By Brian Schultz
In relation with North American Safe Boating Awareness Week, Transport Canada has introduced new rules that all boaters will need to take notice of before heading out on the water.
Anyone who plans to operate a motorized boat now has to take a safety course, and pass a test to get a pleasure craft operating card.
The new rules apply to personal water craft and all boats under 4m in length.
Other regulations to make note of are:
- Anyone born after April 1983 will be required to carry proof that they are licensed.
- Operators under the age of 12 not directly supervised by an adult can only operate a boat that has no more than ten horse power.
- Unsupervised youth between the ages of 12 and 16 can operate a craft with no more than 40 horse power.
- Operators age 16 and older with the proper certification have no restrictions.
- Every motor boat owner and operator in Canada will need to have the pleasure craft operator card by Sept. 15, 2009.
Those boaters who operate their watercraft without a pleasure craft card could be fined $250.
