What is a Vessel Safety Check?
- A specially trained member of our squadron will visit your boat (vessel) to examine the presence and condition of safety equipment required by State and Federal Regulations. This is a public service by a volunteer. There is no charge.
- Vessel Safety Checks cover all sorts of recreational boats from kayaks, canoes, and personal watercraft, to ocean going sail and power vessels.
- Depending on the size and type of boat, the examiner will look at such things as personal flotation devices, emergency signals, fire extinguishers, navigation lights, horns, and the like.
- The visit is relatively short, friendly and designed to be helpful. You will enjoy and learn from it.
What a Vessel Safety Check is not?
- A Vessel Safety Check is not a boarding by a law enforcement person. In fact, it has nothing to do with law enforcement.
- Rather, the examiner is someone just like you, a recreational boater, but with one difference. The examiner has been certified as knowledgeable about the types of equipment you are required to have onboard.
- Results of an inspection are never given to any law enforcement person or agency
Why should I have one?
- You will be given a copy of the results so that you may follow up on any suggestions the examiner makes.
- If your boat passes the inspection, you will be given a distinctive VSC decal like the one here. The decal says to the world that your boat has been inspected and found to comply with safety equipment requirements.
- While the decal will not exempt you from a possible future boarding by the U.S. Coast Guard or other enforcement agencies, you will be prepared to make it a positive one.
- If for some reason your boat does not pass, the examiner will be pleased to come again after you have had time to correct the deficiency.
What equipment will be checked?
- The size and type of boat mandates federal and state equipment requirements. Kayaks, Canoes, Row, Powered and Sail boats and personal watercraft all can be checked. Click here for a copy of the form we use to check your boat.