Do you need to licence your boat, register it, or both? You’ll need a Pleasure Craft Licence (PCL) for most recreational boats, and a formal vessel registration if you have a commercial vessel, a marine mortgage, a reserved name, or a vessel that travels internationally…
Operating your boat while impaired is a federal criminal offense in Canada, and it comes with penalties similar to drinking and driving. It's typically illegal to consume alcohol on a boat that's underway, and if you're convicted, that can mean heavy fines, criminal records, and…
The boat operator must always stay sober. However, passengers can usually drink alcohol on a boat. BUI (Boating Under the Influence) is a severe federal and state crime. If you drive a boat with a Blood Alcohol Concentration (BAC) that hits 0.08% or higher, you…
In Prince Edward Island (PEI), you're legally required to be licensed to operate a personal watercraft (PWC). Jet skis fall into this category, so you'll need the Pleasure Craft Operator Card (PCOC), which is the official name for the Canadian boating license. The PCOC is…
If you're in Newfoundland and Labrador and plan to use a personal watercraft (PWC) such as a jet ski, you'll need a Pleasure Craft Operator Card (PCOC). This card is often unofficially called a boating license, and it's a federal requirement regardless of your age…
