One of the great things about boat ownership is that there are all types of different vessels available on the market. No matter what your seafaring interests may be, by doing a little bit of shopping around, you can find the perfect boat for you. For some, this means getting a vessel that is tailored to the needs of fishermen. For others, speedboats scratch their itch for lake-bound leisure. Of course, there are also those who make their living out on the water, either by running charters or commercial fishing operations. No matter what you are looking to do on the water, the right boat for you is out there somewhere. Because boats can be used for all sorts of purposes, there are also varying levels of documentation that are issued by Transport Canada. In certain situations, a boat may require a Canada vessel registration, and by better understanding what this document is–as well as how you can get yours online–you can spend as little time as possible on landfilling out paperwork.
In the same way that you typically need a license and registration to operate a car, a similar process needs to play out for certain types of boats. A boating license, for instance, is like a driver’s license for your boat. This is officially termed a pleasure craft operator card (PCOC), and it can be obtained by passing Transport Canada’s competency exam. Your boat itself may also require a license. This is called a pleasure craft license (PCL), and it is a requirement for any leisure craft with an engine of 10 horsepower (7.5 kW) or more. Some boats, though, will need to enter the national vessel registry. Read on to learn more about this mode of documentation and whether or not your boat requires it.
What is a Canada Vessel Registration?
So, what types of boats require a registration document? If your boat is used for any sort of commercial purpose, or if it is traveling internationally under the Canadian flag, it will need to be registered with Transport Canada. This is also true for any boat that has been purchased with a bank loan, sometimes referred to as a marine mortgage. When you register a vessel, you are assigned a completely unique name of your choosing, and this will be used as your boat’s primary means of identification.
To apply for vessel registration, you will need to complete Form 1 – Application for Vessel Registration and Form 3 – Statement of Qualification for Vessel Registration. You will also need to provide Transport Canada with a tonnage measurement and photographs of all four sides of your vessel. Proof of ownership, typically a bill of sale, may also be required.
Register Your Boat Online Today
We can help you register your boat over the web with our fillable online forms. Simply select the vessel registration option from our navigation menu and follow our simple prompts. To learn more about our business, visit our Frequently Asked Questions page.