If you're an American visiting Canada and want to explore the country's waterways, you don't necessarily need a Canadian boating licence. However, you will need to show proof of competency and carry it with you on board at all times. If you have a boat…
Technically, you don't need a Pleasure Craft Operator Card (PCOC) to rent a personal watercraft or boat in Canada. That's because Transport Canada lets rental companies provide you with a rental boat safety checklist that you can use as a temporary "boating licence," giving you…
Operators of a Sea-Doo or personal watercraft (PWC) in Canada must be at least 16 years old, regardless of supervision. But young boaters younger than 16 can operate regular motorized boats with some restrictions. All operators, including youth, must comply with Canada's boating laws and…
On December 31, 2025, the Pleasure Craft Licence (PCL) rules changed, meaning if you haven’t renewed since then, you may need to act before you can legally operate your vessel. Note that there have been no changes to the Pleasure Craft Operator Card (PCOC). The…
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…
