If you’re like any other boat-loving explorer in BC, you’re excited to pull the boat out and make this summer the best one! We don’t have to tell you twice that BC boating has something for everyone, with hundreds of lakes and a seemingly endless coastline.

Where should you go for the best adventures (or relaxation) on the water? Keep reading! We’re giving you the lowdown on getting your BC boating license and Pleasure Craft Licence and exploring five of the best boating destinations in BC!

Illustration of a BC boat with a zoom-in call out image of a boat license number.

Start Your Bucket List Off Right

Let’s start from the top. If you need your BC boating licence for this summer, your first steps should look like this:

If you own a boat, you’ll need both of the licences we mentioned above.

What Is a BC Boating Licence (or Pleasure Craft Operator Card)?

This is your license to drive (a boat)!

After taking your BOATsmart course, you receive your boating license as proof of competency after completing a Transport Canada Accredited exam. You must pass the official test to get your boating licence or BOATsmart! Card to legally operate a boat in British Columbia.

(This is essentially the boater’s “driver’s license”).

Your Boat Needs a License, Too

Next, you’ll have to get your Pleasure Craft Licence. Not sure what a Pleasure Craft Licence is? That’s what we’re here for!

The Pleasure Craft Licence is a document with a unique number belonging to a specific pleasure craft. You must carry a copy of your Pleasure Craft License on board at all times. This license number must be displayed on both sides of the bow of your boat so that search and rescue and law enforcement can identify pleasure craft in emergency situations.

There’s a $250 fine for operating a vessel without a licence, so be sure to license your boat before heading out.

(This is essentially your boat’s “license plate”).

Visit the Transport Canada website for a full list of requirements in regard to your Pleasure Craft Licence.

Where Should You Go for the Best BC Boating?

Now that you’re ready for a summer of freedom and good times on the water, get your life jacket on and get out there! Here are five of BC’s best boating destinations for this summer.

Late Winter Reflections on Lake Okanagan
By Extemporalist – Own work, CC0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=39101060 

1. Okanagan Lake

It’s worth your while to find this beautiful, hidden lake. It spans over 110 kilometres with some of the clearest waters in all of British Columbia!

From your boat, take in picturesque views. Visit isolated beaches. Try to solve the mystery of the elusive Ogopogo. it’s no wonder this is a top destination for BC boaters!

Princess Louisa Inlet harbour, BC boating concept.
By Klaus Johansson – Own work, CC BY-SA 4.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=48115720

2. Princess Louisa Inlet

If you’re in the mood for impressive fjords, waterfalls, and intricate waterways, the Princess Louisa Inlet is a place you “must” boat in BC. It’s a historic waterway at the Northeast end of the Jervis inlet with enough scenery to explore for a month (or more)!

A view of Atlin Lake British Columbia.
By Ghostreveries – Own work, Public Domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=11237135

3. Atlin Lake

Tucked away in Northwestern BC, Atlin Lake is the largest natural lake in BC. Known across Canada for its trophy trout fishing, this gem is worth the trip with your fishing buddies!

An aerial view of the Gulf Islands, boating in BC concept.
By No machine-readable author provided. Keefer4~commonswiki assumed (based on copyright claims). [CC BY-SA 2.5 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.5)], via Wikimedia Commons

4. Gulf Islands

How about some Island hopping? The Gulf Islands are a popular coastal destination in the Salish Sea. You’ll find hundreds of tiny islands to explore as you venture to this destination on your boat.

You might even see a breaching orca or a sea lion sunbathing casually as you navigate the islands.

The water, trees, and mountains of Desolation Sound.
CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=1134649

5. Desolation Sound

A beautiful family destination, Desolation Sound boasts over 60 kilometers of coastline on the Northern end of BC’s Sunshine Coast. In the summer, you’ll enjoy warm water ideal for swimming.

The Sound also offers some of the best saltwater cruising in BC!

Get Your Boating Licence and Enjoy BC Boating 

Ready for some BC boating? Take your boater education course and get your boating licence first!

BOATsmart! makes it easy. Sign up for the course, enjoy the course and what you learn about boat safety, pass the exam, and get your card. Then, you’re ready for boating adventures!

Originally published in April 2016. Content most recently reviewed and updated for accuracy and relevancy October 3, 2024.

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