eShine Boat Care

Required Boat Equipment in Canada

This is a summary of federal regulations provided as a convenience ONLY. The Small Vessel Regulations are changing. Please use the official Government Links for details.

BoaterExam.com for your operator's card

Small Vessel Regulations, 2007 will require all equipment carried on board be in good working order, maintained according to the manufacturer's instructions, and available immediately, in case of emergency.

Equipment is required in a dinghy in the size category even when rowing a short distance to shore. Note you may be charged up to $200 for each item you don't comply with!

Powered Craft up to 6 metres in length (19'8")

Top of Page

Unpowered Craft up to 6 metres in length (19'8")

Top of Page

Rowing boats (any kind) up to 6 metres in length (19'8")

Top of Page

6 - 8 metres in length (19'8"-26'3")

Boarding ladder Top of Page

BoaterExam.com for your operator's card

8 - 12 metres in length (26'3"-39'4")

Inflatable PFD Top of Page

12 - 20 metres in length (39.4'-65.6')

anchor Top of Page

More than 20 m in length (more than 65.6')

"Buy a Boat with Confidence" - by Doug Dawson
Top of Page

BoaterExam.com for your operator's card

Personal Watercraft

Canadian Red Cross studies show that nearly 90% of drowning victims were not wearing a lifejacket or PFD. Drowning is one of the leading causes of accidental death for Canadians under 44, and the leading cause of preventable death among toddlers. Drowning is the second leading cause of accidental death among Ontario children under five (statistics).

Top of Page

Notes

Flares must be Canadian approved and not beyond the expiry date. Flares are valid for 3 1/2 years from date of manufacture. [Keep your outdated flares - they are often useable if kept dry and not exposed to extreme temperatures.]

Freeboard is the distance from water to gunwale (usually the top edge of the hull).

** Canadian approved lifejacket or PFD (personal floatation device) must fit each person on board properly.

An approved lifejacket or PFD is required for each person on a sailboard.

In Canada, if you have a head on board, it must be permanently installed in the boat and equipped for proper pump out (this includes porta-potties).

In Canada, a horseshoe buoy and Rescue Stick(tm) do NOT fulfil Coast Guard safety requirements, but certainly can be useful in an emergency.

A official copy of the boat's up-to-date licence (i.e. in the owner's name) should be on board. A reasonable length of time is allowed to produce it.

Type of Flares:
Type A: Parachute flares (burns for at least 40 seconds)
Type B: Multi-Star flares (burns 4 to 5 seconds).
Type C: Hand held flares.
Type D: Hand held or buoyant smoke flare (day use only).

Be sure to dispose of old flares safely if you do not wish to keep them (they work for a long time if stored properly). Please call police, fire department or Coast Guard for help.

All these regulations are for minimum equipment on board a vessel. You are encouraged to add equipment to your boat for additional safety.

For example: a compass, charts, spotlight, first aid kit, medical kit, tool kit, 7x50 binoculars, 200 feet of anchor line with 30' of chain (or all chain if you have a windlass), extra anchors, 3A-40BC fire extinguishers, battery-operated carbon monoxide detectors, life-raft, jacklines, safety harness, handholds, 'man-overboard-pole', VHF radio, depth sounder, knotmeter, hand compass, GPS, Loran-C, etc. (Check out our list of navigation tools and techniques and E-charts.)

Boats under 20 m (65') and non-metal craft should carry a radar reflector at least 4 m (13') above the water when operating in ship channels or offshore.

Top of Page

BoaterExam.com for your operator's card

Related Information

See our Government Directory for information from Canadian Coast Guard, Office of Boating Safety, Transport Canada, etc.

BOATEREXAM.COM has been helping Canadian boaters get their Pleasure Craft Operator Card (PCOC) since 2000. Study online and take your exam from a Web browser! (more about BoaterExam.com)

TOP back