Get Your Pleasure Craft Operator Card Before The Deadline!In 1999 federal legislation was put in place for the pleasure craft operator card. This was in response to a growing necessity for boat owners to be accredited. The card is for life and you can easily get replacements through lose or damage. Transport Canada holds the right to allow organizations to accredit boat owners. The training is mandatory. It is law that a proof of competency be on recreational vessel at all times. The legislation has been in place for almost ten years now. By 15th September 2009 all boat owners must have the card. Initially the test was targeted at young boat users who through a lack of experience may not posess skills in an emergency situation. The next objective group were those who owned a vessel that is less than four meters in length, which is fitted with an engine. Proof of the test can take one of three forms as follows: * Completed a boating safety course in Canada before 1st April 1999
* Owning a pleasure craft operator card (PCOC) issued by Transport Canada after completing the test
* Finished a rental-boat safety checklist including power driven rental boats 
There has been an incentive to get the boating community to take the test on line. Discounts on leading brands are offered - usually 10% over a range of products. Which over the course of ones hobby's life cycle is a considerable saving. The Safe boater training scheme was the governments own response to the testing. There are over two hundred test centers across the country. The aim of the program is to provide the correct environment for education. The best manuals, materials and courses are on offer. Practical instruction is on hand too. The Canadian Coast Guard offer an accredited test. The pass mark is 75%. Preparation for the test is recommended although not essential. To many seasoned boaters examination by the Coast Guard is formality. Techniques learned and practiced over the years are second nature and the card is awarded quickly. Of course for others who try to cram the knowledge and lack experience, see the test as a hurdle.
Each accredited organization produces a test in line with the on the contents of the Safe Boating Guide published by the Canadian Government Office of Boating Safety. the coastline of Canada is 202,080 km in length. It is the longest coastline of any country in the world. The length of the coastline runs through many challenging environments. So it is natural for the government office of boating safety to make the test mandatory.
|
