District 11 South, Division 2,
Flotilla 9
Dana Point - California
Vessel Safety Checks
"The Coast Guard may impose a civil penalty up to $1,000 for failure to: comply with equipment requirements; report a boating accident; or comply with other Federal regulations"
Request a Free Vessel Safety Check Here
The U. S. Coast Guard Auxiliary offers FREE Vessel Safety Examinations to boaters wishing to be sure that their boats meet all State & Federal safety requirements. A safety check for personal watercraft is also available.
The Vessel Examiners who perform the VSCs
are specially-trained Auxiliary personnel who are kept informed on the latest
legal requirements for boaters. Vessel Examiners have no legal authority and do NOT issue citations. Our focus is to help
prevent boaters from getting equipment-related citations.
A Vessel Safety Check can identify SAFETY and MONEY saving opportunities
By preventing citations by meeting federal, state, and local safety equipment requirements.
By identifying educational and equipment related possible boating insurance discounts.
By increasing awareness of safety practices to avoid costly accidents and breakdowns.
Vessel Safety Checks are meant to be an educational experience. The Vessel Examiners will gladly explain why the safety equipment requirements are there, how the equipment works, and make other recommendations.
Vessels that pass the examination are awarded the Seal of Safety to be placed on the vessel.
Items
Checked:
Display of Numbers:The boat’s registration number must be permanently attached to each side of the forward half of the boat They must be plain, vertical, block characters, not less than three (3) inches high, and in a color contrasting with the background. A space or hyphen must separate the letters from the numbers. Place State tax sticker according to State policy. (e.g. CF 1234 AB or CF-1234-AB)
Registration / Documentation:
Registration or Documentation papers must be on board and available. Documentation numbers must be permanently marked on a visible part of the interior structure. The documented boat’s name and hailing port must be displayed on the exterior hull in letters not less than 4 inches in height. To be documented a boat must be 5 net tons or greater.
Personal Flotation Devices (PFD):
Acceptable PFDs (also known as Life Jackets) must be U.S. Coast Guard approved, in good
serviceable condition, and of suitable size for each person on the boat. Children must have properly fitted PFDs designed for children. Wearable PFDs shall be "readily accessible." Throwable devices shall be "immediately available."
PFDs shall NOT be stored in unopened plastic packaging. For Personal Watercraft riders, the PFD must be worn and indicate an impact rating. Boats 16
feet or longer must also have one Type IV, or "throwable," PFD aboard. .
Remember to WEAR your PFD. The chart below shows that of the 33 drownings that
occurred in California waters in 2002, 29 of the victims were not WEARING their PFD. If they had been, they would probably be with us today!
Visual Distress Signals (VDS):
Recreational boats 16 feet and over used on coastal waters or the Great Lakes are required to carry a minimum of either: 1) three day and three night pyrotechnic devices, 2) one day non-pyrotechnic device (flag) and one night non-pyrotechnic device (auto SOS light) or 3) a combination of 1) and 2). Recreational boats less than 16 feet on coastal waters or the Great Lakes need only carry night visual distress signals when operating from sunset to sunrise.
It is recommended, but not required, that boats operating on inland waters should have some means of making a suitable day and night distress signal. The number and type of signals is best judged by considering conditions under which the boat will be operating. Alternatives to pyrotechnic devices (flares) include:
Night Day
Strobe light
Signal mirror
Flashlight
with red lens or orange flags
Lantern Hand signals
Fire Extinguishers:
Fire extinguishers are required if any one of the following conditions exists:
Inboard engine(s)
Closed compartments that store portable fuel tanks
Double bottom hulls not completely sealed or not completely filled with flotation materials
Closed living space
Closed stowage compartments that contain flammable materials.
Permanently installed fuel tanks NOTE: Fire extinguishers must be readily accessible and verified as serviceable.
