Vessel Registration in Canada: The Facts

Make no mistake about it, buying a boat is an exciting occasion. For many first-time boat buyers, this purchase is the culmination of months of planning, research, and budgeting. If you think about it, it makes sense that this would be a carefully considered investment. For one thing, boats are expensive, both in the upfront cost as well as docking fees and maintenance expenses. With this in mind, it is not unusual to take out a loan or purchase a previously owned boat. Boats also come in many different shapes and sizes, so you will need to do quite a bit of research before you settle on the make and model that is right for you. Once you do find the boat that suits your needs, though, you are potentially giving yourself a lifelong hobby, and a great way to enjoy your weekends with your friends and family. It is worth mentioning, though, that owning a boat may also call for some paperwork from time to time, and at this juncture, it may be wise to learn a bit about vessel registration in Canada.

While there are plenty of fun times to be had with your new boat, be they fishing trips or water sports, boat ownership also comes with a degree of responsibility. Partly, this comes in the form of safe operation practices. If you are new to boating, you will want to be sure to get your boating license, also called a pleasure craft operator card (PCOC). You can get a PCOC by taking a short educational course and passing a competency exam. Your boat itself may also require some documentation, often in the form of a pleasure craft license (PCL). PCLs are mandatory for all leisure crafts with engines of 7.5 kW (10 horsepower) or more, but certain types of boats will require what is known as vessel registration. Read on to learn more about this document.

What is Vessel Registration in Canada?

Like PCLs, vessel registrations are available to all who want them, even if their boats fall outside of the mandatory requirements. Vessel registrations, specifically, are required for all boats used for commercial purposes, as well as boats that are used to travel internationally under the Canadian flag. This will also be the case if you use a bank loan to purchase your boat. Registering your vessel will give you a completely unique moniker of your choosing, and this will be used as the primary mode of identification for your boat.

Learn More – Work with Us!

We can help you register your vessel online. Simply select the vessel registration option from our navigation menu and follow the prompts on our fillable form. If you would like to learn more about our services, please visit our Frequently Asked Questions page.