Canadian Pleasure Craft Operator Card !

[bobofthenorth]

Originally Posted by David M

Even if an exam does not take days to take and has no practical on-the-water section, something is better than nothing as far as reducing accidents goes.

Absolutely true. But in the case of the PCOC we're not talking about "something" we're talking about nothing. Unless you consider a blatant revenue grab by shyster card issuers operating with the blessing of one of the largest branches of our federal government "something". The PCOC isn't reducing accidents - all its doing is lining the pockets of some sleazeball operators. It deserves no credibility whatsoever.

[Ratliners]

Regarding liscenses in Canada if I am not mistaken it goes something like this. First the much debated pleasure craft card then you can get a MED A3 which is basic safety at sea and then your small vessel operators proficiency all of which are class room work and no on the water sea time need. Add the restricted radio operators licsence and you are able to operate a commercial vessel under five tons up to twenty five miles off shore. To carry passengers or operate larger vessels there are 50 ton and 100 ton liscenses which have sea time requirements and the exam must be done on the vessel operated and in the waters which will be plied. There may be more but this is the basic outline. I am qualified to operate five tons and under up to twenty five miles off shore. As for the boater course when I brought my concerns up to those who mattered I was told that a tougher requirements were comeing that would require operators to be checked out on there own vessels. When this is coming I am not sure (not soon enough). After many years working on a waterway I can't count the number of boaters who would stop me asking for directions with a road map as a chart. We had a boater examiner in our area who not only was not a boater as in never, but had never written the exam he was administering. This system deffinately has flaws.