Pleasure Craft Operator Card
The Pleasure Craft
Operator Card, also known as a PCOC, is proof
of competency under the Competency of Operators of Pleasure Craft
Regulations. 
PCOC FAQ's
We are a Sail Canada Certified Instructor for the
PCOC.
As of September 15, 2009 any person operating
any powered recreational boat must have proof of competency. The PCOC if one form of
proof.
Exemptions:
Proof of previous training (until 03/31/1999) such
as Canadian Power Squadron or Sail Canada, (CYA) courses.
Three Sail Canada LTC/LTP standards have been
approved by Transport Canada. The specific standards are Basic Power, Basic Cruise and Basic Outboard. Not
all enforcement officers understand the regulations recognizing specified training in lieu of PCOC. Sail
Canada continues to recommend that students acquire a PCOC card to simplify demonstration of proof of
competency. This may now be done for basic graduates by simply completing the card application – no
additional exam is required.
Grace period of 45 days for non-residents of Canada
operating foreign boats without a recognized Competency Card.
In addition to carrying Proof of Competency aboard,
you are also required to carry personal picture identification.
How to obtain your Pleasure Craft Operator Card,
PCOC:
For Canadian boaters,
For U.S.A. boaters,
The Vessel Operation Restriction
Regulations include items like speed limits both posted and
unposted (such as shoreline speed zones), designated waters where boats are prohibited and waters where
certain activities are restricted, among others.
The regulations also outline age-horsepower
restrictions. These restrictions prohibit those less than 16 years of age from operating craft above
specified horsepower limits. If an operator is accompanied and directly supervised in the pleasure craft by
someone 16 years of age or older, the age-horsepower restrictions do not apply. These restrictions also
prohibit those less than 16 years of age from operating personal watercraft regardless of whether they are
accompanied or not.
| How this
applies to operators of pleasure craft fitted with a motor and used for recreational
purposes |
Power
restrictions |
| Less than 12 years of age and not directly
supervised** |
Can operate a pleasure craft with no more than 10 hp
(7.5 kW)
|
| Between 12, and under, 16 years of age and not
directly supervised** |
Can operate a pleasure craft with no more than 40 hp
(30 kW) |
| Less than 16 years of age |
Not allowed to operate a PWC*** |
| 16 years of age or older |
No power restrictions |
|
* These requirements apply in all areas outside the
Northwest Territories and Nunavut at this time.
** Directly supervised means accompanied and
directly supervised in the boat by someone 16 years of age or older who has a
PCOC.
*** Personal watercraft
These restrictions are made under the Vessel
Operation Restriction Regulations and are not affected nor superseded by the Competency of
Operators of Pleasure Craft Regulations. The Vessel Operation Restriction Regulations and
Competency of Operators of Pleasure Craft Regulations are entirely separate regulations and their
respective requirements are complementary.
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