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Frequently Asked Questions
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Is certification mandatory for boaters?
 | Yes! Mandatory boating safety certification is in effect NOW. See below
for details. On September 15, 2009 all boaters require a "Pleasure Craft Operators
Card". Read on to see how your family is impacted! |
When do we need to have the "Pleasure Craft
Operator's Card?":
Everyone who operates a power driven boat requires it Now! The regulations
had been introduced in three phases but all are in effect now.
Why do we need Boating Safety training?
| Reducing accidents and fatalities is the goal. There are an average of
200 fatalities per year and an estimated 6000 non-fatal boating accidents
involving serious personal injuries or property loss. |
| Statistics show uneducated boaters experience 5 times as many fatalities
as educated boaters. |
I’ve been boating all my life, why do I need this now?
| After teaching over 15,000 people, we have encountered many people with a
wide range of boating experience. |
| Even very experienced boaters find they learn something new and find the
course a good refresher. |
| Regulations have changed, you may not be aware of the changes. |
| The RCMP & OPP, who deal with serious boating accidents, tell us that
most boaters don’t understand right of way rules and buoys and markers. The
lack of knowledge in these two areas is the cause of many accidents. |
| While we recommend the course, experienced boaters can challenge the
exam if they are confident of their knowledge. We strongly recommend reading
the course material. |
Why small boats first?
Many boaters are surprised that smaller boat operators must have their "card"
first. The reasons are simple.
| The smaller boats are where majority of the fatalities happen. |
| There are a greater number of smaller boats than large. |
| A smaller boat is more sensitive to how it is loaded and susceptible to
changes in wind, weather and waves. Ignoring these points in a small boat can
be dangerous. |
What is covered in the course?
| new mandatory equipment requirements |
| regulations impacting boaters |
| dealing with emergencies such as hypothermia, capsizing, grounding; how to
call for help and indicate distress |
| understanding aids to navigation (buoys, markers) |
| right of way rules; identifying hazards . . . And much more! |
How long is the "Card" good for?
| The Pleasure Craft Operators "Card" is good for life. |
What happens if I don’t have my "Card"?
| You may be fined if you do not have your "Card" |
| Also, your insurance may be invalid. The new regulations make it
similar to car insurance - no license - no coverage. Check with your
insurance agent. Be sure that anyone who uses your boat has their "Card" if
required. |
At what age can children take the course and test?
| We have taught students as young as 8 years of age - all did extremely
well. We use special youth exams for ages 8 to 12
and 13 to 15 (not everyone does). We recommend youth take a course rather than
challenging the exam. |
| The best approach is for the whole family to take the course together.
When the parents take the course at the same time as their children, they know
exactly what their children have been taught and can reinforce the same
knowledge. |
What kind of exam is it?
| There are 36 multiple choice questions. The pass mark is 75%. The passing
rate of students taking our course is very high. |
Where can I take a course?
| Many people have asked us to set up courses
for family, friends or club members. You can make it a fun event for your
group. All you need is a minimum of 12 to 15 people . |
| In Winnipeg check with Continuing Education Department in your area. |
| In rural areas check with your recreation director. |
What’s the difference between Boating Safety courses?
| Not all Boating Safety instructors have the same experience! Learn from
instructors who have extensive experience that can give real life examples. It
makes it easy to learn and fun for boaters with all levels of experience. Rod
& Marianne Nuttall are certified instructors each with over 45 years of
boating experience in both power and sail boats; inland and ocean waters. |
| We have offered Boating Safety courses to many groups in Manitoba and NW
Ontario since the inception of this program in 1999. We have certified
over 15,000 boaters to date. |
Here are comments from their students:
| "I learned quite a few things . . . and I thought I was an "old hand."
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| "Great course !!!" |
| . . . the best feature of the course? |
| "having an instructor that "has been there, done that" |
| "knowledge of instructors & ability to answer all questions" |
| "good length of time - fun to be with instructors and people you know
from your lake" |
| "knowledgeable, fun, interesting" |
What about an online course?
| Some providers advertise internet courses and exams. Many of these are
quite acceptable if you prefer to learn on your own and do take the time to
study. |
| Be aware, you must have
an approved proctor supervise the writing of your exam and they must be
present at all times when you take the test. Recent Transport Canada
regulation changes make it illegal to write the test in your own home. Some proctors may charge you an additional
fee. |
What about commercial boaters?
| Anyone who works on a boat requires certification
right now. Some smaller commercial boats may use the
Pleasure Craft Operators Card training in lieu of other Commercial training.
Call us or Transport Canada for clarification. Transport Canada recommends all
commercial operators take a comprehensive course (6 hour basic is a
recommended option). |
To print out a copy of Frequent Questions: follow this link:
Frequent PCOC Questions.pdf
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