Coast Guard Vessel Safety Check Items...

[rauch0812]

We pick up our first boat on the 3rd and I'm trying to gather our CG required items and I have a few questions... first of all, it's a 20' Larson Lxi BR...

Visual Distress Signals (VDS): Does a 3pk of flares satisfy this requirement?

Sound Producing Devices / Bell: I don't have my boat yet so I can't check... but is it possible the boat has a horn? Otherwise - can I just have a whistle?

Navigation Lights: The boat has the red/green/white "running lights" but I didn't see an "all-around anchor light". How would I add this to my boat?

Everything else I've gathered.

Thanks for your help,
Desera

 

[SNye45]

Re: Coast Guard Vessel Safety Check Items...

The list is = Life Jackets -one for each person on board.
Throwable bouyant cushion
Audiable device - air horn, whistle etc - I wouldn't rely on the boats horn, you cant use it if the boat is upside down, and you are floating away (I have a whistle attached to my life jacket)
Flares
Registration & insurance (required if you are boarded by the police or CG)
First Aid kit
Fire Extinquisher

Those are the legaly required items, there are of course lots of other things you could take with you to insure a safe and trouble free day.

A clear and sensible head/brain will also insure a good day on the water

 

[109jb]

Re: Coast Guard Vessel Safety Check Items...

Insurance- Not a requirement everywhere, but is a good idea everywhere.

First Aid Kit- Again, not "required" everywhere, but definitely a good idea

Flares- Visual distress signals are not required everywhere. Generally only on large bodies of water. Fro example, in Illinois the only place where visual distress signals are required is when operating on Lake Michigan.

 

[Outsider]

Re: Coast Guard Vessel Safety Check Items...

PFDs must be appropriate for the intended user, and readily available. A 'throwable' device is required if over 16' in length.

Sound producing device requirement depends on boat size.

Fire extinguisher requirement is also dependent on boat size.

Signal are dependent on waters where you're boating. When required by USCG, signals are required for both day and night operations. Flares (if used to satisfy requirements) are not all equal, some serve for both day and night, some do not ...

 

[DBreskin]

Re: Coast Guard Vessel Safety Check Items...

Navigation Lights: The boat has the red/green/white "running lights" but I didn't see an "all-around anchor light". How would I add this to my boat?

The white running light also serves as the anchor light. The switch on your dashboard should have two "on" positions; one for running that turns on the red/green/white lights, and a second for anchor that turns on just the white light.

 

[PiratePast40]

Re: Coast Guard Vessel Safety Check Items...

Maryland has a mandatry boater education course if you were born after a certain date. http://www.dnr.state.md.us/boating/safety/

Here's a Coast Guard checklist: http://forms.cgaux.org/archive/a7012.pdf

Don't cheat yourself when it comes to safety requirements. The course is just a beginning but you'll have a better appreciation of boating after you pass it.

 

[RWilson2526]

Re: Coast Guard Vessel Safety Check Items...

As far as the all around light or anchor light its probably stowed somewhere...there will almost definitely be a socket in gunwhale near the stern with a little black rubber cap on it....your anchor light will slip into there...you dont want it installed in the daytime because generally they're not to sturdy and someone will grab it and snap it inevetibly ....but you must have it with you at all times I'm pretty sure....

Another tip,the CG auxillary got me last season and prevented me from getting my safety card thing they hand out because i didnthave caps on the terminals of my battery so something wont fall on it and short across it.

 

[JimS123]

Re: Coast Guard Vessel Safety Check Items...

Forget about what the Coasties or the Sheriff requires. That's not good enough! Find a local USCG Auxilliary Flotilla and have them inspect your boat for what yor REALLY need.

http://forms.cgaux.org/archive/a7012.pdf

If a safety course is not needed in your area, take one anyway. THe USCGA or any local Power Squadron can help.

 

[JimS123]

Re: Coast Guard Vessel Safety Check Items...

Just as an aside, you should also contact your local office of Homeland Security. I have no idea what they do on coastal waters, so maybe that isn't necessary. In my case I boat on an international border and I often cruise in Canadian waters. Since HS got boats of their own they are now quite on guard! When they stop you they don't just ask a few questions, they board you and want to see your passport too!

 

[JoLin]

Re: Coast Guard Vessel Safety Check Items...

Hi, Rauch-

Congrats on finally finding a boat! Got any pics?

You should take a Power Squadron or USCGA boating class. Folks there will tell you both what's required and what they commonly use in your area to meet those requirements.

Boat horns rarely work for long. I also carry a small, cheap plastic horn that clips to a can of compressed air. It's really loud and always works.

There are other things you need to know, like what to do if fog rolls in- what type of audio signal needs to be sounded? How often? How about overtaking a boat? To Port? To Starboard? What kind of signal do you sound? What's the "imminent danger" signal to another boater? (it's 5 short blasts)

Did you know that an inflatable life vest meets the standard of a PFD only while you're wearing it? If it's stored somewhere or even lying on the seat next to you, it isn't a PFD. If you don't have a conventional Type III aboard for yourself too, you just won a fine!

Have fun and BE SAFE!

 

[jetmart]

Re: Coast Guard Vessel Safety Check Items...

Did you know that an inflatable life vest meets the standard of a PFD only while you're wearing it? If it's stored somewhere or even lying on the seat next to you, it isn't a PFD. If you don't have a conventional Type III aboard for yourself too, you just won a fine!

I have heard this before. What is the logic behind this?

 

[JoLin]

Re: Coast Guard Vessel Safety Check Items...

Did you know that an inflatable life vest meets the standard of a PFD only while you're wearing it? If it's stored somewhere or even lying on the seat next to you, it isn't a PFD. If you don't have a conventional Type III aboard for yourself too, you just won a fine!

I have heard this before. What is the logic behind this?

I'm guessing a little bit here, and will google around when I have more time. Though CG rules don't dictate the a PFD be worn at all times (except for kids under a certain age), the intent of the "PFD" law is that the on-board flotation device is

1. readily accessible
2. inherently buoyant

They bowed to allowing (CG certified) inflatables as PFD's, but the fact that they aren't inherently buoyant is troubling. It's useless as a flotation device unless the wearer takes action. Wearing it at least makes it easier to turn it into a flotation device in an emergency.

I think there's also a reluctance to have boaters rely on technology in a last-ditch situation, and that's a good thing. The ruling sends the message that these things aren't foolproof.