Vessel Safety Inspection
Earlier this month, after getting my main sail back from the shop with new sail slides added, my friend and USCG Auxiliary shipmate Allan went out with me for a test sail on Lake Tarpon. While Allan’s sailing experience is limited, he is a very experienced crew man. As we sailed around in light air, Allan at the helm, I ran the main sail up and down the main to understand how the slides behaved. I soon realized that the lazy jack line system I rigged was not going to cut it. So I made plans to go back to Masthead Enterprises and have a lazy jack/bag fabricated to hold the main sail. More on that in a future post.
Allan is a certified vessel examiner. We took the time to review my boat equipment against the standard criteria for safety. Being in the USCG Auxiliary, and having a boat, it is setting a good example to have my boat inspected. The USCG Auxiliary and US Power Squadron conduct free courtesy safety inspections. There is no penalty if your boat does not pass for some reason. Just professional guidance and encouragement to correct any safety defects, before they could cause a boater an unwanted problem out on the water.
Some points of inspection:
* Current Registration and Alpha Numeric Properly Displayed.
* Life Jackets or Personal Flotation Devices (PFD); correct size, and one each per passenger and in serviceable condition. At least one Type 5 Throwable Flotation Cushion
* Available Visual Distress Signals; for example, day use (flag, signal mirror), night use (strobe light), for both day and night (flares).
* Marine Grade Fire Extinguisher(s); gauge showing in the green.
* Sound Producing Device(s); horn, whistle and/or bell.
* Navigation Lights working; bow rad/green, stern and all around white.
* Overall Vessel condition: deck free of hazards, clean bilge, engine and fuel system in working order, engine kill switch working.
* Other safety equipment that is good to have:, oars or paddle, anchor and rode, working GPS and VHF, SPOT, charts and multiple de-watering systems (bucket(s), pump).
Yup, got all that on this boat. Safety Inspection sticker goes on the port side, as on- water law enforcement always approaches floating vessels from that vessel's port side.