Question for boaters? | GTAMotorcycle.com

Question for boaters?

Mad Mike

Well-known member
Last week we were pulling the boat out for the winter. At the gas dock in the Maskinonge River (Keswick) topping up before storage when a YRP walks up and asks to check the boat. Everything there, all checked out fine... then he asks for copy of the ship's licence (ownership). What? Been a mariner for 30+ years, had marine popo check the boat many of times... never asked for a copy of the ship's licence.

Can't serve it up. Popo issues a ticket for "OPERATING A PLEASURE CRAFT WITHOUT LICENCE ONBOARD" Canada Shipping Act, 101 (b). $300

Anyone heard of this happening?
 
Someone has to pay for the hookers at the christmas party.
 
From the boater exam.com website:

[h=3]Q. What is the difference between a Pleasure Craft Operator Card and a Pleasure Craft License?[/h]A. The Pleasure Craft Operator Card applies to the driver of the boat, while a Pleasure Craft License applies to the boat itself.
A Pleasure Craft Licence is the number placed on the side of each recreational vessel as required under the Small Vessel Regulations of the Canada Shipping Act. The number is used to assist law enforcement and search and rescue organizations in identifying each individual pleasure craft.If your boat is mostly operated or kept in Canada and is powered by one or more motors adding up to 10 hp (7.5 kW) or more, it must be licensed, unless it is registered. You will also need to license dinghies or tenders you carry aboard or tow behind a larger boat. You must keep a copy of the licence on board.
As of November 1, 2010, to get your free pleasure craft licence, you must mail the following documents to the Pleasure Craft Licensing Centre:

  1. a completed application form;
  2. proof of vessel ownership; and
  3. a signed copy of a valid piece of government-issued identification. (Further information is available on the form.)
Application forms are available online at www.boatingsafety.gc.ca, or for pickup in person through your local Service Canada Centre. For Service Canada locations, visit www.servicecanada.gc.ca
 
That must be why my wife put them in the sea-doo's :love3:
:I would have never thought about it either.
 
stopped operating a boat 15 ~ years ago
at that time the OPP were only issuing fun on the water tickets

boat reg was a fed thing
number on the vessel stayed with the vessel
never had anything on paper that proved it was mine

doesn't surprise me that OPP or Munic PF would get involved
even though it is none of their business
 
The regs have been tightened up in several categories. In decades past the boat would be registered in a particular customs office. 50E was Toronto, 86E IIRC was Port Credit.etc etc. The info was kept on paper in filing cabinets at the remote offices and there was no one there on weekends to retrieve info in case of a collision or law violation.

Also buyers wouldn't report the sale because the PST people would want their $%. The idiot seller didn't realize the boat could still be his liability if a drunk ran through a bunch of swimmers and took off running.

The DUI boaters etc added to the problem and the whole system has changed for the good IMO.

The fine sucks though. If the boat was on a trailer would the ownership need to be on board? It was on the trailer, right?

A friend had a run in with YRP on the water and the young cop had attitude but the senior officer with him was more of the warning and education type and cooled things down.
 
Lot of Confusion here

Registration is Federal, that applies to a named boat like "chicken of the sea"
Licensing is Provincial , the numbers on the bow

you either have a registered name or a set of numbers, the name can be changed by federally registering a new name , thats how you get "chicken of the sea IV "

numbers stay with the boat, you apply for a change of license , this is now done online , be prepared to upload a signed bill of sale with the previous owners address and name, phone.

The license must be on board at all times, but also keep a copy of the bill of sale with it, the license does not prove ownership ( I know its stupid)

Its an easy ticket to write when there is nothing else to get, very few boaters even know it has to be on the boat.

Nobody was paying the taxes , when you bought a boat you may or may not ever change the license, if you did change the license over they mailed you a letter saying "you may have recently bought a boat??" , it didnt come registered mail so you threw it out and never heard another word, even if the boat changed hands again nobody ever followed up. Its literally millions a year that went missing.
So now when you apply for a change, they want a copy of the bill of sale with the previous owners name , address and phone so there can (maybe) be a followup. But hundreds still never pay the taxes.
 
