Frequently Asked Questions

A Canadian-issued pleasure craft operator card.
A completed boat rental safety check-list (for power-driven rental boats).
An operator card or equivalent issued by their state or country*.

*NASBLA issued cards are recognized for citizens of the United States.

Children under the age of 12 and not directly supervised by someone 16 years of age or older can operate a recreational vessel with no more than 10 hp (7.5 KW) .
Youth between 12 years of age and under 16 years of age and not directly supervised by someone 16 years of age or older can operate a recreational vessel with no more than 40 hp (30 KW).
Only persons 16 years of age or older can operate a personal watercraft (PWC) regardless of supervision.

These restrictions apply to all operators of pleasure craft in Canadian waters both domestic and foreign.

The vessel has permanent sleeping facilities
The vessel has permanent cooking facilities
The vessel has a permanent toilet
The vessel is anchored or secured alongside a dock

Driving Under the Influence

Boating while impaired is an offence under the Criminal Code of Canada.

Operators with more than 80 milligrams of alcohol per 100 millilitres of blood are liable to the following fines :

1st offence : at least $600 fine
2nd offence : at least 14 days of imprisonment
3rd offence : at least 90 days of imprisonment
The maximum sentence may vary depending on provincial statutes.

The maximum size of the vessel which can be transported on the carriage is as follows:
Vessel weight - 90 tonnes (99.0 tons)
Length - 30.5 m (99.2')
Beam - 7.3 m (24')

Buildings along waterways may, as part of the permit process from the municipality, require permits from the local Conservation Authority who may control "cut" and "fill" on the lot as well as buildings in the vicinity of the watercourse. Normally this has to do with flood regulations and also to control runoff and siltation (during and after construction) which may effect the watercourse or other properties.

"Works" out in the watercouse such as docks or the construction of a breakwater or dredging of a channel would require permission of "the owner" who is most likely the Crown. In the case of the Trent Severn waterway, this would be where you would go for a "permit". Approval from the Ministry of Natural Resources would probably be required as well. Where the watercourse is not regulated by the Trent Severn, then just the MNR and Conservation Authority would be involved.

So the combination of these various groups would look after things such as navigation or obstructions to it, potential flooding, siltation and runoff, fish and wildlife to name just a few.

I hope this is of assistance to you.

Lock #1 Trenton
Lock #18 Hastings
Lock #36 Kirkfield Lift Lock
Lock#42 Couchiching
Lock # 44 Big Chute Marine Railway
Lock #45 Port Severn

Charts can also be purchased on our site.

If you have a cellular phone on board your boat, and you require assistance, you may contact the nearest O.P.P Communications Centre by calling *OPP (*677). You may also reach the Rescue Coordination Centre in Trenton by calling 1-800-267-7270.

All Canadian Coast Guard radio stations monitor VHF channel 16 (156.8 MHz) on a twenty-four hour basis. This channel is to be used for distress, emergency and safety calls only. In addition, if you key *16 on your cellular phone, your call will be automatically routed to the closest Coast Guard radio station.

Citizen band radio, channel 9, is also open to emergency calls for assistance.

The distress call, MAYDAY, indicates that the station sending the signal is threatened by grave and imminent danger and requires immediate assistance. The message, PANPAN, means that the sender requires help of an urgent basis.

Parks Canada

The season for walleye and pike opens on the second Saturday in May. With a sport fishing license, anglers can keep six in one day; with a conservation license you are only allowed two.

The Muskie season opens the first Saturday in June. With a sport license, you can keep one muskie per day. Minimum length requirement is 91 centimetres or 36 inches. With a conservation license you are not allowed to keep any.

Fishing for large and small mouth bass begins on the last Saturday in June. Those with a sport license can keep up to six per day and anglers with a conservation license are allowed to keep two.

You are okay to take your vessel through the system.

Seasonal Lockage Permit – Allows passage through any number of locks throughout the entire navigation season.
Six-Day Permit – Allows passage through any number of locks on any six days.
One-Day Permit – Allows passage through any number of locks in one day.
Single Lockage and Return Permit – The fee charged to travel through and then return by the same lock station.
Transit Permit – Allows the boater to travel through the Trent-Severn Waterway in one direction only (a one-time transit where vessels go through each lock station only once).

Lockage, mooring and camping permits are available for sale to boaters at all lock stations and the Headquarters Office in Peterborough. Vessel length is used to calculate lockage and mooring fees. Charges for overnight camping are based on group size, or camping is free with the purchase of a mooring permit.

Mooring and camping space is available on a first-come, first-served basis. Possession of a valid mooring permit is necessary to moor a vessel overnight at a lock station or bridge station but does not guarantee a docking space.

