Vessel Safety Check

Inspection checklist

• Display of Numbers. Forward half of boat, three-inch block letters, contrasting color. Example: GA 6138 SK
• Registration and Documentation. Must be current and on board.
• Life Jackets.Coast Guard approved, good and serviceable condition, suitable size for wearer. Boats 16 ft and longer must have a Type I, II, or III wearable life jacket for each person on board (minimum two). Must also have one Type IV throwable Personal Flotation Device on board. A Type V (hybrid) may be counted against the requirement, but must be worn at time of safety check. Boats under 16 ft in length have basically the same requirements, except the Type IV throwable is not mandatory.
• Visual Distress Signals. Required on recreational boats on coastal waters, Great Lakes, or the high seas. For boats on inland waters, the Coast Guard Auxiliary requires some means of making a suitable day and night visual distress signal. Equipment could include strobe light, flashlight, signal mirror, red or orange flags.
• Fire Extinguishers. Approved by Coast Guard. Requirement varies by size of boat. Less than 26 ft., one B-1 extinguisher. 26 ft to 40 ft., two B-1 or one B-2 extinguisher. (If the boat has an approved fixed system, only one B-1 is required.) Must be in good and serviceable condition. Pressure guage (if installed) must be in green area.
• Ventilation. Not required on boats of open construction or diesel-powered boats. Open construction means NO enclosed spaces where fumes can accumulate. Power ventilation must be opertional on boats with enclosed engine compartments.
• Backfire Flame Control. Inboard mounted engines must be equipped with an approved Backfire Flame Arrester.
• Sound Producing Devices. Required. This can be whistle, horn, etc. Must be capable of 4-sec. blast audible for 1/2 mile.
• Navigation Lights. Boats over 16 ft in length must have operable navigation lights and all-around anchor light. All lights must be properly installed, operating correctly and not obscured.
• Pollution Placard. Required on boats over 26 ft.
• MARPOL Trash Placard. Required on boats over 26 ft.
• Navigation Rules. A copy of the rules is required on vessels over 12 meters (39.4 ft).
• State and/or Local Requirements.
• Overall Vessel Condition. Deck free of hazards, clean bilge, safe electrical system (covered battery terminals), fuel system (safe, no leaks, good condition), safe galley and heating systerm, if equipped.

Not required by VSC, but encouraged:

• Marine VHF radio.
• Dewatering Device & backup. Backup device can be as simple as a cut bleach bottle.
• Mounting for fire extinguisher. Be sure the device is accessible when you need it.
• Anchor and anchor line for area of operation.
• First Aid and Person-in-water (PIW) kits.
• Inland visual distress signals. Be sure to keep them dry and watch for expiration dates.
• Capacity and Certificate of Compliance plates. Installed by manufacturer.

Educational discussion items that may be covered during VSC:

• Accident reporting/Owner responsibility.
• Nautical charts and navigation aids. No actual NOAA charts are available for our area, but adequate maps are avalable.
• Survival tips and first aid.
• Fueling and fuel management.
• Float plan and weather conditions.
• Insurance considerations.
• Boating check list.
• Safe boating classes.