Saint John, also St. John, but not to be confused with St. John’s, is the largest city in New Brunswick, one of Canada’s Maritime Provinces and a particularly popular destination for boating enthusiasts. Saint John is a port city, and with that comes all the boat and water-oriented features one would expect from a modern boating community. Saint John is not all business, however, and vacationers come from all around to experience features such as the Marble Cove and the Reversing Falls. For boaters and anglers alike, Saint John offers a wide range of opportunities, including saltwater and fresh as well as power boating, sail boating, kayaking, jet skis and even whitewater rafting.
For those who plan to operate a motorized boat while on vacation, you need a boating license. Saint John requires one by law. If you do not have one, the charters will not rent to you, and the local authorities will hand out hefty fines if they catch you operating without one. Of course, there are plenty of things to do in Saint John without a boating license, but you will need one to take full advantage of the area. Fortunately, the license is easy to acquire. You can take the test online, at least four weeks in advance of your trip, or you can schedule it, and take it when you get there. They will provide you with full privileges via a temporary card, and the real one comes later by mail.
You only pay for your Boating License Exam once. If you don’t pass, you can try the exam again at no additional charge.
ASM Safe Safe Boating encourages boaters in all provinces to take a Transport Canada Accredited course to obtain the Canadian Boating License (officially known as a Pleasure Craft Operator Card). ASM Safe Boating, through its partnership with BoaterExam.com, offers Transport Canada accredited courses and certification for the Canadian Pleasure Craft Operator Card.
If you operate a boat, you have to have a boater license. It’s the law. Without a Pleasure Craft Operator Card, or boat operators license, you’re automatically subject to a $250 fine.
