Chad, Based on what I read (Maritime Radio Course by Canadian Power Squadron), you do not need a licence (or the associated call sign) for the VHF radio.
This is based on the exemption (Section 15.2 of Radiocommunications Act), which specifically exempts the “ships and vessels”. This exemption applies, if the “vessel is operated within Canadian waters, outside of Canadian or any other country’s waters, or within waters of other countries with which Canada has the reciprocal agreement”. It happens that Canada and the USA have the reciprocal agreement. You _do need_ a Restricted Operator’s Certificate, though, Supposedly, that part is usually enforced, especially if you are in the waters, where sailing across the boarder is likely. There is a caveat there, though. When I tried to use the references included in the text book, I could not find the related text in the official version of the Radiocommunication Act. The book was published in 2011, I took the course in 2016. I assumed that what they teach is correct. But I freely admit that my information is no longer valid. Marek Ottawa, ON From: CnC-List <cnc-list-boun...@cnc-list.com> On Behalf Of Chad Osmond via CnC-List Sent: Thursday, August 16, 2018 07:38 To: cnc-list@cnc-list.com Cc: Chad Osmond <c...@wanderinglost.ca> Subject: Re: Stus-List Should I ditch the SSB In Canada, if you wish to legally use your VHF in the USA and other countries you need to obtain a radio license for the radio, which IC will then grant you a call sign, the once you have a radio license in Canada you are supposed to use this call sign in all VHF transmissions. http://www.ic.gc.ca/eic/site/smt-gst.nsf/eng/sf08764.html<https://eur01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ic.gc.ca%2Feic%2Fsite%2Fsmt-gst.nsf%2Feng%2Fsf08764.html&data=02%7C01%7C%7Cf156e207b3684a4bab5b08d6036ce6f6%7C84df9e7fe9f640afb435aaaaaaaaaaaa%7C1%7C0%7C636700163596912579&sdata=Lk0yWFDbIdcJqzTVFTOB%2BSNh3b8oXw93xwYJZ9a58cI%3D&reserved=0> If your just using it in Canadian waters no license is required and you can just use the boat name as others had commented on.
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