Evan Gatehouse wrote:

In Canada there are two systems of boat ownership:

- Registered
- Licensed

If it is a registered vessel, you can easily check the title is clear of
liens.

If it is licensed it will have a number on the bow. In BC they usually
start "13K ....". Licensed vessels may have liens against them and you
won't be able to tell. Licenses are for smaller boats (under 15 gross
tons), effectively about 40' or so.

Evan Gatehouse

In some provinces...such as Nova Scotia, you can own a boat without
registering it (motor less than 10 hp).
I have an 18' 6" Sandpiper 565 mini cruiser trailerable sailboat with
6hp Evinrude and it is not registered.