As a pleasure craft with a built-in radio, do you need a station license to enter US waters?

When navigating U.S. waters, a pleasure craft with a built-in radio is indeed required to have a station license unless it meets specific exemption criteria. According to regulations, vessels that are registered in Canada can operate within U.S. waters without needing a station license if they meet the requirements outlined by the Canadian government. However, this exemption does not apply to vessels from other countries; they generally need to comply with U.S. licensing regulations.

This makes it clear that pleasure craft registered in Canada enjoy a unique status while operating in the U.S., which is why the assertion of needing an exemption only in Canada correctly highlights this regulatory nuance. In contrast, vessels registered elsewhere, including those from the U.S., must adhere to their respective country's licensing requirements. This distinction underlines the need for understanding which regulations apply based on the vessel's country of registration.