Vessel Safety Check, No-Cost, No Risk!

Want a free check of your boat’s equipment and personal protection gear by someone knowledgeable about federal and local requirements? All you have to do is set up a Vessel Safety Check (VSC) through the U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary or the U.S. Power Squadrons^®.

Once the VSC is set, an experienced volunteer comes to your vessel — power or sailboat, paddleboard, canoe, kayak, or jet ski — and checks that it has all safety equipment required by federal, state, and local laws. The volunteer vessel safety examiner checks, among other things, the registration number display on the hull, the number of life jackets aboard, adequacy of ventilation, configuration and functionality of navigation lights, up-to-date flares, the presence of charged fire extinguishers, and reviews documentation and registration papers, all as applicable. Most VSCs take under 30 minutes.

If the vessel “fails” the VSC, there’s no judgment or penalty. The report is written up and handed only to the owner. This report serves as a checklist for what to buy and how to address the missing safety components. Owners should act on the specifications quickly because: 1) future outings will be safer, and 2) should you be stopped by marine law enforcement of any type, what was found lacking during the no-risk VSC turns into a citation and fine.

After completing your VSC “homework,” request that the examiner return. If everything is in order, you’ll get an official decal and a copy of the passing report. Share it with your marine insurance company and keep it aboard in case of a boarding by the U.S. Coast Guard or other law enforcement officers.

Resources to prepare for and schedule a VSC: