Boating In New Brunswick
New Brunswick is a jewel of Canada’s eastern seaboard, with over 7000 kilometers of gorgeous coastlines and a thousand lakes available for boaters to cruise, fish and sail upon. No matter whether you’re an ambitious angler or a seasoned sailor, you’re certain to find nothing but joy while boating in New Brunswick, provided you follow the rules and know when and where to go.
Here at Rallye Motoplex in Moncton, New Brunswick, we want to show off the best marine adventuring around our beautiful province by ensuring that everyone looking to boat in New Brunswick knows the rules, has the proper licensing and is aware of where they should go. Follow our list of boating suggestions and you’ll be able to discover all that New Brunswick’s waters have to offer.
Licensing, Registration & Insurance
In order to operate a boat in New Brunswick, you don’t need a driver’s license, but you’ll need a boating license to operate a motorized boat. This license is called a Pleasure Craft Operator Card or PCOC, and you can get it by taking a boating safety course with Transport Canada, which can be taken in a few hours from any Transport Canada approved course provider. The boat licensing exam is free online and if you don’t pass, don’t worry -- you can retake the test until you understand all the Canadian rules and regulations governing the water. You’ll get a temporary license right away that you can use and then your permanent PCOC later. Carry your card as proof of competency on board your vessel at all times.
Vessel licensing is a separate but equally important matter. Your boat may or may not need to have a registration ID number, depending on its size and style. There are differences between licensing and registering your boat and you’ll want to look up what’s necessary for your particular craft, or ask your local dealer to help you determine what it is you need!
Boat insurance is not required by law in New Brunswick, but it’s recommended, particularly for very valuable boats. You should strongly consider insuring your boat in the event of a capsize or impact event that damages it beyond repair, or even to protect against theft.
Where To Go
With so many waterways, you’re spoiled for choice when you’re looking to boat in New Brunswick. Beautiful marinas await you along rivers, with plenty of dining and entertainment options as well as the opportunity to replenish your boat’s supplies so you can continue cruising. From the ports along the Gulf of Saint Lawrence with their beautiful harbours to the Northumberland Strait between New Brunswick and Prince Edward Island, coastal boating provides limitless options.
One particularly popular waterway is the St. John River, which begins in the US state of Maine. It forms a great portion of the border between New Brunswick and Maine, then flows southeast through the province to its mouth in the city of Saint John at the Bay of Fundy. Over 600 kilometers in length, the St. John River is known as the Rhine of North America, referencing the equally beautiful and picturesque European river that runs through Switzerland, Germany and the Netherlands.
A number of anchorages dot the St. John River, and because it passes through so many cities, it offers a unique marine perspective of some of the province’s best-known cities, such as Fredericton and Gagetown. In Fredericton, you’ll find a yacht club and a dock that allow you to leave your boat to explore the city. Certain portions of the river, particularly near the mouth at Saint John, can be treacherous depending on the tides, so use caution and do your research before setting sail. You likely won’t be able to navigate much further north than Woodstock from Fredericton, but sailing between Saint John and Fredericton offers you plenty to see and do.
When you’re looking for a great boat for fishing or cruising, come visit our showroom. We have a full inventory of new and used boats in every style, from fishing boats to pleasure craft. Rallye Motoplex serves the cities of Charlottetown and Fredericton, New Brunswick, with our Moncton location, in addition to nearby Halifax, Nova Scotia.