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ESSENTIAL SKILLS FOR CAPTAIN CERTIFICATION AT PARKS CANADA
Pre-Trip
2-3 Days Before the Trip
- Contact group organizer to confirm number of guests & wheelchairs & cell phone number of someone who will be travelling with the group
- Remind organizer to complete waivers and bring them to the boat
- Explain weather policy (no-go if thunderstorms, possible if light rain)
- Confirm all arrangements/changes with mate
Arrival
- Be on board at least 45 minutes before departure time
- Bring your boat operator’s licence, parking pass, water, sunscreen, etc.
- ALWAYS carry a cell phone
Boat
- Remove back canvas covers before opening the storage box
- Help mate deploy & put away the ramp (wear gloves)
- Help mate put out chairs and life jackets
- Use inflatable PFDs for guests in wheelchairs
- Check propeller (damage, weeds)
- Check to ensure safety equipment is functional and readily accessible (paddles, anchor rope, safety ring, on-boarding ladder, anchor)
- Retrieve keys from the zipper channel in the canvas roof
Starting Procedure at the Console:
Submerge or Hook Up Water: Lower the motor into the water so the water intake is fully submerged.
Attach the Kill Switch: Snap the emergency stop lanyard to the kill switch on the motor or control box.
Shift to Neutral: Ensure the gear shift is strictly in the neutral position. The motor will not start, or could dangerously lurch forward, if it is in gear.
Prime the Fuel System: Squeeze the primer bulb in the fuel line until it feels firm. This fills the carburetor's float bowl with gas.
Apply Choke or Primer: Carburetors need a richer fuel mixture when cold. Activate the choke (which restricts air) or the primer (which injects extra fuel directly). On many throttle controls, you do this by pulling out a choke knob or pressing the key in while turning.
Advance the Throttle: While keeping the motor in neutral, advance the throttle lever slightly (about 1/4 to 1/3 of the way). This gives the engine the extra air and fuel it needs to catch. The large round pushbutton at the base of the throttle will permit the throttle to be advanced with the motor still in neutral.
Crank the Engine: Turn the key to the start position.
Warm Up and Adjust Choke: Once the engine catches, immediately back off the throttle to an idle and slowly disengage the choke. Allow the motor to idle and warm up for 1–3 minutes before shifting into gear.
Check gauges – fuel, oil, temperature
Check water stream (cooling outflow) from engine
Interaction with Guests
- Greet the group upon arrival
- Bathroom check and weather protection (jacket, hat, sunglasses, sunscreen, water)
- Assist boarding, loading, and weight distribution
- Presentation of the crew
- Brief overview of the trip
- Explain the safety measures (ensure everyone on board is wearing a life jacket, staying seated, etc.)
- Collect the waivers
During Trip
Boating
- Coordinate with mate for unmooring & leaving the dock
- Maneuver around other boats, markers, shallow spots, debris
- Know the navigation rules (“rules of the road” on water), right of way, buoy system, no-wake zones
- Know the routes, timings and fishing spots
- Assess and manage wind
- Docking and mooring upon return
Social
- Interaction with guests and staff
- Interaction with other boaters
Post-Trip
Social
- Thank guests for joining us, indicate closest bathroom
- Help guests disembark
- Check that none of their belongings are left behind
- Dealing with donations
- Complete the logbook
Technical
- Turn off the motor upon mooring
- Raise the motor, check and remove weeds from prop and water intake holes
- Help mate put away the ramp
- Stack chairs (back side up) and life jackets in the storage box
- Help mate close the canvas
- Return keys to the canvas roof
General Info
Safety Procedures
Water Safety Essentials
Life jacket types, sizes & inspection
Safe practices (no standing, balanced movement)
Common hazards: cold water shock, currents, entanglement
Sun hat, sunscreen, hydration
Emergency Procedures
Man overboard: spot, alert, throw, retrieve
Engine failure response
Activating Emergency Services (911)
CPR & first aid
Environmental & Legal Considerations
Awareness of local regulations (speed limits, protected areas)
Marine wildlife protection
Weather readiness: reading forecasts, wave conditions
Invasive species prevention (boat cleaning, draining)
Fishing
This location offers fishing if guests request it. The fishing rods and tackle box remain on the boat for the summer. Worms are kept in the fridge at the RCMP Camp and must be retrieved before arriving at the boat. Leftover worms must be returned the to the fridge after the trip.
Fishing is very basic and for the most part will be a worm on a hook with a sinker and that being lowered into the water vertically. There are bobbers in each tackle box if that works for the guest. Overhand casting by the guests should be minimized so inadvertent hooking of people is minimized. An underhand cast would be preferred to minimize problems. The hooks should have the barb flattened for easier hook removal from a fish to limit any damage and hopefully return the fish into the water uninjured.
When selecting a fishing spot make sure that the wind is taken into consideration and the boat will not swing on the anchor line and wind up in a difficult position to start the motor and get moving forward. Remember the bottom of most of the Rideau canal system can be very soft and mucky and all types of anchors have difficulty hold the pontoon boats in position. Anchors drag easily in the muddy bottom.
Accessible Washroom Location
At the Lockmaster’s house up the ramp on the right side which leads to the backside of the house
Filling Up the Gas Tank
Use fuel from the RCMP Camp Shed in the plastic cabinet on the water side of the shack.
There are 4 x 20 litre gas cans located in the cabinet along with a battery-operated pump.
Fuelling process: open the gas cap (starboard side just in front of the gas tank) install the shorter pump line into the gas can, install the longer line into the gas filler hole, turn the pump on. The pump will auto stop when the tank is full but best not to trust it. When fuelling is complete, remove the hose from the tank and use the cloth to ensure no fuel droplets get into the water, then remove the hose from the gas can. Return the pump to the bucket and return the gas can to the locker.
Parking
Parks Canada has a paid parking lot about 100 metres before the boat launch on the left side of the road leading to the locks. Pay using the QR code on the posted sign and you will get an email confirmation. Crews can add up their parking amounts and make a consolidated claim at the end of the season.
Guests can be disembarked near the boat launch with their vehicle not blocking traffic.
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