transport Canada.

Application forms are available online at www.boatingsafety.gc.ca or for pickup at your local Service Canada Centre. For Service Canada locations, visit www.servicecanada.gc.ca. If your boat is already licensed, make sure that it is in your name and that your contact information is up to date. To learn more about getting or transferring a pleasure craft licence, visit www.boatingsafety.gc.ca or call the Boating Safety Info Line at 1-800-267-6687.

If your boat is mostly operated or kept in Canada and is powered by one or more motors adding up to 7.5 kw (10 hp) or more, it must be licensed, unless it is registered. You will also need to license dinghies or tenders you carry aboard or tow behind a larger boat. You must keep a copy of the licence on board. 

If your boat does not need a pleasure craft licence, you can choose to get one for safety reasons. The Pleasure Craft Licensing System allows Search and Rescue personnel to access information 24 hours a day, seven days a week in the event of an emergency. This could mean the difference between life and death!

Remember: A pleasure craft licence does not prove ownership and Transport Canada cannot confirm ownership of a licensed pleasure craft.

When entering another country, be sure to have proof of ownership for your boat along with its pleasure craft licence, especially for dinghies or tenders aboard or towed behind a larger boat. Not having the proper documents on board can result in delays or trouble clearing customs, or even a fine.

Vessel Registration 

Although you are no longer required to register pleasure craft over 15 gross tons, you can still choose to do so. Although there are costs involved, registration gives you some important benefits, which include:

• proof of ownership (legal title) for your boat;
• the right to fly the Canadian flag;
• a unique name and official number for your boat; and
• the right to use your boat as security for a marine mortgage.

Since proof of ownership can be very important at international borders, it is a good idea to register any boat you plan to operate outside of Canada.

To learn more about registering your boat, visit Transport Canada’s Vessel Registration Office online at www.tc.gc.ca or contact them.

Who Needs Proof of Competency?

Anyone who operates a motorized pleasure craft must now carry proof of competency on board.¹  This includes all types of motorized boats, no matter their size or horsepower.

What are the Accepted Forms of Proof of Competency?

Proof of competency can be any of the following:

• a Pleasure Craft Operator Card (PCOC) — this is the most common proof, obtained after passing an accredited boating safety test;
• proof of having passed a boating safety course in Canada before April 1, 1999;
• a specified marine certificate — visit our website (www.boatingsafety.gc.ca) for the approved list; or
• a completed rental boat safety checklist (good only for rental period).

Why Proof of Competency?

A proof of competency shows that the boater has a basic level of boating safety knowledge needed for safe recreational boating. In the past, anyone of any age could operate a recreational boat without any basic boating safety knowledge, experience or training. Proof of competency requirements were introduced in 1999 in response to boating deaths and injuries, with the goal of improving safety on Canadian waterways through education and training.

If You Don’t Have Proof of Competency — Get It! 

If you don’t have proof of competency and you plan to operate a motorized pleasure craft, you must obtain a Pleasure Craft Operator Card by passing an accredited test.²  Transport Canada recommends taking a boating safety course as the best way to prepare for the test. Taking a course, while not required, is a small investment that has a big payoff: it will help you to be more aware of safe boating practices, prevention measures, and practical ways to reduce risks.

The course itself covers a full range of basic boating information such as:

• the minimum safety equipment required on board your boat;
• the Canadian buoyage system; how to share waterways;
• a review of all pertinent regulations; and
• how to respond in an emergency situation.

There are other options, too, such as home study, online courses and tests, and challenge testing. Boating safety course and test services are available only through accredited private-sector course providers (a list of accredited providers appears on our website at www.boatingsafety.gc.ca).

Proof of Competency and Renting a Boat

If you plan on renting a boat and you don’t already have proof of competency (such as a Pleasure Craft Operator Card or specified marine certificate), then you may complete the rental boat safety checklist as proof of competency. The rental agency provides you with a basic safety orientation to the boat, its equipment and features, and information about any hazards in the local waterways. A rental boat safety checklist (provided by the rental agency) is used as a reference for this orientation, which both parties (rental agency and the boat operator) sign. The boat operator carries the completed rental boat safety checklist on board and it serves as proof of competency for the rental period only.

Carry Your Documents! 

Make sure you have your proof of competency with you before you head out on the water. You’ll also need to carry your personal identification, such as a photo ID. If your motor is 7.5 kw (10 hp) or more, you will also need to carry the Pleasure Craft Licence on board.

Youth Must Follow Age and Horsepower Restrictions

Youth under 16 years of age may not operate boats with motors over certain horsepower limits unless someone 16 years of age or older is in the boat and directly supervising them.
Youth under 16 years of age may not operate a personal watercraft (PWC) under any circumstances.

Are you old enough to operate a motorized boat?

Age	Horsepower Restrictions
Under 12 years of age with no direct supervision	May operate a boat with up to 7.5 kw (10 hp)
Ages 12 to 16 with no direct supervision	May operate a boat with up to 30 kw (40 hp)
Under 16 years of age, regardless of supervision	May not operate a PWC
16 years of age or older	No horsepower restrictions

Replacing a Lost Pleasure Craft Operator Card

The Pleasure Craft Operator Card is good for life. Remember to make a photocopy of your card as soon as you get it so you can have it replaced if you lose it. To replace a lost card, contact the course provider that issued it to request a replacement card.  There is often a cost for this service.  For a complete list of course providers, visit www.boatingsafety.gc.ca.

If you can’t remember the name of the course provider that issued your card, ask yourself the following:

• Did I take the test with a family member or friend? If yes, check with that person. The name of the course provider will be on his or her card.
• Did I keep a copy of my receipt or the letter that came in the mail with my card attached to it? If yes, you will find the course provider’s name on both of these documents.
• Still can’t remember? Or can’t find the course provider’s name on our list? Contact the Office of Boating Safety nearest you for assistance.

¹Proof of competency is not required in the waters of the Northwest Territories and Nunavut. 
² If you plan to only operate a boat that you have rented, you may complete a rental boat safety checklist; we describe this option in the next section.

Previous page | Next page