Lock Navigation Lock navigation can be challening. It’s important to follow instructions and be confident while navigating a lock. Always listen to the lock master and control your speed. A lock...

Handling Rough Water Conditions When boating in rough water you should adjust your boat’s speed as appropriate to the water conditions. Slow down and use caution. Adjust your speed so that the bow...

Pre-Departure Checklist Completing a Pre-Departure Checklist before getting underway is an excellent way to avoid unsuitable operating conditions and reduce the risk of a breakdown. You should always ...

Boat Docking Procedures Just like parking your car in a busy parking lot, docking your boat at a busy marina presents opportunities for your boat to get damaged. Additionally, the weather conditions w...

What is a Trip Plan? A trip plan (also known as a float plan or sail plan) is a document that outlines your expected travel itinerary while on the water. The document should be given to a responsible ...

The Lateral System The Lateral Navigation System is used to mark the most preferred and safest routes. Consisting of red and green buoys, this system marks the course of deepest water and indic...

Hull Leaks and Flooding Striking underwater hazards such as a submerged rock, sunken island, shoal or deadhead may cause serious damage to your craft resulting in a breach of the hull. If the hull of ...

Safety Underway: Operating your Boat Safely Enjoying Canada’s waterways is one of our greatest summer pastimes. While we all want to have fun and enjoy a day on the water, sharing the waterways with...

Safe Boat Operation and Navigation in Restricted Visibility Boaters should take additional care to ensure safe boat operation and navigation in restricted visibility, such as fog, darkness or heavy ra...

Choosing a Safe Speed The Vessel Operation Restriction Regulations impose standardized speed limits and shoreline speed zones (usually local in nature) and the Collision Regulations specify that it i...