U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary - District 5 South - Division 10 - Flotilla 7

Vessel Safety Checks
A free service of the Coast Guard Auxiliary

The Coast Guard Auxiliary offers no obligation free safety checks on vessels of all types. If your vessel possesses all required safety items and they are in good condition, then a U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary Vessel Safety Check (VSC) decal will be affixed to your boat. This decal represents many things to many people:

You, the boat owner, will have peace of mind and satisfaction knowing that your boat meets safety standards.
Your passengers will be confident in you, knowing your boat passed all the safety checks.
Other boaters will respect you for caring about safe boating.
Coast Guard and Marine Police will recognize your vessel has met national safety standards.
Your insurance company may offer discounts to boaters and boats with a current "Vessel Safety Check" decal.
Commercial discounts are available from marine suppliers for safety items.

As you have probably guessed, this is all about boating safety. The Coast Guard Auxiliary promotes safe recreational boating through education. If your boat does not possess all the requirements to receive a decal, you will not be "red tagged, recorded, or reported" to any Federal or State agency. Items failing to meet the State and Federal requirements are brought to the attention of the boat owner for remedy. By design, this is between the boat owner and the Vessel Examiner. Your boat can be re-examined at any time by any qualified Vessel Examiner. And we love to re-examine boats to keep you safe!

Please Follow This Link to Find an Examiner

Click Here to Find an Examiner

Or... Click Here to Experience a Virtual Vessel Safety Check

Things which will be checked for compliance:
State Registration Numbers Backfire Flame Arrester Dewatering Device / Bailer Hull Identification Number Sound Producing Devices Electrical Installation Navigation Rule Booklets Navigation Lights Galley Installation	PFDs (Life Jackets) Fuel / Heating System Marine Sanitation Device Fire Extinguishers Anchor and Line Pollution / Trash Placards Ventilation Secondary Method of Propulsion Visual Distress Signals

Any other special State or Federal requirements due to the length of the boat or use of the vessel may also be checked. Your Vessel Examiner will be happy to explain these items at the time of the examination. It's better to get a cheerful explanation from an Auxiliary Vessel Examiner than a costly citation or embarrassing escort from the U. S. Coast Guard or Police.

The Auxiliary does CHECKS

The U.S. Coast Guard does INSPECTIONS

Be safe, not sorry!