All types of vessels (like canoes, motorboats and sailboats) can be pleasure craft or non-pleasure (business) vessels depending on what they’re used for.
The information and examples on this page are to help vessel owners and Marine Safety Inspectors use a consistent definition of pleasure craft.
The examples don’t cover every situation. They’re only guidance and not a decision on any specific case. The Canada Shipping Act, 2001 and its regulations always have priority over this page. Always make sure you operate a vessel safely.
On this page
Pleasure craft or non-pleasure vessel?
Pleasure craft: A vessel used for fun or daily living is a pleasure craft.
Non-pleasure vessel A vessel used for anything other than fun or daily living is a non-pleasure vessel.
Your vessel is a pleasure craft if:
- you are using your vessel for your own pleasure/recreation
- the people on board the vessel are your guests, friends or family
Note: Generally, guests are people on board a vessel just there for fun and who don’t pay any money to be there.
Your vessel is a non-pleasure craft if:
- the people on board (other than the crew) pay to be on board
- the people on board (other than the crew) are there as part of their job
- the operator is using the vessel to provide a service
- the vessel is operated by the government
Daily living
Vessels that are used as a part of your everyday life but not as part of your job are pleasure craft. “Daily living” includes:
- travelling to and from work or school or as an essential means of transportation
- hunting, fishing or trapping to feed yourself or your family (subsistence hunting or fishing) or for social or ceremonial purposes
Examples of pleasure crafts
Example: An person or group uses a vessel to harvest fish for their own food, social or ceremonial purposes.
Explanation: This is a daily living activity, which is a type of pleasure activity.
Example: A teacher uses a vessel to travel to the school where they work.
Explanation: A person is using the vessel to travel to and from work, which is a daily living activity.
Examples of non-pleasure vessels
Example: A person or group uses a vessel to fish under a commercial harvest agreement.
Explanation: The vessel is being used for a commercial fishing activity. The object of this activity is profit, and the vessel is used as part of the operator's employment.
Example: A construction company uses a vessel to transport employees and other people to and from job sites.
Explanation: The vessel is used to provide a service (transportation) for a business activity.
Renting and chartering
A vessel can be a pleasure craft or non-pleasure vessel whether it’s rented, chartered or bought, depending on what it’s used for.
If you rent or charter a vessel and hire a captain or crew to operate it, the vessel is a pleasure craft only if all the following statements are true:
- you use the vessel only for fun (the vessel isn’t used for to make money)
- you have the unrestricted right to hire and fire the captain and crew
- the vessel’s owner doesn’t have any direct control over operating the vessel
Protect yourself on the water! Look for Transport Canada's blue compliance decal on your chartered boat:
Long description
Image of a decal for small passenger vessels and workboats. The background of the image is blue, and has the official Transport Canada symbol at the top and Canada symbol at the bottom. The decal includes the text "Small Vessel Compliance Program (SVCP) non-pleasure craft" and text "Passenger Vessel & Workboat". The expiry year appears in the bottom right corner. The enrollment number appears on the top right corner. There is a white banner at the botton with the text "Valid only if accompanied by a letter of Confirmation of Participation in the Program".
If the owner or someone representing the owner of a rented or chartered vessel is on board, Transport Canada will assume that the owner is operating the vessel. They’ll consider the vessel a non-pleasure craft (specifically a passenger-carrying vessel or passenger vessel), unless the owner proves otherwise.
Examples of pleasure crafts
Example: A person rents or charters a vessel from a boat rental company and uses that vessel for pleasure.
Explanation: The vessel is used by the operator for pleasure. Even though the act of renting or chartering the vessel is a commercial act, the vessel is a pleasure craft.
Example: A person rents or charters a vessel from rental company for recreation. The person has hired a captain to operate the vessel. The renter/charterer has the right to hire any qualified captain.
Explanation: The owner no longer has operational control of the vessel. Any captain with the necessary qualifications may operate the vessel. There is no connection between the captain and the rental company.
Examples of non-pleasure vessels
Example: A person or organization rents or charters a vessel from a vessel rental company and uses the vessel to transport workers to and from a worksite.
Explanation: The vessel is being used for a business activity.
Example: A vessel is chartered. The charterer must hire the owner as the captain or to choose from a list of captains approved by the owner.
Explanation: The owner still has operational control of the vessel and is providing a service to the people on board. The vessel is a non-pleasure vessel, specifically a "passenger-carrying vessel" or "passenger vessel."
