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10 Million Canadian Boaters Need a Pleasure Craft Operator Card Effective Today
as the 10 Year Phase-in is Now Complete
Daily Commercial News
OTTAWA, Sept. 15 /CNW Telbec/ - Effective today, if you operate a boat in Canada
you must have a Pleasure Craft Operator Card or you risk fines
of $250 and up.
BoaterExam.com® became a top visited site this week as millions of
boaters realize that they now must be certified before they operate a boat next
and are pulling up the official website. "We had to keep our call centre open 24
hours per day to answer all the calls and emails from the millions of boaters who
have questions about getting certified online at BoaterExam.com®
" says Robert Dupel, spokesperson for BoaterExam.com®. The web traffic
and calls to BoaterExam.com® increased 10 fold over the past several
days as boaters turned to the Transport Canada accredited course provider to get
certified.
After a 10 year federal law phase in period, today marks the first day where all
Canadian boaters are required to have their Pleasure Craft Operator Card, commonly
referred to as a boating license, or they risk expensive fines by peace officers.
Anyone operating a powered watercraft recreationally in the country must have the
Boating Card on board with them effective today.
Approximately 3 million boaters have taken their Boater Exam® already
and have the Pleasure Craf Operator Card, however an estimated 10 million boaters
still need the card. BoaterExam.com® wants to reassure boaters that
the online test remains available 24/7 and encourages boaters to get certified now
as there is still some great boating to be had this fall. The 36 question, multiple
choice exam requires a 75% mark to receive a passing grade. Boaters can print a
temporary card as soon as they pass online and their permanent Boat Operator Card
is mailed to their home in a few weeks, and the card is good-for-life, and it never
needs to be renewed.
This law applies to all ages, many people think that kids need to be 16yrs to get
certified and that if you are 65 yrs and up you are grandfathered, this is false,
there is no minimum age to get certified, and no age exemption. Others think that
you don't need the card if your motor is under 10 horsepower, but in fact it's needed
to operate any size motors, even an electric motor on a canoe for example.
Boaters that have misplaced or lost their Pleasure Craft Operator Card can call
the Boating Safety Info Line at 1-866-688-2628 to confirm their name is in BoaterExam.com®
's national database and
obtain a replacement card.
BoaterExam.com® is the most important course provider in the country
and offers boaters various ways to get certified; online,
in class or home study. For more
information visit www.BoaterExam.com or call their Boating Safety Info Line 24/7
Toll Free at 1-866-688-2628.
These services are offered equally in both official languages, the French web site
is www.ExamenBateau.com. BoaterExam.com® is also approved by NASBLA
and the US Coast Guard in 38 states.
Daily Commercial News