Canada Pleasure Craft Operators Card

[DanM]

I have heard that it became a law last Sept that to run a rented boat or a camp boat in Ontario you have to have this card. Does anybody know anything about the Canada Pleasure Craft Operators Card? If you have to have it, where do you get it?

It would take all of the fun out of our annual Canadian trip if we couldn't use a boat.......

Thanks for the info.

[HandySpence]

I was supposed to take this course because of the yearly schedualed trip last year, and it was required to have your card to drive a boat. Last time we were up there and the drivers each got 250 canadian dollars worth of fines for no life jackets. If they stop you your almost guaranteed a fine if you arent following strictly by the rules. I am 95% sure that you can go to www.boat-ed.com and get your papers. If you want a 100% answer i would call your resort/fly in place, or the Canadians.

[superbee]

You either have to have a pleasure craft operator card or a dockside checklist can be done with the resort/outfitter you are going with. We are doing the checklist for our guests. You can also get a boater card from states and it also makes you legal. I believe MN has an online one and it is free. It may be a different state, if so, I am sure someone will correct me. Hope this helps.

[Outfitter17]

DanM,

You outfitter should have a dockside checklist that he should go over with you when you first arrive in camp as superbee mentioned. You just need to have the checklist with you, I am sure most guys will just put them in their tackle box.

[LMFlyin]

Superbee is correct, MN does offer a free coarse to comply with this. Most all states offer a coarse. Can google search it and you can find each states fairly easy to pick which one you want. Some are online and others are not. In addition, if you own your own boat and carry insurance on it, many insurance companies offer discounts to your insurance rates if you have a completed boates coarse. Might be something worth checking as having this coarse completed could save you money plus you will not need the checklist when you arrive.

[magnum mike]

The online test is not free in Minnesota. I did it this fall. There is a $20 fee to take the exam online.

[vermilionfox]

Do you have to have the card if you bring your own boat?

[magnum mike]

Check the Ministry of Transportation HSOforum for the details regarding these regulations. They are the governing body related to this legislation, not the MNR

[elkhuntingfan]

If you contact the DNR, they will send you a packet that includes a workbook and test. You have to complete the workbook and test and then send them back to the DNR. If you pass, they send you the card. It's free. It is also time consuming. I got mine a few weeks ago in preparation for my trip to Canada in June. The resort where we are going said they can do the training at the dock, but I think they are charging $40 and it is likely to cut into the fishing time due to all the people coming in the same day.

[LMFlyin]

Minnesota has 2 ways to take the test. The online verison which has a cost and the other verison is free where they mail you the information.

[snowfighter]

After seeing this post I email the resort owner I have reservations with this summer. He said he had talked to his local CO when he heard about this law and was told that if you are bringing your own boat and your legal to operate it in Minnesota I would be in Canada also he went on to say that he as a outfitter and his boats that his customers are using are exempt from a users sard.

[Hoffer]

I dont know...i think for me I still need some extra verification one way or the other.

I could see them asking for some kind of proof that you are legal to operate a boat in MN or wherever else you are from...(do we have anything like that in MN ayway...).

Othwerwise - then who does this "boater operator card" effect??

Just the local canadiens who arent resort owners?

[marine_man]

Is this the same as what's discussed in this thread, where as a non resident, as long as you're not operating for 45 days you're exempt?

Boater Education Certificate

marine_man

[superbee]

It sure is.

[rockpilemike]

OK, here's the scoop. You don't need an operator's certificate if you are running your own Minnesota registered boat and your boat stays in Canada for less than 90 consecutive days.

Don't get the 'boat-ed' online boater education certificate unless you have 10 hours to kill going through all the test sections online. This is required in some states for minor operators and much of the information is useful but sitting through the online process will drive you crazy.

[Outfitter17]

Where did you get the (You don't need an operator's certificate if you are running your own Minnesota registered boat and your boat stays in Canada for less than 90 consecutive days.)?

[superbee]

Not sure where you got the 90 days from, it is if the boat stays in Canada 45 consecutive days or less. If you are renting a boat you can get the dock side checklist from the outfitter or use your boater card if you have one.

[WALLiOLE]

Checkout MN DNR HSOforum

http://files.dnr.state.mn.us/recreation/boating/canadian_boating.pdf

It gives you the examples and options you have to operate a boat in Canada. Hopefully the DNR has their ducks in a row.