General examples
Examples of pleasure crafts
Example: A vessel owner takes friends and family on their vessel.
Explanation: The vessel is being used for the pleasure of the operator and the people on board.
Example: A vessel is provided with a rented cottage for the personal use of the people who rented the cottage.
Explanation: The vessel is operated by the cottagers for their pleasure/recreational purposes.
Example: An owner uses their vessel to transport building materials to their summer cottage.
Explanation: The vessel is being used for daily living or subsistence purposes.
Example: An owner uses their vessel to transport building materials as a favour to a friend. The friend pays for fuel and expenses.
Explanation: Even though there is an exchange of money, there is no object of profit. The vessel is still being used for the pleasure of the operator.
Example: The owner of a summer cottage uses a vessel to work on the cottage's docks.
Explanation: Even though work is taking place, it isn’t paid work. It’s for the pleasure or daily living purposes of the operator.
Example: A sport fishing lodge provides a vessel without a guide to people paying to stay at the lodge.
Explanation: The vessel is operated by the people staying at the lodge for their own pleasure.
Examples of non-pleasure vessels
Example: A vessel is used to transport people from one point to another for a fee (such as a water taxi).
Explanation: The vessel is being used to provide a service (transportation).
Example: A hotel or resort provides a vessel with a skipper for tours.
Explanation: The vessel is being used to provide a service (transportation/sightseeing).
Example: An employer uses a vessel to transport building materials to a commercial construction site for a new building.
Explanation: The vessel is being used as part of a business activity.
Example: A vessel is used to transport goods for the public for a fee.
Explanation: The vessel is used to provide a service, and you earn money.
Example: A construction company uses a vessel as a platform for working on bridge piers and for painting floating structures.
Explanation: The vessel is used for performing work as part of a business.
Example: The CEO of a corporation uses a vessel to do business. Employees of the corporation hold meetings and conduct other business on board.
Explanation: The vessel is being used as part of a business activity.
Example: A sport fishing lodge provides a vessel with a guide to people paying to stay at the lodge.
Explanation: The guide is the operator of the vessel and is using it to provide a service.
Multiple uses
A vessel may be used for non-pleasure purposes at one time and for pleasure at another.
When a vessel is used for both non-pleasure and pleasure purposes:
- The permanent aspects of the vessel, like its construction and registration, must meet the requirements for a non-pleasure vessel
- The non-permanent aspects of the vessel, like the safety equipment carried and the certification of the operator, may change depending on whether the vessel is being used for pleasure or non-pleasure. However, we recommend that vessels used for both non-pleasure and pleasure always comply with non-pleasure vessel requirements
Examples
- A vessel used for sight-seeing tours during the week is used by the operator to take their family on a picnic on the weekend.
- A real estate agent uses a vessel to transport clients as part of their real estate business and also for fun.
Change of use
A vessels is defined by the way it’s used. If its use changes, you need to re-assess your vessel to determine if it’s a pleasure craft or non-pleasure vessel.
Examples of pleasure crafts
Example: A fishing vessel is no longer used for commercial fishing and is used instead as a live-aboard.
Explanation: The vessel is no longer used commercially and is currently used for daily living.
Examples of non-pleasure vessels
Example: A vessel originally purchased as a pleasure craft is being used for commercial fishing.
Explanation: The vessel is now used for purposes other than pleasure.
Guided excursions
A guided excursion is a non-competitive outdoor recreational activity led by the person in charge of the activity using a human-powered vessel.
Pleasure craft outing
- A group of human-powered vessels (like canoes or kayaks) that are all being used for pleasure
- All the vessels involved are pleasure craft
- No one is making money from the outing
- Even if there is a lead vessel, it’s still a pleasure craft if the operator of that vessel is leading the group for their own pleasure
Guided excursion
- A group of human-powered vessels (like canoes or kayaks) led by a guide in a lead vessel
- The guide is leading the group for profit or as part of their job
- Only the lead vessel with the guide in it is a non-pleasure vessel
- All the vessels following the guide are pleasure craft
Examples of pleasure craft outings
Example: One person in a group of friends knows the area well and acts as a leader.
Explanation: The leader is leading the group for their own pleasure and the group is engaged in a joint recreational activity.
Example: A Scout leader is teaching the basics of kayaking to a group of scouts before a tour.
