To pass the boater exam Canada requires, you'll need to complete a boating safety course approved by Transport Canada and score at least 75% on the 50-question, multiple-choice test at the end. This exam is open-book, and you can take it more than once if…

If you're planning to paddle a canoe or kayak in Canada, you technically don't need a Pleasure Craft Operator Card (PCOC). That's because the requirement to have a PCOC only applies to motorized boats. However, Transport Canada’s rules for safety equipment still apply to paddlers…

If you're caught operating a motorized boat in Canada without a Pleasure Craft Operator Card (PCOC), you'll face a standard fine of $250. However, in some jurisdictions and provinces, such as Alberta and Saskatchewan, fines can reach $10,000 for grave or repeated offenses. You are…

All Canadian boaters who operate a motorized pleasure craft are legally required to hold and carry proof of competency on the water. This proof will likely take the form of a Pleasure Craft Operator Card (PCOC). The PCOC requirement is federal and applies nationwide, with…

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…