No somebody complained that boaters either, fishing and drinking, didnt have valid insurance after hitting a boat at the dock, ignored the no wake sign, skiing with no spotter, pick anything, then the officer is given a checklist of things to ask about and for , then sent forth to do his work.

Regrettably not knowing the rules isn't a defense.

My defense , were I to get a charge like the OP, the boat was being hauled for the season, all paper documents had been removed for safety, the marina /dockage has no security after the regular season is over. But once you've looked sideways at the officer having no idea why he's asking, if he keeps notes the jig is up.
 
I think they are thieves looking at any way to make a buck.job protection I guess.

Devoting man hours to recovering stolen boats does nothing for the YRP's 2019 equipment budget. Sitting at the dock and spending 15 minutes of time snagging fish pulling their boats out of the water at the end of November @ $300 a pop does.
 
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The good thing is that licensing is free, online and takes 10 minutes. Printed a temporary license immediately, with the official one showing up less than three days later.
Like Crankcall says, keep the license and the bill of sale together on the boat. License proves it's registered to you, bill of sale is the only proof you own it.

Sent from my SM-A500W using Tapatalk
 
The good thing is that licensing is free, online and takes 10 minutes. Printed a temporary license immediately, with the official one showing up less than three days later.
Like Crankcall says, keep the license and the bill of sale together on the boat. License proves it's registered to you, bill of sale is the only proof you own it.

Sent from my SM-A500W using Tapatalk
Are you a YRP? That's exactly what the cop said. Go print you licence, show up at court with it and this goes away -- all it costs you is a 1/2 day off work.

My guess is it also gets him a few cozy days in the courthouse instead of walking the Keswick shoreline handing out parking tickets to icefishermen in January.
 
Are you a YRP? That's exactly what the cop said. Go print you licence, show up at court with it and this goes away -- all it costs you is a 1/2 day off work.

My guess is it also gets him a few cozy days in the courthouse instead of walking the Keswick shoreline handing out parking tickets to icefishermen in January.
I'm not from any police force lol. I actually learned all this 5 or so years ago, sitting at anchor off Snake Island in Lake Simcoe. The big YRP aluminum boat came by for a chance to "educate" me, much like they did with you.

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Are you a YRP? That's exactly what the cop said. Go print you licence, show up at court with it and this goes away -- all it costs you is a 1/2 day off work. My guess is it also gets him a few cozy days in the courthouse instead of walking the Keswick shoreline handing out parking tickets to icefishermen in January.
My guess is that the irony is lost on you. Cop tries to help you get your **** together when you're to lazy to do it, by setting a deadline for you, and instead of thanking him, you accuse him of being lazy. Then again, I'm sure they could have impounded the boat until you proved you owned it, and had a valid license, but that might have involved too much paperwork.
 
Are you a YRP? That's exactly what the cop said. Go print you licence, show up at court with it and this goes away -- all it costs you is a 1/2 day off work.

.

OK so if you have to go print your license , you don't have a license? . Was the paperwork changed over or are you now playing catchup? Your the reason these guys hang around the docks collecting low hanging fruit.
 
My guess is that the irony is lost on you. Cop tries to help you get your **** together when you're to lazy to do it, by setting a deadline for you, and instead of thanking him, you accuse him of being lazy. Then again, I'm sure they could have impounded the boat until you proved you owned it, and had a valid license, but that might have involved too much paperwork.

Or he could have given him a warning/fix it ticket that he could have shown up at the station at his convenience and had it verified at the front desk. Wanting the cushy O/T of a full in court sounds more likely.
 
OK so if you have to go print your license , you don't have a license? . Was the paperwork changed over or are you now playing catchup? Your the reason these guys hang around the docks collecting low hanging fruit.
I have the paperwork in my files -- it's been there 25 years. Turns out Ontario boat licences expires after 10 years, the one that came with the boat is not valid (how many of you update your licences after 10 years?). Turns out you must renew upon transfer, change of addresses or after 10 years.

I did know you are supposed to have you papers in the boat however experience tells me that few if any boat owners keep papers in their boat, and I also have never heard of CG or Local cops asking for paperwork. I have rented boats countless times in Ontario, I've never been given a copy of the boat's licence.
 
The 10 year renewal surprised me. It used to be like trailer plates, good for life. I'm starting to worry about the canoe in the garage.
 

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