You
can use this page to examine your own boat. We suggest
you print the form that we use to also use as a guide
while performing this self-inspection. You can get the
form
here and it requires that you have the free Adobe
Acrobat reader installed on your computer. If you do not
have the reader, you can download a copy from here:
Adobe Acrobat Reader.
Online Vessel Safety Check - This fun,
interactive program lets you find out if your boat or
personal watercraft would pass a Vessel Safety Check,
before you have one. It's easy and convenient to use!
After you have completed the self-examination, you can
request that one of our examiners perform an actual
Vessel Safety Check by going to the "
I Want a VSC" page at
http://SafetySeal.net/GetVSC/ and enter your ZIP
Code to contact an examiner near you or contact the
Webmaster at the link at the bottom of this page. |
Item 1 - 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. FL 1234 AB or FL-1234-AB) |
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Item 2 - 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. |
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Item 3 - 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 the 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.
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Item 4 - 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 |
Red or orange flags |
Lantern |
Hand signals |
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Item 5 - Fire Extinguishers:
Fire
extinguishers are required if one of the following
conditions exists: (1) Inboard engine(s); (2) Closed
compartments that store portable fuel tanks; (3) Double
bottom hulls not completely sealed or not completely
filled with flotation materials (4) Closed living space
(5) Closed stowage compartments that contain flammable
materials or (6) Permanently installed fuel tanks NOTE:
Fire extinguishers must be readily accessible and
verified as serviceable. |
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Minimum number of extinguishers required |
Boat Length |
No Fixed System |
With Fixed System |
Less than 26’ |
one B-1 |
none |
26’ to less than 40’ |
two B-1 or one B-2 |
one B-1 |
40’ to 65’ |
three B-1 or
one B-1 & one B-2 |
two B-1 or
one B-2 |
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Item 6 - Ventilation:
Boats
with gasoline engines in closed compartments, built
after 1 August 1980 must have a powered ventilation
system. Those 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. |
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Item 7 - Backfire Flame Control:
All
gasoline powered inboard/outboard or inboard motor boats
must be equipped with an approved backfire flame control
device. |
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Item 8 - Sound Producing Devices / Bell:
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. *Boats larger than 39.4 ft. are also
required to have a bell (see Navigation Rules.)
*Under a recent change, a vessel 12 meters (39.4 ft) to
less than 20 meters (65 ft) is no longer required to
carry a bell on board.
The Coast Guard said: "The bottom-line, a bell is
no longer required on a vessel less than 20 meters in
length. That of course means a bell is not
required for those same vessels for successful
completion of a VSC." |
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Item 9 - 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. |
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Item 10 - Pollution Placard:
Boats
26 feet and over with a machinery compartment must
display an oily waste "pollution" placard. |
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Item 11 - 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. |
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Item 12 - Marine Sanitation Devices:
Any
installed toilet must be a Coast Guard approved device.
Overboard discharge outlets must be capable of being
sealed. |
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Item 13 - Navigation Rules:
Boats
39.4 feet and over must have on board a current copy of
the Navigation Rules. |
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Item 14 - State and/ or Local Requirements:
These
requirements must be met before the "Vessel Safety
Check" decal can be awarded. A boat must meet the
requirements of the state in which it is being examined. |
Contact your local marine law enforcement agency. |
Item 15 - 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. |
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