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The Small Vessel Regulations require certain pleasure craft to carry on board a manual propelling device or an anchor.

  • Pleasure craft up to 9 metres (29.5 feet) in length, including PWCs, are required to carry either a manual propelling device or an anchor on board. PWCs are exempt from this requirement if everyone on board is wearing a lifejacket or PFD.
  • Pleasure craft over 9 metres (29.5 feet) in length must have an anchor on board.

Manual Propelling Devices

Manual propelling devices can be:

  • Oars or…
  • Paddles or…
  • Rudders on small open sailboats or…
  • Anything else that can be operated with hands or feet to propel a pleasure craft.
A single paddle

Anchors

An anchor must have a line of cable, rope, or galvanized chain attached.

The required length of the line depends on the length and type of pleasure craft you are operating.

  • Sailboats and powerboats up to 9 metres (29.5 feet) in length and PWCs must have at least 15 metres (49.2 feet) of cable, rope, or chain.
  • Sailboats and powerboats over 9 metres and up to 12 metres (29.5 feet to 39.4 feet) in length must have at least 30 metres (98.4 feet) of cable, rope, or chain.
  • Sailboats and powerboats over 12 metres (39.4 feet) in length must have at least 50 metres (164 feet) of cable, rope, or chain.
Anchor
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