Transport Canada Boat Numbers for Ontario Boaters

When boat numbers matter

Transport Canada says a Pleasure Craft Licence number must be displayed on both sides of the bow. Recreational pleasure craft generally need a PCL when they have one or more engines totalling at least 10 hp / 7.5 kW, unless another registration path applies.

• Use contrasting, legible bow numbers before towing to public ramps.
• Replace peeling, faded, or mismatched numbers before enforcement or emergency identification becomes a problem.
• Keep ownership and licence records separate; a PCL number is identification, not proof of ownership.

The launch-day product fit

Ramp searchers often discover compliance problems right before the season starts. A pre-spaced number kit turns that intent into a simple order before the weekend.