What Is the Purpose of a Pleasure Craft Courtesy Check?
The Pleasure Craft Courtesy Check program was put in place to educate boaters about preventive boating safety measures, so you can be sure you have the right safety equipment and your vessel is safe.
When you get a free Pleasure Craft Courtesy Check (PCCC), you will find out whether you are up to date on boating safety requirements. Then it’s up to you to make any adjustments necessary to your vessel or equipment to take to the water responsibly.
Pleasure Craft Courtesy Check: A Free Service
A Pleasure Craft Courtesy Check is a free service offered by select organisations on behalf of Transport Canada in conjunction with the Canadian Coast Guard Auxiliary and the Canadian Power & Sail Squadrons (CPS). You can use this service to confirm that you have all necessary safety equipment on board your boat, and that your boat is in good working condition at the time of the check.
Why Get a Pleasure Craft Courtesy Check?
A Courtesy Check is an easy way to prevent trouble and stick to regulations every boating season. If you do not have the necessary safety equipment on board, in good working condition, you could be fined $200.
With a free Courtesy Check, you can:
- Enjoy a safe boating experience for yourself, passengers, and others on the water.
- Comply with Transport Canada regulations, which require pleasure craft operators to have the necessary safety equipment and meet specific standards.
PCCC: What to expect
A trained boating safety volunteer will board and inspect your boat and safety equipment, and inform you of any repairs or improvements that are needed to meet current boating safety standards.
Checks will cover:
- Safety equipment such as life jackets, fire extinguishers, and distress signals.
- Navigation and communication systems, including navigation lights, radar reflectors, horn, and radio.
- Engine and fuel system
- And more!
How you can help
During the inspection, you may be asked to turn machinery on or off, or direct people to use or not to use specific equipment. If you need to fix something, you may be asked to move your vessel to a different location to make the necessary improvements, or not to use the boat until it is adjusted.
You will also need to provide all relevant paperwork, such as boat registration or titling, and your boat compliance notice, as needed.
Follow up
The inspector will return a second time after you’ve had time to get things up to par. Once everything is in order, you will be issued a Safety Inspection Sticker to certify that your vessel and onboard safety and emergency equipment comply with Transport Canada safe boating requirements.
Inadequate boat or equipment
There is no need to worry. The purpose of the Courtesy Check is to help boaters stay informed about boating safety and prevent boating accidents, which are often related to mechanical failure, and boating deaths, which are often related to inadequate safety equipment like PFDs. This service is all about education and prevention, not punishment, so you will not be penalized if your boat and equipment are not up to standard at the time of the PCCC.
However, you do remain responsible for getting them up to standard before going boating.
Pleasure Craft Courtesy Check volunteers
Pleasure Craft Checks in Canada can be performed by a volunteer who is:
- A member of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police
- A member of any river or harbour police force
- A member of any provincial or municipal police force
- Any person designated as an enforcement officer by the Canadian Minister of Transport.
For more information about scheduling a Courtesy Check, visit the Canadian Power and Sail Squadrons website.
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