{"id":138,"date":"2024-06-19T16:18:00","date_gmt":"2024-06-19T16:18:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.boatsmartexam.com\/blog\/\/?p=138"},"modified":"2024-10-03T21:12:12","modified_gmt":"2024-10-03T21:12:12","slug":"bc-boating-get-on-the-water-check-out-these-5-hot-spots","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.boatsmartexam.com\/blog\/bc-boating-get-on-the-water-check-out-these-5-hot-spots\/","title":{"rendered":"BC Boating: Get On The Water and Check Out These 5 Hot Spots"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<div class=\"is-layout-flow wp-block-group\"><div class=\"wp-block-group__inner-container\">\n<p>If you\u2019re like any other boat-loving explorer in BC, you\u2019re excited to pull the boat out and make this summer the best one! We don\u2019t have to tell you twice that BC boating has something for everyone, with hundreds of lakes and a seemingly endless coastline.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.boatsmartexam.com\/blog\/top-boating-destinations-in-bc\/\">Where should you go<\/a> for the best adventures (or relaxation) on the water? Keep reading! We\u2019re giving you the lowdown on getting your BC boating license and Pleasure Craft Licence and exploring five of the best boating destinations in BC!<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.boatsmartexam.com\/blog\/\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2016\/04\/BC-Boater1.jpg\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-14798 size-large\" src=\"https:\/\/www.boatsmartexam.com\/blog\/\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2016\/04\/BC-Boater1-1024x656.jpg\" alt=\"Illustration of a BC boat with a zoom-in call out image of a boat license number. \" width=\"1024\" height=\"656\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<h2>Start Your Bucket List Off Right<\/h2>\n<p>Let\u2019s start from the top. If you need your BC boating licence for this summer, your first steps should look like this:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Get a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.boatsmartexam.com\/ca\/\">BC Boating Licence<\/a> (or Pleasure Craft Operator Card) through BOATsmart!<\/li>\n<li><a style=\"color: #3366bb !important\" href=\"https:\/\/tc.canada.ca\/en\/marine-transportation\/vessel-licensing-registration\/licensing-pleasure-craft\/apply-manage-pleasure-craft-licence-pcl\/apply-manage-pleasure-craft-licence-pcl\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Get your Pleasure Craft License<\/a><\/li>\n<li>Explore BC by boat<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>If you own a boat, you&#8217;ll need both of the licences we mentioned above.<\/p>\n<h2><strong>What Is a BC Boating Licence (or Pleasure Craft Operator Card)?<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p>This is your license to drive (a boat)!<\/p>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">After taking your BOATsmart course, you receive your boating license as proof of competency after completing a Transport Canada Accredited exam. You must pass the official test to get your boating licence or BOATsmart! Card to legally operate a boat in British Columbia.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><em><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">(This is essentially the boater&#8217;s &#8220;driver&#8217;s license&#8221;).<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n<h2>Your Boat Needs a License, Too<\/h2>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Next, you&#8217;ll have to get your Pleasure Craft Licence. <\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Not sure what<\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\"> a Pleasure Craft Licence <\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">is<\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">?<\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\"> That&#8217;s what we&#8217;re here for!<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">The Pleasure Craft Licence is a document with a unique number belonging to a specific pleasure craft. You must carry a copy of your Pleasure Craft License on board at all times. This license number must be displayed on both sides of the bow of your boat so that search and rescue and law enforcement can identify pleasure craft in emergency situations.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">There&#8217;s a\u00a0<\/span><strong><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">$250 fine for operating a vessel without a licence<\/span><\/strong><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">, so be sure to license your boat before heading out.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><em><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">(This is essentially your <\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">boat&#8217;s <\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">&#8220;license plate&#8221;).<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n<p>Visit the Transport Canada website for a full list of requirements in regard to your Pleasure Craft Licence.<\/p>\n<h2>Where Should You Go for the Best BC Boating?<\/h2>\n<p>Now that you&#8217;re ready for a summer of freedom and good times on the water, get your life jacket on and get out there! Here are five of BC&#8217;s best boating destinations for this summer.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.boatsmartexam.com\/blog\/\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2016\/04\/Late_Winter_Reflections_on_Lake_Okanagan1.jpg\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-14794 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/www.boatsmartexam.com\/blog\/\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2016\/04\/Late_Winter_Reflections_on_Lake_Okanagan1.jpg\" alt=\"Late Winter Reflections on Lake Okanagan\" width=\"800\" height=\"513\" \/><\/a><a href=\"https:\/\/www.boatsmartexam.com\/blog\/\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2016\/04\/Late_Winter_Reflections_on_Lake_Okanagan.jpg\"><br \/><\/a><span style=\"font-style: italic;font-size: 10px\">By Extemporalist \u2013 Own work, CC0, https:\/\/commons.wikimedia.org\/w\/index.php?curid=39101060<\/span><b>\u00a0<\/b><\/p>\n<h3><strong>1. Okanagan Lake<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p>It&#8217;s worth your while to find this beautiful, hidden lake. It spans over 110 kilometres with some of the clearest waters in all of British Columbia!