Register or License in Canada ?

[pierrrre]

Hi

I am in the process of buying a boat. Now, I have to decide if I want to keep her registered or license her. I want to change the name and the port of registry since registered out of the province. The ick is that, to change the ownership it would cost me $150, the port of registry $150 and the name $250 for a grand total of $550. If I licence her instead, it will cost me a bridge fare across the harbour $0.75 to Service Canada office.

What would be the advantage to keep her registered? I am not planning any offshore cruising. Maybe some day a cruise to the US but that is about it.

Thanks

[GordMay]

Canadian licensing can be compared to U.S. registration - licensing is the most common method used for pleasure boat identification.
Canadian registration is similar to U.S. documentation, and usually reserved for large and commercial vessels.

Owners of existing licensed boats may:
1. keep their old number
2. request a new one to get into the new government license database
3. enter old license numbers into the new system

More about Pleasure Craft Licensure:

☞ More information about pleasure craft licences

☞ Dealer's Guide to Pleasure Craft Licensing

☞ Pleasure craft licences: Questions and answers

If you enjoy confusion & misinformation, see also: http://www.cruisersforum.com/forums/...ada-28896.html

[pierrrre]

Thanks Gordmay,

I had already contacted service Canada and TC about the hoops and loops to get my boat register or license. My dilemma is that I can not see, and nobody seems to know either, why one would rather register a pleasure craft instead of licensing it. There must be some kind of obscure reasons, that I don't understand, to choose to dish out hundreds of dollars for something you can get for free.

P.S you were right about the confusion of the other post....

[GordMay]

I wouyldn't bother, but registration gives you some benefits, including:
- proof of ownership (legal title) for your boat;
- the right to fly the Canadian flag (???)
- a unique name and official number for your boat; and
- the right to use your boat as security for a marine mortgage.

[pierrrre]

Thanks Gordmay

Licensing it is then.