All About Declarations of Pleasure Craft Ownership
What is a pleasure craft license?
A pleasure craft is a vessel used for pleasure, recreation or daily living. This includes motor boats, personal watercraft like Sea-Doos and motorized sailboats.
A document having a specific licence number for a pleasure craft, like a boat, is known as a pleasure craft licence. A pleasure craft licence is issued by Transport Canada. A pleasure craft licence serves as the vessel’s identification and gives search and rescue workers access to crucial information in case of an emergency.
Every pleasure craft needs to have a pleasure craft license, unless:
- the motor is less than 10 hp
- it has a vessel registration
- it was purchased less than 90 days ago (this is a licensing grace period)
How do I get a pleasure craft license?
Transport Canada issues pleasure craft licences. You can apply for a pleasure craft license through the Pleasure Craft Electronic Licensing System (PCELS) or you can fill out a paper Form 84-0172E, Application for Pleasure Craft Licence. You will also need to provide:
- proof of ownership of the pleasure craft
- a signed photocopy of a government issued ID, and
- a current full side-view colour photograph of the pleasure craft
What if I don’t have proof of ownership of my pleasure craft?
If you purchased a used pleasure craft, you might not have received a bill of sale or another document that proves your ownership. Or if you built your own pleasure craft, you obviously wouldn’t have a bill of sale! That’s okay – you can submit a declaration of pleasure craft ownership.
What is a declaration of pleasure craft ownership?
A declaration of pleasure craft ownership is a document that states why you cannot produce a bill of sale or proof of ownership. A pleasure craft ownership declaration must be signed and sworn before a notary public or commissioner for taking oaths.
How do I get a pleasure craft ownership declaration?
We have created a simple and free declaration of pleasure craft ownership template that you can download and edit. Once you’ve customized your declaration, you can book an appointment to have your declaration notarized with one of our notaries.
You can download the template: Declaration of Pleasure Craft Ownership Template
LET JURIS NOTARY HELP
Do you need to consult with someone about your legal matters or need to get any documents notarized? Get in touch with Juris Notary, and we’ll be happy to help you out or point you in the correct direction if need be.