The Vessel Safety Check program of the Coast Guard Auxiliary is designed to provide individual boaters a one-on-one educational opportunity in learning about their boats equipment requirements.  If any of the required equipment (federal or state) is not aboard or is defective the operator/owner of the vessel has the opportunity to correct the problem before proceeding out on the water.  Our mission is to promote boating safety so the Auxiliary does not have or want the authority to provide pentalties for any discrepancies.  It is a quick way to see if you have all the required equipment aboard before the Local Marine Deputies introduce themselves.

Below is a sample check list that indicates the items we look at when examining your vessel to see if you have all the necessary equipment to go boating Safely.

For a free Vessel Safety Check that addresses the required equipment for your size of vessel - contact one of our VSC examiners (below) and arrange for a VSC to see if your boat is ready to go.  If you have all the equipment needed to satisfy the federal and state requirements, plus a few extra items the CG-Auxiliary thinks you need to have on your boat (not required by law), we will award you with a VSC safety decal to display on your boat. 

VSC Check list
 

Item	Yes	No	N/A
1. Display of Numbers    (Correct spacing & placement)      a. Capacity/Compliance Sticker (20ft. or less)	`	`	`
2.  Registration/Documentation (current & on board)	`	`	`
3.  Personal Flotation Devices (PFD)      a.  Under 16ft  - one for each person on board      b.  16ft+  -  one for each person onboard and one type 4	`	`	`
4.  Visual Distress Signals (VDS)	`	`	`
5.  Fire Extinguishers  (Correct size &  # for size of vessel?)	`	`	`
6.  Ventilation   (inboard engines & permanent fuel tanks)	`	`	`
7.  Backfire Flame Control    (gas engines)	`	`	`
8.  Sound Producing Devices/Bell	`	`	`
9.  Navigation Lights (working?)	`	`	`
10. Pollution Placard (26 ft. +)	`	`	`
11. MARPOL  Trash Placard (26 ft. +)           Waste disposal plan onboard  (40ft +)	`	`	`
12. Marine Sanitation Devices	`	`	`
13. Navigation Rules (39 ft. + - required on board)	`	`	`
14. State and/or Local Requirements	`	`	`
15. Overall Vessel Condition	`	`	`
a. Deck Free of hazards/clean bilge (no oil, fuel, antifreeze)	`	`	`
b. Electrical - Fuel Systems	`	`	`
c. Galley - Heating Systems	`	`	`
16. Additional Equipment (not required by law)      a.  Anchor - Especially in coastal tidal waters               Plenty of Line (5 to 7 times the depth of the water)               Lenth of chain between the anchor and line is advisable      b. First-Aid Kit      c. Alternate means of propulsion   (less than 16 ft)               Paddle, Oar, Water ski, ect.               Kicker motor (must use separate fuel and start source)      d. Dewatering Device & Backup      e. Marine Radio	`	`	`