Meriden Power Squadron Founded 1954                    A unit of the United States Power Squadrons ®                                  Sail and Power Boating                                   A member of District 1

Home    About Us    Newsletters    Bridge    Education    Vessel Safety Check    Links    Store    USPS	"Boating is fun... We'll show you how"
VESSEL SAFETY CHECK - We will check your vessel for safety, it is free, and can be benificial.

	Number 1 safety item on your boat is your Personal Flotation Device(s) (PFDs), also known as life jackets. It is of extreme importance that everyone on your boat has a jacket, knows how to use it, and wears it!
	Arguably the second most important item on your boat is a VHF/DSC Marine Radio.   For a good look at the capabilities of these radios, watch the Can you Hear me? video from BoatU.S. Register your radio (MMSI number) to activate the DSC features. Register free at:    United States Power Squadrons     BoatU.S.     SeaTow MMSI registration brochure for use with VSC inspections.  (Copyright waived for non-profits)	Smart Phone + BoatU.S.? Get an app that shows your Lat Lon and more  link
		Smart Phone + SeaTow?  Get an app that shows your Lat Lon and more  link
	Have your boat inspected!     2013 inspections at Hays Haven / Pattaconk Yacht Club A vessel Safety Check will help prevent citations by meeting federal, state, and local safety equipment requirements. It will also increase awareness of safety practicies to avoid accidents and costly breakdowns. You can "pre-inspect" your own boat before you have it inspected by us.  Use this checklist to review your boat:  Virtual VSC  print file
Vessel Safety Check NOT an official boarding NO penalty for not meeting requirements To inform YOU of any problems you might not have noticed	The Vessel Safety program helps to achieve voluntary compliance with recreational boating safety laws, particularly regarding the carrieage of safety equipment. It also heightens the boaters' awareness of safety issues through one on one contact by volunteer vessel examiners. This is NOT an official boarding for law enforcement purposes and no citations are given if boats do not meet all the requirements. The Vessel Examiner is a trained specialist and a member of the United States Power Squadron or the US Coast Guard Auxiliary. The inspection is really quick and easy. Many trailerable boats can be inspected in ten minutes. All boaters will receive a copy of the evaluation form at the end of the inspection. Boats that meet the safety requirements will receive a current Vessel Safety Check decal to be displayed onboard. If replacement or additional safety items are needed to successfully meet the requirements, the VSC form can be shown at both Boat U.S. and West Marine stores to purchase necessary safety related items at a discount. If the necessary items are purchased at the time of the check, the decal will still be awarded. Lots of free material on boating safety will be provided by the United States Power Squadrons and the United States Coast Guard Auxiliary. Boaters can bring their trailerable boats to selected marine centers or arrange for a future VSC appointment at their boat launches, marinas or yacht clubs with the Vessel Examiner.
Why would your boat fail?	Here are some of the reasons a vessel might not pass inspection Improper Display of Numbers Not enough Personal Flotation Devices on board Inadequate Distress Signals Incorrect type or placement of Fire Extinguisher(s) Incorrect Navigational Lights, Registration Documents and Sound Producing Devices Listing of 15 reasons why examinations are failed.
For more information on the Vessel Safety Check Program please contact P/C Angie Anderson	Safe Boating Display at Hays Haven - Some of the Inspectors at Pattaconk YC -  2011
	Vessel Safety Inspections being given to a Coast Guard Boat, 2008

Trademark Statement * * * * * Privacy Statement * * * * * Disclaimer Statement * * * * * Webgate The Meriden Burgee and Masthead are registered trademarks of the Meriden Power Squadron. This site does not collect cookies. payment or any personal information without the expressed knowledge of the viewer. Additional information is available on all pages requesting responses.  Please note, sites linked from this site maintain their own policies.  Forward all questions or comments to the Webmaster © 2007 Meriden Power Squadron, Inc. All rights reserved