Acts, Regulations and Code, governing Pleasure Craft Operators

Introduction:
As the operator of a pleasure craft, you are in effective charge and control.  Therefore you are legally responsible for the safety of persons onboard.  You are also responsible for the boat, other people and property around you that your presence affects.

The following titles (includes general highlights), are the various Canadian "Acts," "Code," and "Regulations" all pleasure craft operators are governed by.  Failure to comply with these laws subjects operators to fines and penalties.

Know too; Guarding against terrorist attacks, U.S. Naval vessels now patrol the Great Lakes and other shared border waterways.  Only operate your vessel at minimum speed  when within 500 yards of any U.S. naval vessel.  Do not come closer than 100 yards.  If you must come closer (in order to comply with Navigation Rules), you must first contact the U.S. naval vessel, (or the Coast Guard escort vessel), on VHF-FM channel 16.

Canada Shipping Act 2001:

Under this Act,  pleasure craft operators must;

• carry proof of competency onboard  (i.e. your Pleasure Craft Operator Card)
  
• watch for signals that indicate distress and a need for assistance  "all vessel operators are required to render assistance, in so far as they can, without seriously endangering their own vessel or persons onboard, to anyone found at sea and in danger of being lost".
  

Charts & Nautical Publications Regulations:
Temperature differences over land & water cause mirage, especially in the spring and fall.  With no road signs at sea, and no recognizable landmarks, you'll need a chart (nautical map) & compass to find your way!

• The Charts & Nautical Publications Regulations require most pleasure craft, (not propelled by oars),  to carry the most recently corrected, large scale charts covering its area of operation.  Depending on your area of operation, other publications and documents may be required too;  Tide Tables, list of Lights, Buoys & Fog Signals, Radio Aids to Navigation.
  

• Maintain a constant lookout whenever underway, know, & obey the rules of the road (presented latter).
  
• Proceed only at a safe speed, in or out of sight of other vessels.
  
• Recognize lights & shapes, sound & light signals, and distress signals.
  
• Install a passive radar reflector, an unfolded sample is shown at left.  Some exceptions to this requirement may apply and are described later.