Minimum number of extinguishers required
Boat Length
|
Without Fixed System
|
With Fixed System
|
Less then 26'
|
One B-1
|
None
|
26' to 40'
|
Two B-1 or one B-2
|
One B-1
|
40' to 65'
|
Three B-1 or One B-1 and One B-2
|
Two B-1 or One B-2
|
Ventilation:
Boats with gasoline engines in closed compartments built after 1 August 1980 must have a powered ventilation system. Those
boats built prior to that date must have natural or powered ventilation.
Boats with closed fuel tank compartments built after 1 August 1978 must meet requirements by displaying a "certificate of compliance." Boats built before that date must have either natural or powered ventilation in the fuel tank compartment.
Backfire Flame Control:
All gasoline powered inboard/outboard or inboard motor boats must be equipped with an approved backfire flame control device.
Sound Producing Devices:
To comply with Navigation Rules and for distress signaling purposes all boats
must carry a sound producing device (whistle, horn, siren, etc.) capable of a
4-second blast audible for ½ mile.
Navigation Lights:
All boats must be able to display navigation lights between sunset and sunrise and in conditions of reduced visibility. Boats 16 feet or more in length must have properly installed, working navigation lights and an all-around anchor light capable of being lit independently from the red/green/white "running" lights.
Pollution Placard:
Boats 26 feet and over with a machinery compartment must display an oily waste "pollution" placard.
MARPOL Trash Placard:
Boats 26 feet and over in length must display a "MARPOL" trash placard. Boats 40 feet and over must also display a written trash disposal plan.
Marine Sanitation Devices:
Any installed toilet must be a Coast Guard approved device. Overboard discharge outlets must be capable of being sealed.
Navigation Rules:
Boats 39.4 feet and over must have on board a current copy of the Navigation Rules.
State and/ or Local Requirements:
Overall Vessel condition:
As it applies to this Vessel. Including, but not limited to:
a. Deck free of hazards and clean bilge:
The boat must be free from fire hazards, in good overall condition, with bilges reasonably clean and visible hull structure generally sound. The use of automobile parts on boat engines is not acceptable. The engine horsepower must not exceed that shown on the capacity plate.
b. Safe Electrical and Fuel Systems:
The electrical system - Must be protected by fuses or manual reset circuit breakers. Switches and fuse panels must be protected from rain or water spray. Wiring must be in good condition, properly installed and with no exposed areas or deteriorated insulation. Batteries must be secured and terminals covered to prevent accidental arcing. If installed, self-circling or kill switch mechanism must be in proper working order. All PWCs require an operating self circling or kill switch mechanism.
Fuel Systems - Portable fuel tanks (normally 7 gallon capacity or less) must be constructed of non-breakable material and free of corrosion and leaks. All vents must be capable of being closed. The tank must be secured and have a vapor-tight, leak-proof cap. Each permanent fuel tank must be properly ventilated.
c. Safe Galley and Heating Systems:
System and fuel tanks must be properly secured with no flammable materials nearby.
Kayak & Canoe Requirements
According to the
United States Coast Guard Boating Statistics
report for year 2002, there were 101 deaths associated with Canoes and Kayaks. Of those, 93% were due to drowning. The Coast Guard estimates that 84% of drowning victims in the report would have survived if they had been wearing a PFD (life jacket).
Personal Flotation Device (1 per person)
Sound Signaling Device (whistle or horn)
Visual Distress Flag for Day use.
Flashlight if going out during hours of darkness.
For more details on equipment requirements in the State of California, please visit the
California Department of Boating and Waterways. Your Coast Guard Auxiliary Vessel Examiner is familiar with these requirements and can explain them to you as well.
Is your boat outside of the Southern Orange County/Northern San Diego County area?
Click Here to find a Vessel Examiner near you (use your browsers Back button to return here).
To schedule your FREE Vessel Safety Check with
a Qualified Vessel Examiner, please contact our Vessel Examinations Officer
or complete the form below:
Copyright: 2004, Coast Guard Auxiliary, District 11S Division 02
Original Design by Richard M. Lagrand, SO-CS
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