• 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.

Don't let this happen to YOU!

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. It 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.

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.