<\/p>\n<p>From your boat, take in picturesque views. Visit isolated beaches. Try to solve the <a href=\"https:\/\/ogopogoquest.com\/ogopogo-legend.php\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">mystery of the elusive Ogopogo<\/a>. it&#8217;s no wonder this is a top destination for BC boaters!<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.boatsmartexam.com\/blog\/\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2016\/04\/Princess_Louisa_Inlet_harbour21.jpg\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-14797 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/www.boatsmartexam.com\/blog\/\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2016\/04\/Princess_Louisa_Inlet_harbour21.jpg\" alt=\"Princess Louisa Inlet harbour, BC boating concept. \" width=\"799\" height=\"512\" \/><\/a><a href=\"https:\/\/www.boatsmartexam.com\/blog\/\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2016\/04\/Princess_Louisa_Inlet_harbour2.jpg\"><br \/><\/a><span style=\"font-style: italic;font-size: 10px\">By Klaus Johansson \u2013 Own work, CC BY-SA 4.0, https:\/\/commons.wikimedia.org\/w\/index.php?curid=48115720<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><strong>2. Princess Louisa Inlet<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p>If you&#8217;re in the mood for impressive fjords, waterfalls, and intricate waterways, the Princess Louisa Inlet is a place you &#8220;must&#8221; boat in BC. It&#8217;s a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.princesslouisa.bc.ca\/history-1\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">historic waterway<\/a> at the Northeast end of the Jervis inlet with enough scenery to explore for a month (or more)!<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.boatsmartexam.com\/blog\/\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2016\/04\/Atlinlake1.jpg\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-14796\" src=\"https:\/\/www.boatsmartexam.com\/blog\/\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2016\/04\/Atlinlake1.jpg\" alt=\"A view of Atlin Lake British Columbia. \" width=\"834\" height=\"534\" \/><\/a><span style=\"font-style: italic;font-size: 10px\"><br \/>By Ghostreveries \u2013 Own work, Public Domain, https:\/\/commons.wikimedia.org\/w\/index.php?curid=11237135<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><strong>3. Atlin Lake<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p>Tucked away in Northwestern BC, Atlin Lake is the largest natural lake in BC. Known across Canada for its trophy trout fishing, this gem is worth the trip with your <a href=\"https:\/\/www.boatsmartexam.com\/blog\/the-best-fall-fishing-tips-and-lures\/\">fishing buddies<\/a>!<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.boatsmartexam.com\/blog\/\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2016\/04\/Gulfislfromair.jpg\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-14803 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/www.boatsmartexam.com\/blog\/\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2016\/04\/Gulfislfromair.jpg\" alt=\"An aerial view of the Gulf Islands, boating in BC concept. \" width=\"900\" height=\"577\" \/><\/a><a href=\"https:\/\/www.boatsmartexam.com\/blog\/\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2016\/04\/Strait_of_Georgia_Vancouver.jpg\"><br \/><\/a><span style=\"font-style: italic;font-size: 10px\">By No machine-readable author provided. Keefer4~commonswiki assumed (based on copyright claims). [CC BY-SA 2.5 (http:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by-sa\/2.5)], via Wikimedia Commons<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><strong>4. Gulf Islands<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p>How about some Island hopping? The Gulf Islands are a popular coastal destination in the Salish Sea. You&#8217;ll find hundreds of tiny islands to explore as you venture to this destination <a href=\"https:\/\/www.boatsmartexam.com\/blog\/basic-boat-handling-tips\/\">on your boat<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>You might even see a breaching orca or a sea lion sunbathing casually as you navigate the islands.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.boatsmartexam.com\/blog\/\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2016\/04\/800px-Desolation_sound_20061.jpg\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-14799\" src=\"https:\/\/www.boatsmartexam.com\/blog\/\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2016\/04\/800px-Desolation_sound_20061.jpg\" alt=\"The water, trees, and mountains of Desolation Sound. \" width=\"980\" height=\"628\" \/><\/a><span style=\"font-style: italic;font-size: 10px\"><br \/>CC BY-SA 3.0, https:\/\/commons.wikimedia.org\/w\/index.php?curid=1134649<\/span><\/p>\n<h3>5. Desolation Sound<\/h3>\n<p>A beautiful family destination, Desolation Sound boasts over 60 kilometers of coastline on the Northern end of BC\u2019s Sunshine Coast. In the summer, you&#8217;ll enjoy warm water ideal for swimming.<\/p>\n<p>The Sound also offers some of the best saltwater cruising in BC!<\/p>\n<h2>Get Your Boating Licence and Enjoy BC Boating\u00a0<\/h2>\n<p>Ready for some BC boating? Take your boater education course and get your boating licence first!<\/p>\n<p>BOATsmart! makes it easy. Sign up for the course, enjoy the course and what you learn about boat safety, pass the exam, and get your card. Then, you&#8217;re ready for boating adventures!<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p><em>Originally published in April 2016. Content most recently reviewed and updated for accuracy and relevancy October 3, 2024. <\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>If you\u2019re like any other boat-loving explorer in BC, you\u2019re excited to pull the boat out and make this summer&#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":10,"featured_media":127319,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[663],"tags":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v14.2 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->\n<title>BC Boating: The 5 Top Hotspots | BOATsmart! Blog<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"If you&#039;re ready for a summer of BC boating, check out these top boating destinations. 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