Explanation: The Scout leader is teaching the group for their own pleasure and the group is engaged in a joint recreational activity.
Example: A camp counsellor leads a group of campers in kayaks.
Explanation: Camp fees aren’t specifically for the kayaking activity. Even though the camp counsellor is paid, the group activity isn’t the main purpose of their job.
Examples of guided excursions
Example: A group with a paid guide.
Explanation: The guide is leading the group as part of the guide's job for profit.
Example: An instructor who isn’t a member of the Girl Guides is paid to teach kayaking to a group of Guides.
Explanation: The instructor is teaching the group as part of their job for profit.
Example: A non-profit organization charges fees to teach students advanced canoeing and kayaking
Explanation: The purpose of the organization and their employees/volunteers is training, not pleasure. Fees are paid specifically for training students on board vessels.
Vessels operated by non-profit organizations, yacht clubs and camps
Non-profit organizations
A vessel operated by a non-profit organization may be a pleasure craft or a non-pleasure vessel depending on what it’s used for. Vessels operated to provide a service, even if the service is not for profit, are usually non-pleasure vessels.
Examples of non-pleasure vessels
Example: A volunteer for a non-profit organization uses a vessel to provide free sightseeing tours.
Explanation: An organization has hired someone to operate the vessel to provide a service (sightseeing).
Example: An antique vessel is operated as a floating museum. The vessel travels from place to place and offers tours of the vessel to the public.
Explanation: Even though the vessel isn’t used for profit, it’s used to provide a service (tours) that are offered to the public.
Yacht clubs
Pleasure craft include vessels that are used for joint recreational activities. Joint recreational activities are activities where everyone involved is using the vessel(s) for the pleasure of the group.
For yacht clubs, a joint recreational activity must meet the following criteria:
- the vessel used is wholly owned by or on behalf of a members’ club or organization
- the vessel is used only for the pleasure of members of that club or organization
- any fees are paid into club or organization funds for the general use of the club or organization
- members are co-owners of the club or organization
Examples of pleasure crafts
Example: A vessel owned by a yacht club is used for safety and life guarding at a recreational event.
Explanation: A club member is part owner of the vessel, and the vessel is supporting the club member’s joint recreational activity. There is no specific fee for this activity.
Example: A vessel owned by a yacht club is used to access a member’s vessel at anchor or to perform minor works on the club’s docks and facilities.
Explanation: A club member is part owner of the vessel, and the vessel is supporting the club member’s joint recreational activity. There is no specific fee for this activity.
Example: A vessel owner hires an instructor to teach them and their family how to use the vessel for recreation.
Explanation: The vessel owner is in charge of the vessel, not the instructor. The instructor is only helping the owner, whose purpose is pleasure.
Examples of non-pleasure vessels
Example: A vessel owned by a yacht club provides transportation or training to members or non-members for a fee.
Explanation: The vessel isn’t being used for a joint recreational activity. The fee is being paid directly for the service or training.
Example: An instructor uses a vessel to teach students how to safely use the vessel for recreation. The vessel is owned by the sailing instructor or a recreational boating school.
Explanation: The instructor is the person in charge of the vessel and is using the vessel as part of a business activity.
Camps
For camps, a joint recreational activity must meet the following criteria:
- the vessel owned by, or on behalf, of the camp
- the vessels are only used for the pleasure of campers and not for essential transportation of goods or people
- any charges are paid as camp fees and applied for the general attendance at the camp
Examples of pleasure crafts
Example: A camp counsellor uses a vessel to give basic safety instructions to campers. There are no fees charged for the activity.
Explanation: Camp fees aren’t paid specifically for the training. The vessel is used for the pleasure of the campers.
Example: Camp counsellors or campers at a summer camp use a vessel for the pleasure of the group, like a group kayak outing.
Explanation: The goal isn’t making money. The activity has a clear recreational focus.
Examples of non-pleasure vessels
Example: An instructor at a summer camp uses a vessel to teach sailing techniques to campers. Fees are paid specifically for the training activity.
Explanation: The fee is being paid specifically for the training and not the general cost of the camp.
Example: A vessel used to transport people to and from a summer camp for free.
Explanation: The vessel is being used to provide a service, even though fees aren’t being paid.
Printable resources
- Pleasure Craft Factsheet (PDF, 618 KB)
Contact us
For more information, please contact:
- Your regional Marine Safety office
- Phone: 613-991-3135
- Toll Free: 1-855-859-3123