Acquiring a boat can be a fulfilling life experience that might join you for many years. Having an exit to the sea on both the Pacific and the Atlantic, Canada is a great place to pursue water activities. The region also has plenty of lakes full of sea life if you are interested in fishing, either for sport or commercial purposes. Now, before heading out to the water, what documentation does your ship need? Registering a boat in Canada may be or not mandatory depending on your vessel’s characteristics.
Do I Need To Register My Boat?
Transport Canada determines that certain vessels need to be registered to comply with national maritime laws, while others do not necessarily have to (although it’s optional). It’s important to know what kind of paperwork you require before getting down to registering a boat in Canada.
First off, you should know that not all vessels in Canada need a license or registration. Pleasure crafts with a motor under 7.5kw (10 horsepower) or non-propelled that sail only in national waters do not require any specific documentation. However, you do need a Pleasure Craft License if the motor is over 7.5k.
Every boat intended for commercial (non-pleasure) activities requires mandatory registration. There are two categories of boat registration in Canada: Small Vessel Register and Canadian Vessel Register. Which must you apply for depends on the use you’ll have for it, measurement, and gross tonnage? Learn if you apply for registering a boat in Canada.
Small Vessel Register
This type of registration applies to commercial vessels with a gross tonnage of 15 or less, which don’t require a mortgage registered with Transport Canada and an official name. Pleasure crafts can voluntarily be registered at the small vessel register as it provides several benefits, such as proof of ownership (allows you to sail in international waters), allowance to fly the Canadian flag, and having a unique name and an official number.
Canadian Register of Vessels
You are required to apply for this registration if your commercial vessel’s motor is over 7.5 kW (10 horsepower) or more, it is intended to have a marine mortgage, needs a reserved name, and will get on international waters.
Apply For Registration Today!
So is it mandatory for your ship to be registered? If it is, what type of registration is required? Whatever is the answer, you can apply for vessel registration on our website. At Canadian Transport we think about boat owners and their dislike for dealing with unnecessary bureaucracy.
Let us do the heavy work for you. Look for the right form on the page and get waterborne as soon as possible! Feel free to contact us if you have any other questions regarding registering a boat in Canada.