If you have yet to take the boating exam you might find that you don’t really see the point. Yet, the examination itself is one that can reduce insurance expenses, keep your crew safe, and literally save your life. There are rules and regulations on the water that simply must be followed and you need to be proficient at understanding those rules.
There is a small amount of necessary and informative technical information that the boating course will outline for you. This information is designed to help you increase familiarity with your own vessel so that you can avert certain disasters. The more intimately you know your boat, the better. The boating test has been able to provide accurate and up to date information to help the number of accidents and boating related deaths decline.
If you’re at all interested in avoiding uncomfortable situations that can happen with other boaters on the water then get your boat licence. You need to learn how to be a respectful and courteous boater in order to be a safe one. If you’re out there causing genuine difficulties for other boaters you and your crew will run into issues along the way.
Your operator card is now mandatory. Perhaps this is the most compelling reason of all to get one. If you are a boat operator you must be able to present the PCOC license if asked for it. This license tells officials that you have taken the boat course and then passed the boating exam. The US had tried to establish a law similar to this one but the attempts to enforce it were nil. The Canadian authorities are not slacking off and are ready to initiate the process.
Your lack of operator card will result in consequences. You will find yourself facing fines and even the possibility of a confiscated boat. Taking the boat course and the boat test can be done online. How much easier can it get? All pleasure craft operators must be able to show their card whenever it is requested regardless of whether or not they’ve been involved in an incident.
A pleasure craft operator card is merely a documented method of proving that you have been able to show you can abide by the safety regulations. It is not a competitive test to prove your sailing skills or a test designed to challenge your boating skills. It’s all about safer waterways. As the waterways fill with more boaters every year, safety has to be considered a significant priority.
By taking the simple step of obtaining your boating license you will become a more knowledgeable and safer seaman (or woman) and be able to spend more time out on the water. Who wants their season cut short thanks to an accident that was completely preventable simply by knowing the regulatory laws? Instead of taking the risk, you can ensure that you able to enjoy the water all season long.
It is fair to say that because the waterways are so open with no real directive signs like the highway, operating a pleasure craft can be more difficult than learning to drive a car. If you get your operator card by completing the boat test you can reduce the risk of accidents and death. This is a powerful reason to make sure you’re operating your vessel as safely as possible.
Unleash your inner Magellan. Sort out a boating course and hit the high seas. Summer is here, get a validated boat license or operator card and set sail.


































