About

CanBoat / NautiSavoir is the Canadian Power & Sail Squadrons you’ve known and trusted since 1938, updated for the 21st century.

Who We Are

We are a not-for-profit volunteer organization dedicated to boating education, safety, outreach, and community.

Our members include powerboaters, sailors, racers, cruisers, kayakers, anglers, watersports enthusiasts, canoeists, marine professionals, and more.

Membership is open to everyone who holds a legally recognized Canadian boat operator credential (PCOC or higher).

What We Do

We offer a range of services to boaters in our communities, including:

• PCOC (Pleasure Craft Operator Card) training & exams – the entry-level credential you need before taking the helm of even the smallest powerboats in Canada. While you can get a basic PCOC almost anywhere, a CanBoat PCOC (at the same price) includes more thorough and comprehensive training, making it the only PCOC that’s recognized by state police and the Coast Guard across the USA as well.
• ROC(M)-DSC (Restricted Radio Operator Certificate, Maritime, with Digital Selective Calling) – mandatory for all radio-equipped pleasure craft.
• Introductory & advanced navigation courses – to help you plan your voyages, to get the most out of your navigation electronics, and to get you safely home when the electronics fail.
• Seamanship & boat handling courses – to boost your confidence and to improve your ability to handle bad weather and on-water emergencies like a seasoned professional.
• Recreational vessel courtesy checks – to help you inspect your gear (and get compliant with Canadian law) on your own terms, rather than being caught by surprise during a police check.
• Safety seminars – to freshen up your knowledge of things you hope to never use, but need to know by heart just in case.
• Public outreach – to get kids and new boaters off to the best possible start on our waterways.
• Discounts – preferred rates and special deals on equipment, insurance, rentals, courses, supplies, publications, and more.
• Community – a continent-wide network of boaters ensuring that you’ll find friendly faces in just about any Canadian or American port you enter.

Where We Are

Rideau District encompasses the entirety of Eastern Ontario: Ottawa, Kingston, Brockville, and the surrounding areas. The District provides administration & coordination for boating education, safety, outreach, and community activities across the region.

Ottawa Squadron serves boaters in Ottawa and in the townships of Carleton, Lanark, Renfrew, Russell, and Prescott.

Kingston Squadron serves boaters in Kingston and in the townships of Frontenac, Lennox, Hasting, and Leeds.

Brockville Squadron serves boaters in Brockville and in the townships of Grenville, Dundas, Stormont, and Glengarry.