Transport Canada Compliance

Great Loop
Boat Requirements

Every Transport Canada and USCG compliance requirement a Canadian boater must meet before departing Ontario on the Great Loop — registration markings, safety gear, border crossing rules, and waterway-specific restrictions.

Most common Canadian Looper compliance failure: missing or undersized PCL numbers

US Customs agents regularly cite Canadian vessels at the first crossing for PCL numbers that are too small, the wrong colour, or missing entirely. Getting cited delays your entry and can result in a mandatory return to Canada to correct it. Transport Canada requires 7.5 cm (3 inches) minimum height, block characters, on both sides of the bow — before you ever leave your home port.

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Pleasure Craft Licence Numbers — The Standard

Specification	Requirement	Reference
Character height	Minimum 7.5 cm (3 inches)	Small Vessel Regulations, SOR/2010-91
Character style	Block letters — no script or cursive	Transport Canada TP 14604
Contrast	Must contrast clearly with hull colour	Small Vessel Regulations
Location	Forward half of hull, both sides of bow	Small Vessel Regulations
Height above waterline	Must be clearly visible from the water	TC TP 14604
Hyphens	Hyphens permitted between groups of 3 characters	Transport Canada standard
Format	e.g. CAN 123456 or ABC 123456	TC PCL format

Pro tip from experienced Loopers:

Order your PCL numbers in black on white vinyl — visible at the dock in low light, easy to photograph at border crossings, and universally legible. Avoid metallic or chrome — they blend into fibreglass hulls in certain light conditions and fail the contrast test.

Transport Canada Safety Equipment (Small Vessel Regs)

Equipment	Vessels ≤ 6 m	Vessels 6–9 m	Vessels > 9 m
TC-approved PFD or lifejacket	1 per person	1 per person	1 per person
Buoyant heaving line ≥15 m	1	1	1
Manual bilge pump or bailer	Required	Required	Required
Sound signalling device	Required	Required	Required
Navigation lights	Required if operated at night	Required if operated at night	Required
Fire extinguisher (TC-approved)	If closed compartment	1 min.	2 min.
EPIRB or PLB (406 MHz)	Recommended	Recommended	Strongly advised for offshore
DSC-equipped VHF	Recommended	Required in protected waters	Required

Source: Transport Canada Small Vessel Regulations SOR/2010-91, Schedule 2. Last verified: June 2026. Always confirm current requirements at tc.canada.ca before departure.

Canadian Waterway Restrictions

Trent-Severn Waterway

Operated by Parks Canada

✓Maximum draft: 1.5 m (5 ft) at normal operating water levels
✓Maximum beam: 5.6 m at most locks (7.9 m at some newer locks)
✓Speed limit: 9 km/h within 30 m of any structure or shoreline posted
✓Canal pass required (season pass or transit pass — purchase online before arrival)
✓Lockmaster hours: 09:00–19:00 ET (extended hours mid-July to August)

Rideau Canal

Operated by Parks Canada (UNESCO)

✓Maximum draft: 1.6 m at average operating levels (variable — check Parks Canada)
✓Speed limit: strictly enforced — wake damage to heritage structures
✓Canal permit required (separate from Trent-Severn)
✓Lockmaster hours similar to Trent-Severn
✓Some historic locks hand-operated — allow extra transit time

Georgian Bay / North Channel

Operated by Transport Canada / No permit needed

✓No locks — open Great Lakes water
✓Shoal-dense — current large-scale paper charts or fully updated electronic charts mandatory
✓NOAA/Environment Canada weather monitoring essential — sudden severe weather
✓"Not for navigation" disclaimer on all digital PMTiles/OpenSeaMap overlays — always use certified charts
✓GFPA (Great Lakes Pilot Rules) apply when transiting with vessels over 300 GT

Common Questions

Do I need boat registration numbers to do the Great Loop?

Yes. Transport Canada requires all motorised pleasure craft operated in Canadian waters to display their Pleasure Craft Licence (PCL) number on both sides of the bow. Numbers must be at least 7.5 cm high, in block characters, and in a colour that contrasts with the hull. This is inspected by both the Canadian Coast Guard and US Customs when you cross the border.

What is the minimum boat size for the Great Loop?

There is no legal minimum size, but practical constraints set the floor. The Trent-Severn Waterway has a maximum draft of 1.5 m (5 ft) and a beam restriction at several locks. Most Loopers use boats between 28 and 50 feet. Very small boats (under 24 ft) face seakeeping challenges crossing Georgian Bay and Lake Michigan.

What documents do I need to cross from Canada into the US on a boat?

You need valid passports for all persons aboard, a Pleasure Craft Licence or vessel registration document, proof of insurance, and you must report to a CBP (Customs and Border Protection) reporting location within a reasonable time of crossing. Canadian vessels must call the US CBP border reporting line (1-800-432-1812) before or immediately upon entering US waters.

Is insurance required for the Great Loop?

There is no federal legal requirement for pleasure craft insurance in Canada or the US, but it is strongly advised. Most marinas along the Great Loop require proof of insurance (typically $300,000 to $1,000,000 liability) before allowing you to dock. Great Loop-specific cruising policies are available from Canadian and US marine insurers.

TC Registration Numbers

Compliant PCL decals cut to Transport Canada spec — ships Canada-wide in 3–7 days.

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Departure Checklist

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