Newsletter
MTAS “BOAT EASY” Vol.1 Issue. 1
News for the Nautical
Welcome to the start of another decade on the water and the first issue of “Boat Easy”!
Each issue will contain some tips, facts and maybe even a joke or two. Stand by for some photos in May and perhaps a tall tale to boot!
Of importance in this issue is a friendly reminder that every person operating a pleasure craft in Ontario is required by law to have a Pleasure Craft Operator Card. There are no more exceptions whatsoever as of September 15, 2009. The penalty for failure to have the card is a $250.00! Ouch. Save your money and get the card!
The Pleasure Craft Operator Card is good for life and relatively easy to obtain. Drop into any Provincial Services office and pick up your free Transport Canada Safe Boating Guide. If you are an experienced boater this informative guide will prepare you for the test. Younger and less experienced boaters should enroll in a safe boating course prior to taking the test!
Take your exam online at BoaterExam.com or enroll in a safe boating course at cps-ecp.ca.
Remember also that if you operate a pleasure craft in the Toronto Port Harbor area you will also need to obtain a Toronto Port Authority Vessel Operators Permit! A Temporary permit is obtained prior to testing so just go to torontoport.com. Click on the header “Port” and scroll down to “recreational boat operator permit”. It’s that easy! Of course a small fee is required but that’s no surprise, now is it?
It does seem like almost every aspect of our lives requires a permit (don’t forget the fee!) or license of some sort but hey…if it makes play or work safer for you and your family why not? Enough said!
With winter upon us it is easy to forget some safe boating practices come spring launch time. Equipment gets misplaced or lost, fire extinguishers and flares need to be recharged or replaced…kids grow and get heavier requiring new PFDs and that’s just the beginning!
Pleasure craft under 6m (19’8”) in length are required to carry an approved PFD for every person on board. In addition a buoyant heaving line 15m (50’) or longer, a paddle or anchor with 15m (50’) of rope or chain must be on board. If you have a ‘fixed’ fuel tank or inboard engine a class 5BC fire extinguisher must be mounted in a readily accessible place. A watertight flashlight or 3 type A, B or C distress flares are also mandatory. You also need to have a whistle or air horn on board! And of course a hand bailer or manual bilge pump! All these items must be on board or you could face some stiff fines or worse…you could need them and not have them!
The Safe Boating Guide contains more information for crafts of different size both power and sail, and the mandatory safety devices they require. Making sure is making safe…so check before you leave the shore.
*******MTAS and its’ employees would like to remind you that water levels do change from year to year and season to season so that rock or shoal you so confidently zoomed over last year may have ‘moved’! Start your season with caution and the right safety equipment or we will be seeing you sooner than later. Boat Easy!
MTAS will have a booth at the 2010 The Toronto Boat Show so stop by and check out our “Boat Easy Plan”. It is the deal of the season!
Some Nautical Facts
Lake Ontario is the 14th largest lake in the world with a surface area of 18,960 square Km (7340 square miles)! It is 311 km. (193 miles) long by 85 km. (53 miles) wide. With an average depth of 86 m. (283 feet) and a maximum depth of 244 m. (802 feet) treat it with respect, don’t get lost and stay off the bottom because at that depth MTAS may not be able to find you!