Canadian boat registration history?

[knotical]

good morning everyone.
I originally posted this question at the end of another thread and then realized it should be in it's own topic.

I have a question regarding boat registration in canada.
is there a website I can check registration history of a canadian vessel?

I bought my 1978 14' mirrocraft from a widow friend and I am getting the impression my dearly departed friend may have not changed the registration when he bought it from an old friend 10 years ago.

my friends live on lake water front property, not even the trailer was registered or licenced. That took a few extra steps to clear up and get a plate.

anyhow, winter snows have hit and neither boat or trailer will be going anywhere until april so I have some time to sort it out.

thanks for any advice.

 

[Bondo]

Re: Canadian boat registration history?

Ayuh,... My guess is, Canada could care less,...
Over on this side of the creek, the State holds that information...

I've been able to find an extra friendly Dmv cleck to look up histories before...
Nothing on a citizen searchable database though...

 

[oops!]

Re: Canadian boat registration history?

each province is different i think.

where are you so i can check?

btw....here at i boats.....it really helps to post where you live.
it tells us what kind of water you mostly boat in, wither you need to winterize.....local markets....ect ect.

(the above comment is not solely for you....but all posters)

by the way....welcome to iboats....best place on the net for good friends and great boating info
cheers
oops

 

[joed]

Re: Canadian boat registration history?

Canadian boats are registered federally. It is done through transport Canada.

http://www.tc.gc.ca/eng/marinesafety/debs-obs-paperwork-paperwork_boat_licence-1898.htm

 

[skyking897]

Re: Canadian boat registration history?

As "joed" said, it is the federal government that looks after it and you will need to contact Services Canada. Not sure how much help they will be. I was just there this week and they just gave me an envelope with a form to fill out and mail in. If you have the original "Pleasure Craft Licence" it only needs to be signed by the licensed owner in order to do a transfer. The amusing thing was they wern't interested in what I paid for the boat, just said the HST guys MIGHT be in touch regarding taxes owed but highly doubted I would hear from them.
More to your question, with what our privacy laws are like I doubt they will give you any info.

 

[knotical]

Re: Canadian boat registration history?

there are 3" alpha-numeric decals on starboard side of the bow.
not sure if this are the boat registration number.
my friends widow does not know either, we cannot find any documents at all regarding this boat.
she only recalls him buying the boat and trailer off an old friend, who has also passed away.
I hope this isn't a trend with this boat's owners.

will visit services canada and see if they can help.

 

[dan t.]

Re: Canadian boat registration history?

The registration # will have 2 numbers then a K or KA then 4 numbers example 27K4102 take this to a Service Canada customs center. They can trace it back to the last registered owner.
Good Luck

 

[pootnic]

Re: Canadian boat registration history?

The registration # will have 2 numbers then a K or KA then 4 numbers example 27K4102 take this to a Service Canada customs center. They can trace it back to the last registered owner.
Good Luck

Am I thinking of something else?
My boat # starts with the province intials then 7 numbers.
Thats the pleasure craft licence number.
Transport Canada normally at the post office is where you get it at.
If taxes weren't paid at the time when you bought...eventually they will come a looking.After I finally put the numbers on mine,they came looking almost 2 years later.
Did you ever say what provice you were from?
Around here they don't even really look for the numbers on smaller boats,I just wanted to be totally legal...cost me an extra $300 2 years later.
Just someting to think about.

 

[444]

Re: Canadian boat registration history?

Smaller pleasure craft are licensed with a license #, those #'s on the side of the hull. Larger boats are registered with a boat name and port name. The vinyl stick on license #'s are more like a license plate, if your old ones need replacing, they will give you new ones to apply with a new #. My boat went through an extra owner in between licensings and Service Canada could not have really cared less that my bill of sale did not match who their computer told them was the previous owner of the boat. They were more concerned about the fact my boat had been repainted and was not white and black not it's original white and red.

If you're trying to get owner history info out of them, I don't think you'll get far. And really, that boat could have passed between 10 different hands and their database won't show it unless someone went to license the boat to use it legally.

 

[444]

Re: Canadian boat registration history?

Am I thinking of something else?
My boat # starts with the province intials then 7 numbers.
Thats the pleasure craft licence number.

Seems the # on the hull does not always correspond to a province. Mine's a single digit number, followed by the letter F. Then a space and a 5 digit number. Unless F stands for a province... And I know my boat was made in Canada.

 

[cyber]

Re: Canadian boat registration history?

Canada Customs is where you need to go to register the boat.