Mooring periods vary at different lock stations and bridge stations. Boaters may tie up at locks 1 – 18 for 5 days, but may stay only one night at locks 28, 30, 31, 34, and 42. At all other lock stations, Murray Canal swing bridges and Bridge #50, boaters may stay for 2 nights (48 hrs.).

Blue lines are often used for additional mooring spaces following the day's last lockage. However, boaters must move their vessels off the blue line before the lock opens the next day.

Rafting of vessels is only permitted at lock and bridge stations from the close of navigation for the day to opening the next morning. Boaters on the wall are not required to accept rafting. Rafted vessels are charged the same mooring fee as vessels on the wall.

Vessels having reached the maximum length of stay cannot return to the same wharf or wall for 48 hours, unless directed otherwise by lock staff.

Camping at lock stations is primarily for boaters and is not available to land-based users with tents or self-contained motor vehicles. Cyclists and trail hikers may camp at selected lock stations provided a camping permit is purchased.

Vessels towing a boat (aluminum, fiberglass, rubber dingy or personal watercraft) regardless of size, with or without an engine, will require a lockage permit for the towed craft. A mooring permit for a towed vessel is also a requirement.

Vessels 12ft and under are charged a 12ft minimum rate for all permits.

Payment may be made by cash, by personal cheque with proper identification or with Visa/Mastercard.

Permits are valid only during the year of issue and are not transferable or refundable.

Seasonal lockage, mooring or transit decals must be affixed to the vessel. Other permits must be available for verification or validation by lock staff.

Seasonal overnight mooring permits are also valid for use at St. Lawrence Islands National Park, Georgian Bay Islands National Park and Fathom Five Marine Park (boaters using a campsite must also pay a camping fee).

Except at times and in areas designated by means of a sign or notice, no person shall:

Dive, jump, scuba dive, swim or bathe in a navigation channel or within 40m of a lock gate or a dam in a historic canal.

The Regulations are being phased in as follows:

All operators born after April 1, 1983 are required to have proof of competency since 1999.
As of September 15, 2002, all operators of craft of less than 4 m (including personal watercraft) will be required to have proof of competency.
As of September 15, 2009, all operators will be required to have proof of competency.

How the Regulations Apply to Non-Residents

The Regulations apply to non-residents:

If they operate their pleasure craft in Canadian waters for more than 45 consecutive days or,
If they operate a pleasure craft that is licensed or registered in Canada (including rented or chartered boats).
The Regulations do not apply to non-residents who operate their pleasure craft in Canadian waters for less than 45 consecutive days. Please note that a proof of residence will be required on board at all times.

1st offence: A minimum fine of $600

2nd offence: Imprisonment for not less than 14 days

3rd & each subsequent offence: Imprisonment for not less than 90 days.

Portable toilets are illegal on Ontario waters.

The owner of a pleasure craft shall ensure that each toilet and the holding tank(s) is/are installed so that;

The toilet and equipment are connected in such a manner that the equipment receives all toilet waste from the toilet.
Equipment designed for the storage of human excrement is provided with a deck fitting and such connecting piping as is necessary for the removal of toilet waste by shore-based pumping equipment.
No means of removal of toilet waste is provided other than the means mentioned above.
All parts of the system for removal of toilet waste are congruent with one another and the boat.

Lock #1 Trenton
Lock #18 Hastings
Lock #36 Kirkfield Lift Lock
Lock#42 Couchiching
Lock # 44 Big Chute Marine Railway
Lock #45 Port Severn

You will need a pass to go through the locks and you can get them there as well.

From a safety perspective, take a look on our site under Resource Kit and make sure you have everything that you need for a boat your size.

As far as staying at the locks, it is first come first serve. There are washroom facilities at all the locks (no showers unfortunately). You can tent/camp at the locks.

We have accommodations listed under each region along the way.

I recommend you try and determine where you are going to be when. That way you can plan your day to end up at a certain lock where you want to stay.

Gale Warning:
Issued if winds are forecast to be in the range of 61 to 87 km/hr inclusive.

Storm Warning:
Issued if winds are forecast to be in the range of 88 to 117 km/hr inclusive.

Hurricane Force Wind Warning:
Issued if winds are forecast to be 118 km/hr or greater.

It is always a good idea to check the latest marine weather forecast before heading out. All Environment Canada weather offices offer a 24-hour-a-day automated telephone service that provides a tape recording of the most recent forecast information. You can call them at:

Trenton 613-392-0020
Peterborough 705-743-5852

Canadian Coast Guard radio stations broadcast marine forecasts, nearshore forecasts, current wind conditions and weather bulletins in a continous cycle on VHF frequencies 161.65 MHz and 161.775 MHz (ch.21B, ch.83B).