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Boating Safety

Top 15 Places to Go Boating in Ontario – UPDATED 2024

  In Ontario, a Ontario boating licensee (Pleasure Craft Operator Card) allows you to operate any motorized boat or jet ski for recreational purposes, regardless of the size or horsepower of the boat. With a Pleasure Craft Operate Card, there is no limit to the size of the boat you can operate. Once you obtain your Pleasure Craft Operator Card,

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NATO Phonetic Alphabet in Canada: A Guide for Boaters

The NATO Phonetic Alphabet, officially known as the International Radiotelephony Spelling Alphabet, is a set of 26 code words used to identify each letter of the Roman alphabet (e.g., Alpha for “A”, Bravo for “B”). Each word (“code word”) stands for its initial letter (alphabetical “symbol”). The purpose of the phonetic alphabet is to ensure that letters are clearly understood

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Safe Boating Awareness Week : May 18 – 24, 2024

Since its inception in 1995, the annual National Safe Boating Awareness Week has promoted safe boating practices among Canada’s 16 million recreational boaters. From May 18th to 24th 2024, the Safe Boating Awareness Week emphasizes the importance of wearing life jackets, boating sober, obtaining proper training, ensuring boat readiness, and being aware of the risks of Cold Water Immersion. The

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How big of a boat can I drive with a Ontario boating license?

In Ontario, a Ontario boating licensee (Pleasure Craft Operator Card) allows you to operate any motorized boat or jet ski for recreational purposes, regardless of the size or horsepower of the boat. With a Pleasure Craft Operate Card, there is no limit to the size of the boat you can operate. Once you obtain your Pleasure Craft Operator Card, you

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Do you need a boat license for a 9.9 hp in Ontario?

In Ontario, you do not need a boat license, also known as a Pleasure Craft License, for a boat that has a 9.9 hp engine. A Pleasure Craft License is a document issued by Transport Canada that provides your vessel with a unique identification (ID) number. The license is valid for 10 years. This ID number allows police and search

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How old do you have to be to drive a boat in Ontario?

There is no minimum age to drive a motorized boat in Ontario. According to Transport Canada’s – Vessel Operation Restriction Regulations (VORRs), children under 12 years old are permitted to operate a pleasure craft if it has a motor of no more than 10 hp (7.5 kW). It does not matter the length of the boat, as long as the

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Is my Ontario Boating License valid in the United States?

Yes – the Ontario boating license, formally known as the Pleasure Craft Operator Card (PCOC) is recognized in the United States as equivalent to their NASBLA-accredited Boating Safety Education Certificates. Therefore, boaters from Ontario who have completed their boating safety course and obtained a PCOC can operate a vessel in the U.S. waters without additional certification. NOTE :  Each U.S. state still

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Registering a Jet Ski in Ontario

If you own a jet ski (PWC) in Ontario, it is important to properly register or license it in order to legally operate it on the province’s waterways. In this article, we will outline the process for registering a jet ski in Ontario and explain the difference between jet ski licensing and jet ski registration. Table of Contents The Difference

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Does my Ontario boating license expire?

No your Ontario boating license, commonly known as a Pleasure Craft Operator Card (PCOC), does not expire. Once you obtain your Ontario boating license (PCOC) it’s good for life. There are no renewals or annual fees. A Pleasure Craft Operator Card (PCOC), or other proof of competency is legally required to operate a recreational power boat or jet ski in

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How old do you have to be to drive a boat in Canada?

There is no minimum age to drive a motorized boat in Canada. According to Transport Canada’s – Vessel Operation Restriction Regulations (VORRs), children under 12 years old are permitted to operate a pleasure craft if it has a motor of no more than 10 hp (7.5 kW). It does not matter the length of the boat, as long as the

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