Safety is no accident. Before you head out on the water…does your boat have onboard what you need to be safe? The U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary will do the Vessel Safety Check for you to find out. And it’s free!
Where and When? AU.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary Certified Inspector will come to your boat…whether it’s in a slip, at the launch ramp, or in your driveway. The inspectors can do safety vessel checks for all of your recreational boats, sail boats, kayaks, and paddle crafts.
The U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary certified inspectors are coming to the neighborhoods of Martins Point and Southern Shores, in April. The inspection usually takes 15 to 30 minutes, depending on the size of your boat. Inspections for the remaining Outer Banks neighborhoods will take place as follows: May – Kitty Hawk. June – Kill Devil Hills & Colington. July – Nags Head & Manteo. Sign up for your free safety vessel check early. Inspections are by appointment only.
What is checked? A sample list of things that are checked include life jackets, boat identification numbers, registration, navigation lights, ventilation, fire extinguishers, distress signals, marine radio, anchor, bilge pump, and more.
All items are checked that are required to be on board and operating properly, as designated by state and federal regulation. The U.S Coast Guard Auxiliary Certified Inspector will help you in making sure your boat has all the required safety equipment you need, plus offer you other recommended items for safety assurance.
Otherwise, any items that may be missing or not properly operating without inspection can result in a citation when pulled over by authorities on the water. Frequently, such agencies will not detain or board boats displaying a current-year decal identifying safe operation.
Boats that pass are awarded the distinctive VSC decal that alerts the Coast Guard, Wildlife, and other law-enforcement agencies that your boat was found in full compliance with all federal and state boating laws. Decals are valid for one year.
What if your boat doesn’t pass? If your boat doesn’t pass, no worries…no report is filed. You get a helpful written report for correcting any discrepancies noted. Often a quick trip to West Marine, Manteo Marine, or Walmart is all that is needed to obtain the missing safety items and easily pass for a re-inspection. The inspection is 100% free.
How to schedule your Safety Vessel Check. You can schedule your boat for inspection on a day and time that is best for you. Visit https://wow.uscgaux.info/content.php?unit=054-16-07&category=vessel-safety-checks or email FSO-VE Anthony Leslie Bigbee at [email protected].
About the U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary
The United States Coast Guard Auxiliary is the uniformed auxiliary service of the United States Coast Guard. It is comprised of 26,000 members who volunteer their time to support the operation of the Coast Guard, promote and improve recreational boating safety, and provide trained crews and facilities to enhance the safety and security of our citizens, US ports, waterways, and coastal regions. The U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary is the largest volunteer marine safety organization in the world. The Coast Guard’s motto is Semper Paratus, meaning “Always Ready“. Visit our website, www.cgauxobx.org
