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WHY sould you have Proof of Operator Competency?

  1. The Official Reason is approximately 200 boating fatalities annually, and more than 65% of federal marine search and rescue, involve recreational boats.

  2. If that isn’t enough, another compelling reason is YOUR LIABILITY. Proof of Operator Competency is a Canadian Regulation and therefore the LAW. You may be accountable, not just for a fine, but possibly much more.

  3. More than 7 million Canadians take to the water each year with a yearly estimate of 6,000 unreported non-fatal incidents. Even if you are not yet required by this Regulation to have Proof of Operator Competency you are still liable for your actions. For your own safety and accountability you should consider having Proof of Operator Competency.

  4. Who should have Proof of Operator Competency?

  • Anyone required by the Competency of Operators of Pleasure Craft Regulations. See Proof of Operator Competency Phases table below.

  • Anyone planing to be the operator of any pleasure craft and not familiar with the laws, regulations, and recommended safety procedures should consider taking a Pleasure Craft Operator course.

WHY chose West Coast Safe Boating?           Home Page

WHY chose West Coast Safe Boating?

  1. West Coast Safe Boating is an independent cottage business working out of the Vancouver Island, VICTORIA AREA. My mission is to provide a professional INTERNET BASED course to assist you in obtaining your Pleasure Craft Operator Card.

  2. 48 Years Experience in all kinds of crafts and situations, from canoe to motor sailboat, from lakes to single handed circumnavigation of Vancouver Island.

  3. I am offering a Internet based course which I believe and feedback says is the best Internet course available. It covers all the Canadian Coast Guard criteria in lessons with review question at the end of each Section.

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Proof of Operator Competency - Regulation Phases
Youth Since September 15, 1999 all operators of POWERED pleasure craft BORN after April 1, 1983 have been required to carry Proof of Operator Competency on board at all times.
Dinghy

AS of September 15, 2002 all operators of POWERED pleasure craft less than 4 metres / 13 feet in length are required to carry Proof of Operator Competency.

Next Phase

After September 15, 2009 all operators of POWERED pleasure craft will be required to carry Proof of Operator Competency.

Tender Regardless of the size of your pleasure craft, if you carry a Powered Dinghy of less than 4 meters / 13 feet, you are required to have Proof of Operator Competency to operate the dinghy.

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Proof of Operator Competency

Proof of Operator Competency means the Pleasure Craft Operator has one of the following:
  1. Pleasure Craft Operator Card - What WCSB offers
  2. Boating Safety Course Completion Card
  3. Rental boat safety checklist
  4. Certificate or other document pertaining to boating safety

    5. See below for details.


  1. Pleasure Craft Operators Card "Pleasure Craft Operator Card" means a document issued to a person by the administrator of a CCG-accredited exam which attests that the person has passed with a mark of at least 75% and has received a Pleasure Craft Operator Card from the exam administrator.

    2. "CCG-accredited exam" means an exam that has been accredited by the Canadian Coast Guard in accordance with the established exam standard.

  2. "Boating Safety Course Completion Card" means a card issued by a person who provided a boating safety course in Canada to a person who successfully completed the course before April 1, 1999. To see whether your course qualifies contact the course provider or the Canadian Coast Guard Office of Boating Safety.

  3. "Temporary Rental Agreement" means a rental boat safety checklist must be completed and signed by both the person who makes the pleasure craft available for rent and the person who will operate the pleasure craft. This procedure must be completed before the pleasure craft is operated and is only valid for the rental period.

  4. "Certificate or other document pertaining to boating safety" means a person who is not a resident of Canada is competent to operate a pleasure craft if the person has proof of competency as set out above or has been issued a certificate or other similar document by the person’s state or country of residence attesting that the person has acquired the boating safety knowledge required by the state or country.

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Course
Content
  1. Acts, Regulations and Codes
  2. Rendering Assistance
  3. Safety Equipment
  4. Licensing of Pleasure Craft
  5. Capacity Plates
  6. Maintenance of Personal Flotation Devices and Lifejackets
  7. Pyrotechnic Distress Signals
  8. Prevention of Collision at Sea
  9. Visibility Regulations
  10. Conduct of Pleasure Craft in Sight of other Vessel
  11. Vessel Lights and Shapes
  12. Vessel Sound and Lights Signals
  13. Radar Reflectors
  14. Charts, Publications, and Documents
  15. Speed Restrictions
  16. Operation of Pleasure Craft
  17. Person Overboard
  18. Breakdowns
  19. Leaks and Flooding
  20. Capsizing, Swamping, Sinking, and Grounding
  21. Hypothermia
  22. Environment Effect on People
  23. Sharing Waterways
  24. Terminology
  25. Weather Forecast
  26. Local Hazards
  27. Trip Plan
  28. Pre-Departure Checklist
  29. Safety Equipment Usage
  30. Loading Pleasure Craft
  31. Crew Information
  32. Fueling Procedures
  33. Control speed
  34. Buoys, Beacons, and Signs
  35. Charts and Topographical Maps
  36. Compass Usage
  37. Anchoring
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