Not sure where you're located, but here in Ottawa their offices
are on St. Laurent Blvd. in the east end.
They will tell you absolutely NOTHING about the history of the
boat! (privacy laws, I suppose)

A simple solution I have used a few times (for boats, trailers, even vehicles)
is to go to a lawyer (even went to legal aid once=no charge) and
"swear an affadavit" to the fact that you are sole and legal owner
of said piece of equipment. Took this to Customs and they promptly
issued me new "Pleasure Craft Ownership" documentation using
the original reg #'s already on the sides of the boat.

Be advised, they do eventually come looking for their tax money,
so try to be a little (ahem, harumph) "creative" on the bottom
line of your bill of sale.

 

[intimidated]

Re: Canadian boat registration history?

i'll add to the vaugeness of the process. it seems pretty useless trying to track any sort of history.

i restored my 1980 Carlson. bought it in ON but came from NY originally. it was never registered here.

I registered it as requiring 'new' numbers and was in and out in less than 10min. they where not concerned at all about bill of sale or anything. that was 6+months ago and still haven't had the taxman knocking on my door for transfer fees either.

 

[Mohawkmtrs]

Re: Canadian boat registration history?

Knotical:

If you want, post the first 2 or 3 number/letter of your license (Mine is 36E).

I can't tell you WHO owned it but can tell tou WHERE it was licensed.

444:

The letter "F" indicates your boat is licensed in Manitoba.

Hope this helps.

 

[MolsonCanadian]

Re: Canadian boat registration history?

Ontario has changed from the regional registration to provincial in the past few years. Where it used to be 25E12345 or 50E12345 etc, it is now ON12345. Commercial vessels will have a reg # similar to CO12345ON

 

[eastont]

Re: Canadian boat registration history?

When licensing changed from The Canadian Coast Guard to Transport Canada, the system changed. It used to be each province had a letter starting in the east with "A" and so forth, and the numbers preceding the letter, determined which area of the province the boat was registered in. i.e. 36E was one area of Ontario and 72E was another. I think it had to do with which CCG office covered the area.
Now each province has a 2 letter designation, but I don't understand what's going on in Quebec. We see boats with a QC or a D....all I know is here in the 1000 Islands, they are all referred to as "D" oats.....and many other politically incorrect names.
My boat is registered by it's name which must be displayed similar to a number and it has a registration and tonnage plaque secured inside the cabin.

So I would think to check the history, one would have to go to where it was first registered, CCG or Transport Canada.

 

[knotical]

Re: Canadian boat registration history?

Knotical:

If you want, post the first 2 or 3 number/letter of your license (Mine is 36E).

I can't tell you WHO owned it but can tell tou WHERE it was licensed.

444:

The letter "F" indicates your boat is licensed in Manitoba.

Hope this helps.

thank you for the help Mohawkmtrs.
the first 3 alpha numeric characters are 13K

I am concerned that I have a bill of sale from the widow but I do not know who the last registered owner is.

then again, in the remote BC lakes I will be using the boat,
will this be an issue?

 

[Alumarine]

Re: Canadian boat registration history?

I'm thinking no.

I know a guy who will remain nameless who used to make up his own numbers and stick them on the boat.

 

[rbh]

Re: Canadian boat registration history?

We brought our boat up from the states and here is what we had to do.
first, bill of sale trailer and boat, go to customs and pay the pst/gst on the boat,
GST on trailer only, pst is collected after you have it inspected at a canada vehicle inspection facsility (canadian tire) register of vehicles and then go register it a the insurance place (this is BC) and pay the PST.

Now the boat, to register it and get your number, take the bill of sale and go to the GOV of Canada place (service Canada), were you do the UIC/EI thing.
fill out the forms, and thats it.

This is almost worthy of becoming a sticky!!!!

 

[Guest]

Re: Canadian boat registration history?

I just bought a boat this past September and all I had to do was take the ownership signed by the previous owner in to the fed dept. and they did it all in about 10 mins and guess what "NO TAX" wanted. Easy pesy mate. All they are intersted in is who owns the boat if it sinks and then they know who to sent the environmental polution cleanup bill to. That is what she told me at the time I did mine.

 

[Mohawkmtrs]

Re: Canadian boat registration history?

Knotical:

13K = Vancouver.

For what it's worth, I bought my boat from a widow (her husband was the licensed owner). All I had to take was the bill of sale and an affidavit from her stating he had passed away. Easy...no muss. no fuss.

Google : Pleasure Craft License.

Click on: "Pleasure Craft License - Transport Canada".

Download the Application Form and take it to a Service Canada office.

This site will likely answer all your questions.

Good luck and let us know how you make out.